Apples vs oranges. Smoking dope is illegal, while Brett did nothing wrong.
Let me throw it back. Why are we defending this punk kid who's intentionally antagonizing the cop and wasting his time with his stupid YouTube antics?
Brett was not antagonistic, your assertions to the contrary are clearly in the minority here and elsewhere. His actions got a bad cop off the street. That is a good thing.
Because I find that cops in a small wealthy city to be just a little more tolerant than in city like St. Louis or Chicago. I'm sure you'll object and say that shouldn't be the case, but I would expect that from one who is disconnected from reality.
Based on your posts I am a good deal better ground in reality than you are with a great deal more real world experinece.
St George is not STL or CHI. Its a fake city with bottom of the LEO barrel for cops that runs off of traffic ticket revenue. Real cops in a real city would never crossed the like as the perp did.
My experience is that the small wealthy town cops are much more noxious than the pros in the larger cities. However, when dealt with firmly they too relent and follow the law.
That's apples and oranges all right. I never said the punk did anything wrong. Did I?
He wasted the cop's time (actually two cops) by being uncooperative. That's the point.
You're right. The Dallas Police Department, for example, is corrupt as hell, but when a DPD officer stops you, you don't have to worry about him going off on you or pistol-whipping you into cringing submission. Even if you become verbally abusive, he'll probably just blow it off. Big city cops who spend their time dealing with real criminals can usually be relied on to more or less play things by the book when shaking down a traffic violator on behalf of the City. The DPD may be an evidence-faking, kickback-taking blue army of occupation, but as long as you are not a drug dealer who's holding out on them or a comic-book shop owner, you're OK.
On the other hand, there's a certain small, wealthy suburb nearby (we'll call it "X City") that is well-known locally for its unique brand of law enforcement. It seems that the millionaire members of the Hair Club for Men and their trophy wives who live in X City do not appreciate the presence of certain types of people in their town, and have quietly instructed their police to keep an eye on such people, even if they are obviously just passing through. DWF (driving while female), DWB (driving while black) and DUV (driving used vehicle) stops are common in X City, forcing local folks who don't fit the X City profile to sometimes drive for miles to avoid it. A "suspicious" driver stopped in X City is lucky if he or she is only given a ticket; the XCPD's creative use of off-the-record "enforcement" activities (such as forcing female "suspects" to have sex with the cop or go to jail) is an open secret in North Texas.
Big city cops with a penchant for abuse have to worry abut TV cameras, newspaper reporters, and curious passers-by ruining their fun. The small-time cops don't.
Hick cops and suburban commandos scare me. Andy of Mayberry retired years ago. I'll take my chances with big city cops any time.