Do you fear the Police??

[PArrow]

You should. You probably committed several felonies this week and don't even know it.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/opinion/ou ... 2cdc0.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

While I salute those officers how uphold the laws with minimal effect on the general public. There are those with the "40 lb" badge who give the rest a bad reputation, not to mention the quasi-law enforcement agencies (ATF, DHS, TSA, SSA) that are trampling over our rights in their pursuit of fame.

[cb1000rider]

I've read about that incident on several sites. The bottom line is that the officers suspected a crime was in progress and that gives them enough culpable suspicion (if not probable cause) to effect a stop.
It's how they did it that is in question.
Nevermind the amount of enforcement used.
Nevermind the post-incident charges that were filed on some people who were not doing anything wrong... Of everything that took place, I can excuse it all but these charges.

I'm afraid of the PD when I know we're not in front of a camera. A traffic stop where the lights go off means that recording may have gone off. And incident that is outside the view of a private camera or dashcam, I fear that also.
Modern cell phones make things better, at least in Texas you're not going to be arrested for recording the PD without their consent... So I've got a single-button "record" option on the phone and that's what I use it for. Eventually, I'm going to setup auto-record cameras in the car, not just for the PD but for levels of protection in regard to auto accidents.

For those that think you've got nothing to worry about if you're not doing anything wrong... I generally agree with that. 90% of the LEOs I've run into are courteous and respectful. It's just that 1 in 10 that can make you have a Really Bad Day.

[LabRat]

...
I'm afraid of the PD when I know we're not in front of a camera. A traffic stop where the lights go off means that recording may have gone off. And incident that is outside the view of a private camera or dashcam, I fear that also.
Modern cell phones make things better, at least in Texas you're not going to be arrested for recording the PD without their consent... So I've got a single-button "record" option on the phone and that's what I use it for. Eventually, I'm going to setup auto-record cameras in the car, not just for the PD but for levels of protection in regard to auto accidents...

In car cameras are a good idea. As I've written on this forum before, I have a GoPro mounted on the windshield of my car.
When the motor is running, so is the camera.
It's good to know its there in case I need it. Hopefully I won't, but when you drive as much as I do, I figure it's gonna happen eventually.

I suggest you get one and use it. I've had folks start to mess with me on the highway; I just point to the camera and they take off.

It also recorded a stop by my local PD for a supposed insurance violation. Stop was without incident; glad the camera was there. Good sound recording on the GoPro. Easy to hear the officer's every word as well as my responses.

LabRat

[cb1000rider]

Labrat,
I own two gopros.. I wasnt' aware that they had an auto-on option.

What I need is a camera with an timer that keeps recording up to 30min after the power goes off... And will loop in terms of using the memory card.

[gringo pistolero]

I'm not worried about the local SO, but DPS really started to worry me in the past two years. Those recent roadside cavity searches don't help none.

[texanjoker]

I'm not worried about the local SO, but DPS really started to worry me in the past two years. Those recent roadside cavity searches don't help none.

The only thing I worry about is doing 3 mph over the speed limit as they are ticket writers where I live. I don't smoke dope so I don't have to worry about DPS wanting to search my cavities.

[talltex]

I'm not worried about the local SO, but DPS really started to worry me in the past two years. Those recent roadside cavity searches don't help none.

The only thing I worry about is doing 3 mph over the speed limit as they are ticket writers where I live. I don't smoke dope so I don't have to worry about DPS wanting to search my cavities.

EXCEPT in the first case, that came out earlier this year, neither did those two women. The Officer just CLAIMED he smelled pot when there was none, so you're probably safe since you're male, but just not smoking pot isn't a guarantee.

[philip964]

I have only run into one police officer, a sergeant, who I did not like. All (every one) of my other encounters with the police have been extremely professional and correct.

In the one case, after the sergeant left me and was out of hearing range. Another police officer said don't worry about him, he treats us just as bad.

[texanjoker]

I have only run into one police officer, a sergeant, who I did not like. All (every one) of my other encounters with the police have been extremely professional and correct.

