[logic101.net]

He also ran. It wasn’t just the sticker.

Exactly, and it sounds like after getting out of the car (in his driveway?) he was still avoiding the cop. When you resist a cop bad things tend to happen.

That said, shooting him in the back when he was face down was going way too far, even though it seems that this guy won’t be a loss to society. Had he just pulled over he’d have gotten a ticket that could have been resolved with no fine after getting registered and going to court with proof of such. At least that is how it works in WI. I have been pulled over for registration and guess what? They never even asked to search my truck. The drugs would not have been found, if he was legal to drive that is.

[Oztrich Boy]

Maybe. OTOH the copette is rumoured to have a somewhat forceful attitude in her relations with the public. and while he may have not being doing anything convictable (he had a BA of .021 ie one beer), an enthusiastic copette may have been expected to escalate that to "failed a sobriety test", and search.

And the drugs weren't the problem, (Suboxone) other than "what's this, gotcha", rather than the "drug paraphernalia".

[luvbach1]

I’ve gotten about 10 tickets in 59 years of driving (one chargeable minor accident). I’ve never been asked to get out of my car nor has my car ever been searched. Cops often have an instinct re which cars to stop and which to search. IMO keys to avoiding confrontations with police are to stay in your vehicle, make no quick movements, and cooperate with police. But maybe I’ve been lucky.