Re: Vid Of Guy Not Consenting to DUI Checkpoint
Patrick, I am not lumping you in with anyone, nor am I implying that most cops are bad. I do not believe that most cops are bad. If you look at my posts again, you will see that I said that I think that <span style="font-weight: bold">most cops are our friends</span>, but that there are <span style="font-weight: bold">some</span> bad ones. I did not say that you were one of them. I do not know you, so how could I say that? I have also said that I am mostly pro-LE.
As far as having a specific problem, the problem my friend had, which I mentioned, was more than big enough for all of us to sit up and take notice. It was not a problem with one cop, but a problem with several, all of whom acted illegally. I don't think that too many people have over $10,000.00 sitting around to give to an attorney to handle something that a few cops made up.
I am not saying that only some laws should be enforced. I am saying that, if a driver is acting like he or she may be intoxicated, by all means pull them over. But, I am saying that sobriety checkpoints are BS, because they involve stopping cars whose drivers are showing no signs of intoxication.
I think very highly of the job that most cops do. Frankly, I think most of them are underpaid for what they have to deal with. The problem is that, when a cop alters evidence, that cop does not have to personally pay an attorney. The "suspect" does. The cop's actions are defended by a department which has a lot more money than most individuals. Even when the "suspect" is exonerated, it will have cost them significant money which they would not have had to spend, if the cops in question had acted legally.
You stated that you train to be nice to everyone and have a plan to kill them. I am sure, therefore, that you will understand that I now prepare to be nice to everyone I meet, including all police officers, but have a plan to legally slam any police officer who acts illegally in dealing with me. I am certain that you will not disagree that we need to get the small proportion of bad cops off of the streets.