In the one case, after the sergeant left me and was out of hearing range. Another police officer said don't worry about him, he treats us just as bad.

Time for somebody to quit or retire.

[chuck j]

I'v never had any trouble at all when pulled over , I was speeding or not wearing my belt . I dont really worry about the police .

[LabRat]

Labrat,
I own two gopros.. I wasnt' aware that they had an auto-on option.

What I need is a camera with an timer that keeps recording up to 30min after the power goes off... And will loop in terms of using the memory card.

Sorry, didn't intentionally mean to mislead. I just meant that anytime the motor is running, so is the camera.
I have to push the button to start it recording.

I did have a camera with the auto-on feature, but the format was proprietary and you had to use their software to watch.
It recorded in 10 minute segments, then started a new one. Once it was full, it recorded over the space used by the earliest recording.

But the picture quality was so poor and there was no recording feature.

[cb1000rider]

I don't smoke dope so I don't have to worry about DPS wanting to search my cavities.

Neither do I. I don't smoke and there isn't anything in my car that would be an issue in a search.


I live in a little community where local PD arrested a lady (after screaming at her in front of her kids) for not wearing a seat belt. They took her to jail as they felt it was an arrestable offense. She wasn't a dope smoking hippie liberal. The case made it to the supreme court and she lost... It was years ago, but that's the community that I live in. Unfortunately, the pay for officers here is less than 50% of Austin and it's a place for starter officers.

Two years ago they stopped me, it was for speeding. I was speeding, under 10 mph over. I was not carrying nor did I have a CHL at the time. I admit to speeding and it was a legal stop.
They said that I was acting nervous because I placed my hand on the top of the door sill and kept them there. I've found that some officers appreciate this. Some take it as a sign that I'm doing something wrong.
They asked me if they could search the vehicle. I refused. They then told me that if I let them search and they found "a joint" they'd write me a ticket and I could be on my way and it wasn't a big deal. I appreciate that, only I don't do drugs.
They said if I didn't comply they would take me to jail when (not if) they found dope and tow the car. They said "it will cost a lot more". I refused again.

I admit, I was being an for not letting them search. I knew that was the easy way out.

They told me that they already had probable cause as I was nervous, which made no sense as they were still asking for consent. I asked that officer (politely) to get a supervisor as I felt uncomfortable and felt like I was being coerced.
He called a supervisor.

Supervisor shows up, puts me behind my car and they go have a chat.
They come back and this is what they say:

I can sign consent to search, as they already have probably cause or they'll call Travis county for a drug dog.
They say that when the dog gets here, it will indicate that there are drugs in my vehicle. They made it very apparent that the dog will detect drugs, not that the dog might detect drugs. They remind me that I'm facing a simple citation that can be resolved locally. They also tell me that it will take an hour to get the dog here and that they're content to wait and that they're happy to make me late to work.

After hearing that I'm going to be detained for an hour and believing it, combined with having a dog craw all over and scratch up my car, I sign their consent form. They search the car. The officer that stopped me starts to open one of my outgoing mail (packages, bound for USPS). I assume, but don't know for sure, that those packages are really what he wanted to have a look at. They were auto parts going out for sale. The supervisor shuts the officer that stopped me down when he started to open the package.
They find nothing in the car. I can only assume in exchange for my patience didn't cite me for speeding.

I learned two things that day:
1) Had they held me for an hour waiting on a drug dog, I would have had cause for civil action. Caselaw doesn't support an hour detention on the side of the road due to being nervous in a traffic stop. It would not be a reasonable detention in regard to their level of suspicion.
2) They cannot open mail during a traffic stop without additional cause or a warrant.

After that stop, I got real interested in protecting myself with recording devices.

If you're doing nothing wrong and don't mind rolling over like I did you've got nothing to get upset about.
However, most of you are strong 2nd amendment proponents... So I'm sure you feel just as strongly about your other rights as well.
Last, your word against an LEO with no video or audio, you're going to lose. Don't think that if something bad happens you can just file a complaint and it will be taken seriously because you're an upstanding citizen with a spotless record... It won't, trust me.