I was stopped once by three county deputies (in Jackson Co., MS) with guns drawn. I nearly messed my pants! Seems someone with a similar car had robbed a bank. I’m sure the look of sheer terror and bewilderment on my face put the officers at ease. I showed my ID answered their questions and went on my way.
I grew up in Jones County and also attended school with Alex Hodge. If these three had simply answered the questions and complied with the officers demand for ID, more than likely nothing would have come of this. I-59 is a major drug smuggling route. There have been many significant busts there, as well as violent confrontations with drug runners. Having a ‘paper tag’ for 6 months is also illegal in MS. That in and of itself is reason for the cops to be suspicious.
Moral: Don’t mouth off to the cops for any reason. If you have nothing to hide, don’t be a smart ass. Cops today have a very dangerous job. Despite your ‘rights’ let them look around in the car and be done with it.
Since they were simply passing through, the beer possession would probably have garnered nothing more than a warning.
I'm afraid I'm not prepared to surrender my rights that easily. In my opinion, that's a large part of what the recent Tea Parties were about. Sheriff Hodge and Jones County is in for a very large and expensive lesson.
“Despite your ‘rights’
let them look around in the car
and be done with it.”
-
I can’t tell you how strongly I disagree with that statement.
Exercise your rights - or lose them.