The problem with this is much like the argument given by by LEO's enforcing laws that most people don't like; "I'm just enforcing the law and if you don't like the law, change it." The difference is, the Constitution isn't going to be changed, but that's beside the point.BrassMonkey wrote:There is a balance between a good pretext stop and a bad pretext stop. many bg's are picked up based off an initial contact from a pretext stop. Or even a racial profile stop. I've done both, and I have had both done to me.
We, as a society, have to find a happy medium in so far as what we accept or don't. Personally, I don't mind it too much. I will cautiously give up the this partial liberty as long as it remains effective in catching bad guys. I am ok with getting pulled over now and then when I did nothing wrong if the pretense/intention was good. Now I would NOT be ok with getting a bogus citation and that would be fought tooth and nail.
I equate this with being part of the responsibility of driving and being a contributing member of society. We also have to remember that driving is a priviledge.
Just my .02
A pretext stop is a legal stop because the driver has violated the law. If something "bigger" is found during the stop, then it's a legitimate arrest. But stopping someone for no reason and making up an excuse is not a pretext stop and it's not legal. Any officer doing it should be fired and TCLEOSE should pull their license.
How can we expect people to respect the law when the people hired to enforce it violate the highest law of the land? Think of the message it sends to a driver when he/she is pulled over for nothing, and is then lied to by the officer. In essence, the officer is saying, "I can do anything I want." In doing so, he makes it much harder for every honest LEO trying hard to do their jobs within the confines of the law and the Constitution.
Chas.