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Having been a cops' kid, growing up around law enforcement types, and having a step dad who was a hangin' criminal judge and former prosecutor, I have some cognitive dissonance about being a door mat for my rights as a citizen.

On the other hand, I have great respect for the difficult job that police officers have these days.

Rights have responsibilities, and that is where being in the adult ego state you can manage almost any situation of conflict.

I think this was a "fishin" stop, and the officers were a little too quick on the continuum of force to "stuff and cuff" the licensee.

You can argue that this was there way of managing the situation of "disarming" the licensee and there's merit to that.

Best way to avoid this is to show deference and not be confrontational at the time of contact. You do this by having the perspective that it is a zero sum game and the only way to win is to get the "stop" over as quickly as possible.

1. I would make my hands visible and ask for instructions with the window down.
2. I would follow the instructions to the letter, provide the necessary credentials, and inform the officer of where my weapon(s) were.
3. I would not query as to the reason I was detained as I know the officer will tell me when he is ready to.
4. I would not consent to a search of my vehicle and would very politely say it was my desire to protect my 4th amendment rights.
5. I would answer any questions the officers had in a polite and adult manner to get the detention over as expediently as possible.
6. If they are "fishin", I have no criminal activity to hide, and at that time would ask to cited for any class C traffic infractions if they desire.
7. If their actions indicate any heavy handedness after my polite and cooperative manner, then I shall pencil whip them to death ex post facto with letters of complaint and FOIA requests until their department wished this stop had never happened.

Contempt of cop is not something I want to be guilty of, but specious arguments about "what do I have to hide" or circular logic used in questions in an attempt to create articulate suspicion will not bear fruit with me as long as I stay in the adult ego state and have the objective of getting the officers on their way to not waste both of our time this day.

Emotions have no place here until the stop IS OVER. If I feel some breach of rights has occurred , it is my responsibility to point out that an officer may need a Personal Improvement Program to stay employed or keep his commission by putting a searchlight on them to their superiors/entity who may have future liability and costs due to his unprofessional conduct.

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