Posted on 01/03/2007 2:08:50 PM PST by The KG9 Kid
"What kind of country have we got when little smartasses think they have some right not to answer a policeman's questions?"
I'll take a shot at this: A free one?
You beat me to it, antiRepublicrat.
A free country.
the simple and easy way for cops to do a quick evaluation for drunkenness is to engage them in conversation.....this punk went out there to set them up, and it shows.....a jury will see it for what it is......
This is profiling. 19 year old kid, cop thinks drugs or alcohol. Funny how this kind of profiling is no problem, but other kinds are totally non-PC.
Welcome to the conditioning of the police state. Good for the kid, I hope he gets $1,000,000. These sobriety check points are total BS!
There is a reason for that. Why would I, a firebreathing conservative with a love of guns and freedom, who served 4 yrs in the Marine Corps infantry and who hates criminals and who despises drug users and dregs (even if they may have the right to use drugs), why would I detest the pigs with all my soul? Why would there be so many of us?
On what charges, exactly?
... REFUZING TO ANZWER ZE QVESTION?!
Arrested for what? He wasn't committing a crime, idiot.
Uh, no it's not. Anyone who thinks the police have the right, or "right", to give anyone dick treatment is a dick.
Actually it was none of the officer's business.
Other than give them your name and show identification upon demand, you are under no obligation to answer any questions.
I would have probably told him that it was none of his business myself.
He had a valid driver's license, insurance, and a legal tag. He could drive up and down the street or road as long as he pleased.
We have not yet reached the point to where we need police permission to travel from one point to another, though from your post, you will be happy when we do.
Hmmm, I often drive around at night with a camcorder on. Especially as I approach a DUI checkpoint (which have to be announced). Could we have a little setup here?
OTOH, the "I can't drive stick." part is pretty funny.
I agree that police need a lot of lattitude, but this was about like the DWB stops of the nineties.
To protect and to serve....or something.
Interesting story. The right of free speach includes the right not to speak, which has been upheld in courts before.
The right to remain silent. Get used to it. We are citizens of a free country.
If the kid was being mouthy and didn't want to answer questions, pop him with a breathalyzer and tell him to go away. You do NOT threaten him with arrest just because he thinks your BS checkpoint is draconian BS.
"The kid's personal life is none of the cop's business. If the kid doesn't wish to discuss, that should be the end of it. "I don't wish to discuss my personal life with you officer" is a respectful enough way to tell the officer exactly that."
I'm usually one of the guys on cop threads defending the cops. Not this time. Your post explains why. Where that kid was headed was none of that cop's business.
Hey, why stop with conversation? Let's just pull everyone out of their cars and make them do a sobriety test without any kind of probable cause. It's for the children. /sarcasm
I'm sorry, but if a cop were ever to ask if he could search my car, I would refuse unless he could demonstrate probable cause or that they were engaged in a time-critical search such as an Amber alert. I don't have anything more on my record than a few traffic tickets, and if I'm gonna drink beer, I do it at home.
And then, if they insisted on searching anyway, after the bogus search, I would sue the crap out of their jurisdiction for allowing officers to trample on the 4th amendment. I'm glad some people are standing up to over-zealous enforcement actions.
I owe you an apology. I read your post # 2 and responded without reading further.
There's an authoritarian streak in a lot of cops. Its why they become cops.
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