Posted on 02/24/2014 8:30:33 AM PST by highnoon
Both of the following events occurred in Williamson County Texas, in a small town with a Hippo Mascot.
The week of Christmas 2013 I was pulled over for ‘not displaying my blinker for more than 100 feet’. After the normal chit chat, the officer asked for consent to search my vehicle, to which I refused. I was told that K9 was in route and to wait outside the vehicle. K9 never arrived and after 15 minutes of waiting I was released.
Fast forward to Saturday evening 2/22/14. I pulled onto the roadway and was immediately followed by a member of the local police force, who after a few seconds turned his headlights off, then turned them back on. I stopped at an intersection with the officer behind me, proceeded forward when the light turned green and pulled into a Walgreens – the officer did not follow. I sat in the parking lot for 2 or 3 minutes then pulled out and went on my way. In less than a minute I was being pulled over.
Reason given was ‘non visible license plate’. He then asked why I had pulled into and out of the Walgreens. I responded that I was avoiding trouble based on the events that occurred the week of Christmas. He asked to search the vehicle to which I consented. I mentioned the presence of my prescription Adderall and after a VERY thorough search the officer completed his search. He emerged with my pill bottle and mentioned that the bottle was 2 years old, and that the contents (30 mg) did not match the label (20 mg). I was told that my pills were being confiscated and that I had a few days to speak with a detective, present a valid prescription for the pills or a warrant would be issued. I have the most recent Rx bottle – labeled for 30 mg and I’m preparing to visit with the detective when it occurred to me to ask some of you for advice.
I feel that I have a target painted on my vehicle due to the refusal to consent to the Christmas week search. I also feel that if the reason I was pulled over on Saturday was the LP light, the officer should have made the stop instead of playing cat & mouse with me. These are things I want to say out loud to them, but restraint of pen & tongue has me asking the members of FR first.
Any and all input is appreciated and valued. Thanks in advance.
HN
Thank you.
I have no reason to doubt this is true. And as such, WHY do so many FReepers say "No searching"; knowing this will be the result? Isn't it better to consent to a search rather than spend hours in jail/court, hundreds of dollars on towing and impound fees and perhaps thousands of dollars on attorney fees?
Or...
Is refusing to be searched the best alternative because most LEO's will back off and let you leave without an arrest?
To the best of my knowledge and memory (life-long Texan), turn signals, by law, are required to be initiated at least 100 feet prior to turning.
That's always the trap used to snare the innocent. Lawful citizens must always be on guard against false accusers, false witnesses, fragile egos, and vindictive malevolent characters in general.
After all, the whole of human history is littered with the corpses of those who did nothing wrong and had nothing to hide. Those are *precisely* the types of people who are the natural enemies of totalitarian, greedy, capricious, lawless states.
All the best to you for a lawful and peaceful resolution.
The two questions you should ask during any interaction with a police officer.
Am I under arrest?
Am I free to leave?
My dad says that if you’re taken into custody for whatever reason just shut up, don’t say anything -and- when you’re in the interview room just stare at a spot above the cops head or look at his or her forehead. It looks like you’re looking at them, listening, but actually you’re not. Drives them nuts.
...with more and more being added to that total every day.
I really don’t think the police can bring you to jail for simply saying “No” to a request to search your vehicle. Then again, I’m not a lawyer. Maybe someone else can step in here.
ditch your cell phone. get a new one.
there is a cell phone pinger, at every drug store.
turning a cell phone ‘off’, does not
turn off ‘law-enforcement spying features’
it will still transmit
avoid hanging out in drug stores
get drugs thru the mail if possible
get someone else to drive you to the drug store.
avoid travel when the cops are not busy, m/f-9/5.
when hanging out with the other druggies,
DITCH the cell phone.
Never consent to these fishing expeditions by police, period! Stop giving up your rights or they will be gone for good. And I am retired Law Enforcement.
Wasn’t Hutto the place where the armadillo turned over a Lonestar Beer truck? Or was that Hondo?
If you assert your rights the cops are going to say “Why? You’re not under arrest.” And lots of people fall for that crap.
It’s getting to the point where I’m afraid to leave the house. Especially with my dogs in the car with me. We’ve got to run people for office who will stop this police abuse and the militarization of the police.
Are there still states where the plates stay with the car when title is transferred?
Your call, you asked.
A pillar makes a nice stationary target...
South portland,me got a bill pushed through 2 ears ago that allows them.
S Portland,me is the only town that admits to having them.
Surely there is a special list for those who *don't* read/watch/listen/purchase/ingest the greenie global warning propaganda or who haven't embraced PC depravity, even without actively obtaining material or making statements that conflict with the regime.
Guilt may be determined through a distinct lack of a footprint in the modern world of greed, corruption, government dependency and so forth.
Maybe it's my artistic side that sees the value in all that negative space. :-/
Try being afraid to stay in your house.
Bump that, as well. In any cases; someone falsely accused has no way to fight back.
I keep dog jerky treats in the back of one of my cars. Maybe I should let the dog cop find that?
-PJ
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