tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post114013145131858683..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Searching for consent at Texas traffic stopsGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1140167951056770082006-02-17T03:19:00.000-06:002006-02-17T03:19:00.000-06:00Oh, the LEAP website of course is at http://leap.c...Oh, the LEAP website of course is at http://leap.cc/tbay...That's our Florida mirror page. Just click the Big Gold Badge and you'll be right in the LEAP homepage.SteveHeathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06218827395150404725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1140167873026917332006-02-17T03:17:00.000-06:002006-02-17T03:17:00.000-06:00As someone who works with many police via my affil...As someone who works with many police via my affiliation with Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, I have great respect for most rank and file police officers.<BR/><BR/>However, it's still a drag to read about officers at any level abusing citizens without having probable cause to believe a crime is being committed.<BR/><BR/>You can help us get LEAP speakers booked in Texas. We have several qualified retired police officers, police chiefs, prison officials, and also a former corrections officer who was a specialist with drug dogs and can testify as to how bogus that whole scam is. <BR/><BR/>Feel welcome to contact me directly for more info...heath at leap.cc is my email<BR/><BR/>Or by phone if preferable. I can return messages with free long distance. <BR/><BR/><BR/>727 797 1349<BR/><BR/><BR/>As a Texas native I am very interested in helping my friends and family there reform failed drug policies.<BR/><BR/>Cheers<BR/><BR/><BR/>Steve Heath in Clearwater FLSteveHeathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06218827395150404725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1140140365814736562006-02-16T19:39:00.000-06:002006-02-16T19:39:00.000-06:00I refused to be searched. TWICE!For me...it was an...I refused to be searched. TWICE!<BR/><BR/>For me...it was an opportunity to drag out my soap box.<BR/><BR/>My sweet husband had to sit in back of the patrol car and they took and kept his fine pocket knife. He really wanted to let them search...but he knew how I felt about it and he didn't want to let me down. <BR/><BR/>When the officers said we were to wait for the drug dogs I asked one of them, "Why". He finally said "You had different stories". <BR/><BR/>Right.<BR/><BR/>We were in another state in a new car with Texas plates and we were going to visit my son and tourist around some.<BR/><BR/>Having committed no so called "crime" or offense of so called "contraband", I took the opportunity to critique the officer's (the one that "stayed" with me when they took my husband to the patrol car) choice of clothing style...terrorism...the end of the WoD and Waco. <BR/><BR/>The mention of Waco seemed to really chafe him. He jumped towards me and nearly made me burst into tears...but I didn't...just nearly.<BR/><BR/>They tried to make those poor dogs jump on our car when they didn't respond to anything as they sniffed around the car.<BR/><BR/>They punished us by giving us a no way true ticket...but knowing we weren't likely to come back and protest it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1140138430079579802006-02-16T19:07:00.000-06:002006-02-16T19:07:00.000-06:00I'm white live in Harris county and I always refus...I'm white live in Harris county and I always refuse to allow an officer to search my vehicle. The last time I refused a search the trooper said, well you just gave me probable cause. Total B.S.!<BR/><BR/>Yes it is hard to say no to a cop, because they can be intimidating. Yet people need to know their rights, when dealing with police. They have a right to say no to searches. Just because you say no, doesn't mean you have something to hide. It means you know your rights!<BR/><BR/>Usually after the officer has kept me on the side of the road for 30-45 minutes, I always ask them what criminals could they have caught, if not for wasting their time on me? Then again troopers aren't out catching bad people, there producing revenue for the state.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1140135407444339532006-02-16T18:16:00.000-06:002006-02-16T18:16:00.000-06:00I got a ticket last fall for speeding. The officer...I got a ticket last fall for speeding. The officer clocked me doing 50, the 30 mph sign was BEHIND him and far enough away that I could, and did slow down. I didn't argue with him and requested a trial. I'll fight in court. It's dumb to argue with a cop without witnesses.<BR/><BR/>If he'd asked to search the vehicle, I would have let him. (No profiling in South Texas, we're all brown). It's not because I have nothing to hide, it's just stupid to refuse. Refusing gives them an excuse to be suspicious. They're like annoying family, give them what they want so they leave you alone. A judge is more likely to believe the officer than me.Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18197370675477100853noreply@blogger.com