Posted on 01/03/2007 2:08:50 PM PST by The KG9 Kid
The old saying still applies here: What goes around, comes around. That's fine - if some people feel the need to be nothing more than complete jerks when stopped at a POLICE ROADBLOCK(!), then I give all the latitude to the police to make their life temporarily uncomfortable.
I'm beginning to feel like if those of us who do not have probelms with law enforcement are being stereotyped as Nazi appeasers. But, I suppose that's what happens when extreme positions are taken.
Yes, you want a society where the serfs stare down the barrels of police guns, and bow and scrape before their masters.
Kindly note the name of this site. Once you've done that, please purchase a one-way ticket to Beijing, make use of same, and renounce your citizenship, as you are obviously an AINO.
I'm having a hard time figuring out where you stand on this issue.
And compounding it, are people who, in their frustration, think it acceptable to engage in bear-baiting tactics to even the score.
I agree completely with you that the kid was looking for a confrontation---I mean, who drives around with a video camera in his car? But so what if the kid was performing a bit of activism? Without evidence of the abuse of power, how would we ever stop it?
I see. You do not value your rights as a free man, therefore, everyone else should surrender theirs.
I'm beginning to feel like if those of us who do not have probelms with law enforcement are being stereotyped as Nazi appeasers
I prefer the title "good Germans."
The police have enumerated powers. They have no authority beyond those powers, and when they attempt to exercise authority beyond those powers, they have committed the crime of violating civil rights under color of authority, and need to incur the punishment for same.
So, if I were drunk and were stopped at this police roadblock, and then made the same exact statements as this kid did, would my rights still be vioalted??? Would the cops still infringing upon my consitutional right to be driving drunk?
Absolutely. If they'd heard it more often, they'd probably think of a way of dealing with someone standing on their rights other than expanding their violation of same.
I can't tell you how many people (my age) I know have givin me trouble for this video.
I'd be interested in the reactions from different groups. As you can see, even here on this forum dedicated to the object of attempting to restore our country to a Constitutional Republic, we have our share of jackboot lickers who believe the police can do no wrong. You might notice that the defenders of liberty outnumber those who oppose it though. I'd be interested in the reactions of different places in discussing your video.
I got pulled over the other day - my brake lights were not working (burned out fuse).
The officer was polite as could be, and gave me a warning while I replaced the fuse. I was glad he pulled me over for that. I was very polite in return - and I also, if pulled over, quickly grab my wallet and registration/insurance packet and put my hands out the driver window so he can see them. I've always been polite with cops carrying out their lawful duties in a professional manner, and never have had a problem with them.
However, there is a creeping authoritarianism in this country that is very incremental in nature. Some of it is a function of the brave new world of being subject to terrorism, and I don't have a problem with that. But DUI roadblocks are of very dubious Constitutionality. Throw in interrogations at such, and it has crossed the line - and the police are, IMO, no longer working within the framework of proper Constitutional limitations. If I am driving in a lawful manner and the cop has determined that I am not under the influence, it is NOT his business where I am coming from or where I am going.
I had a similar issue when I moved to a nosy township in Central PA. There was a tax form they sent out to ask what my occupation was, because PA has a occupation tax that can be levied. But they also asked where I was moving from. I called them up and politely told them that was none of their business, and they said I didn't have to answer it.
It's not that we are in a fascist state now. But we as citizens need to arrest the trends toward such when they become apparent. By the time it is clear we have entered a state of fascism, it is either too late to do anything about it, or corrective action will be far more drastic.
Do you get your jollies from flexing your muscles over the Internet, or what? Why don't you tone it down and act like the "respectful" citizen you expect everyone else to be?
Lol, problem is that most of us reply in sequence.
I wont tell you good people why or what sent me to prison, I will only tell you that "I Thought" that I was above or that "I was" the law.
Welcome back to the good side, friend.
The crux of my position is simply cooperation. A normal person would simply answer "I'm heading home, officer." and be gone and not make a federal issue out of "Where are you headed tonight?". Who cares about what how you personally feel about the consitutionality of the roadblock itself - the cops are not there to debate contitutionality with you, they are there to look for drunk drivers.
This kid needs to learn to pick his battles more wisely. If he (and others defending him) have a problem with DWI roadblocks, then take it up with the local jurisdiction/city council/state senate, not the unfortunate officer who is only doing their job.
I think we have a live one here
cool ... see you 'round!
that little smart ass has every right not to answer the jack booted thugs questions
But the problem is, asking where you are going has nothing to do with whether you are drunk or not. So the kid, IMO, was correct is saying it isn't their business. Because, IMO, the next step would be searching cars at roadblocks without probable cause - which they did in this case when they moved the car. And threatening to arrest the kid for talking back to them? That reeks of Nifonging the kid.
So this episode pointed out that the cops in question need to have a refresher course on Consititutional boundaries. The power to arrest someone is very profound, and for the cops to say they would find a reason to arrest the kid for having valid concerns about how he was being treated shows they cops don't have proper respect for both the citizens they are serving and their own Constitutional limitations.
Yup. They had to have someone to run their ovens, and look the other way.
People who think such a setup couldn't happen here are delusional.
Oy, vey. Another person whose looking to play the victim.
LOL Hyperbole will get you no where. It only makes you look like a loon.
Were the cops acting in a proper manner for threatening to find something to arrest the kid for?
Yes, it is the kid's consitutional right to get defensive and tell the cop "I'd rather not discuss my personal life with you". However, it seems to me that this type of defensive answer is something that cops look for when stopping motorists at DWI checkpoints. It's called 'profiling'. There is such an outcry among FReepers to do profiling on airlines against Muslims; why the double standard when it comes to profiling for drunk drivers?
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