Liberty and Justice for All Drivers

[Gannon]

http://www.freep.com/article/20090422/NEWS07/90422006

Curious reversing of the liberal license police all over the land have taken with our rights against unreasonable search and seizure.


Wondering if this is retro-active...heh.


Three cheers for the Supreme Court for their infinite wisdom.

Now can we also eliminate those 'inventory' searches they do when they impound your vehicle for non-associated reasons? Same rules should apply.


Maybe America the Free isn't so far gone after all...

[firstandten]

I posted a while ago on what to do it stopped by police on a traffic violation.

The information said that people too easily give up their 4th amendment rights by allowing warrantless searches of their vehicles. The police will simply say can I check your vehicle? not really knowing for sure but figuring the law of averages will work in their favor. And the people either not knowing any better or trying to be helpful so the police will go on their way will say yes and once the police find anything close to illegal you are in trouble.

You can tell by the politics of the supreme court judges that voted that they were trying to correct a bad interpetation of the law.

[ccbatson]

In the context that driving is a licensed earned privilege and not a right, some of this scrutiny is to be expected. If there is nothing to hide, it would be no more than an infrequently occurring inconvenience.

[Detroitej72]

In the context that driving is a licensed earned privilege and not a right, some of this scrutiny is to be expected. If there is nothing to hide, it would be no more than an infrequently occurring inconvenience.

Thats the key, its a privilege. People tend to forget that one little fact.

[firstandten]

Thats the key, its a privilege. People tend to forget that one little fact.

You are correct driving is a privilege but I don't think that extends to your vehicle. Your vehicle is considered your property.

[Blarf]

If there is nothing to hide, it would be no more than an infrequently occurring inconvenience.

I don't care if I'm hiding something or not, I don't want people going through my stuff or invading my privacy.

[rb336]

In the context that driving is a licensed earned privilege and not a right, some of this scrutiny is to be expected. If there is nothing to hide, it would be no more than an infrequently occurring inconvenience.

yet more clarity on your total misunderstanding of freedom -- evidently, if i were a law enforcement official, i should be able to rummage through your property for no apparent reason, since it would merely be an inconvenience. I should be able to monitor your reading habits as well.

[oladub]

California often leads the nation. Since Californians have spent more than they have chosen to tax themselves, police services are being cut. In Contra Costa County, prosecution for drugs will be reduced and "People who are suspected of misdemeanor drug crimes, break minor traffic laws, shoplift, trespass or commit misdemeanors or vandalism will also be in the clear. Those crimes won't be prosecuted, either."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...6EGO.DTL&tsp=1

[firstandten]

In the context that driving is a licensed earned privilege and not a right, some of this scrutiny is to be expected. If there is nothing to hide, it would be no more than an infrequently occurring inconvenience.

Cc I know thats what many people think, if I didn't do anything wrong what do I have to hide, and sometimes I have those thoughts. Unfortunately in the real world drugs and other illegal items are in cars and guess what ? Police have been known to plant those types of items in people cars. Not often and very rarely but it has happened.

[ccbatson]

Yes, those things happen, but my point is that of a generalization. If you are doing right, and the policeperson is proceeding with reasonable good intentions, "planting" things makes no sense.

[ejames01]

What if theofficer is proceeding with bad intentions? Just stay the heck out of my car unless there is a valid reason for searching it.