A simple burned out headlight was a lesson to me on how easy police can violate our rights.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: stargatetravels
I guess your sarcasm detector is in the repair center?

Kind of hard to tell since I do not recall speaking with you previously.

We've goofed around before.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

It's ok sugar, it obviously wasn't memorable enough for you.

a reply to: stargatetravels

Oh, yeah. That thread.


Sorry.

No offense but an Officer asking if a person driving at night in a polite manner is just the officer doing his job. How does the officer know you havent been drinking? I dont drink as I have never had a need or desire to but on the few times I have been pulled over at night I never got offended by an officer doing his job.

I mean I just got pulled over for speeding in Yellowstone where I was going 54 in a park where the limit everywhere is 45. The officer asked both if I had any drinks or being in Wyoming if I had any weapons on me. To me that is just the officer following protocol but also trying to assess the blind situation he is walking into.

None of those questions were an infringement on my rights and I fail to see how you being asked one of those questions was an infringement on yours.

originally posted by: KawRider9
a reply to: WeRpeons

My wife goes through safty checks several times a month on her way home from work. The cops ask for license, insurance and if she's been drinking. That is no violation. It's late at night and a reasonable question.

Safety checks?

Around here, if your black, a safety check (or any other form of traffic stop) means your car gets searched.

Sorry bud but lol do you need a "safe space"?

like many have said, it was night, car full of people, routine question, and he didnt press the issue.....

i dont see anything wrong with this

a reply to: WeRpeons

No one infringed on your rights.

You, on the other hand, are a big baby.

a reply to: WeRpeons

You were infringing on his rights as an officer of the law who has every right to ask you anything he feels to secure his safety and the community. You should be glad he cared enough to inquire about your ability to continue on the road.

Its his job. Good for him. Good for your community. Dont take it any other way. Afterall..he didnt know WHY maybe you could go down the road and not realize you had a light out.

Small thing son. Good for him. Suck it up and be glad you got 'em out there like him...and you WERE let go...and you WERE innocent....he did a good job.

a reply to: WeRpeons

What I have to say is if that is your only worry in the world, then you have a great life. Or if this is an issue for you, I assume you are very insolated in your reality. I don't mean to be hurtful or say "first world problems" type of way but more in a pat on the back tussle the hair kind.

I think you should sue the pants off the department and the officer. Please record the proceedings for us.

a reply to: WeRpeons

I think you should have thanked the overly-kind officer clearly out to serve and protect. Sounds like a ludicrous complaint.

a reply to: WeRpeons

Be happy you didn't get shot.

It happens sometimes.

originally posted by: WeRpeons
a reply to: MongolianPaellaFish

I was absolutely offended! If this is normal protocol to ask drivers if they've been drinking, I think it's wrong. It's like insinuating a person is guilty without having any evidence to the fact. If he saw me driving erratically, smelled alcohol on my breath or in the car, I can fully understand him asking the question!

He had no probable cause to ask. It's one thing if he smelled booze in my vehicle or if he noticed I was driving erratically. I was simply pulled over for a burned out headlight! I was simply being polite enough to wonder if I was exceeding the speed limit. I'm an honest guy I think police appreciate people are being honest with them.

It's probably already been noted, but just because a question offends you does not mean that the question infringes on your rights (what right is that...to not be offended or asked questions that you deem to be inappropriate?). This is not a fourth-amendment issue, here--it was a simple question. He could have easily asked you if you killed anyone recently, or if you had a kidnapped child in the vehicle.

It is not illegal for a LEO to ask you questions about doing something illegal, even without probable cause, no matter how much offense was taken. I'm quite the honest guy as well, and I've had odd questions asked of my by LEOs--they're not clairvoyant, and they can't automatically tell if you're Captain Honesty.

This is a mole hill, not a mountain. Hell, it's barely even an ant hill.

a reply to: 123143

it may be mandatory to ask and the fact he moved aIong after the no means no infringing. some may be thinking, "none if his business if i am drinking," but if not who shouId be checking? My famiIy member kiIIed an infant, two year oId, mom, and dad and it destroys entire extended famiIies, esρeciaIIy in his case since he got 3O days for it. So a ρoIiteIy toned question? Nothing to fret comρared to what u couId be deaIt...

a reply to: WeRpeons

Umm so he abused your rights by asking you standard questions at traffic stop?

< reads OP, LMFAOs out of thread >

Of all the things to get your knickers in a twist over, this is it? You're a little too tightly wound, methinks. Be grateful it was a non-issue stop, FFS.

I see so many vehicles in these parts with headlights out and it's a major hazard on unlit or poorly lit roads at night so a little more active policing on that as described by the OP would be welcomed here by most. We have random alcohol and drug test stops and any stop for any reason will see you being at least asked the question about drinking / drugs and possibly subjected to the roadside breath test, a 0.05% or greater result (or a non-zero reading for a provisional driver) will see you arrested on the spot and taken back to the station or wherever the more accurate breath test machine and saliva drug analyser is located. They always ask 'have you been drinking?' and get right up in your face as you answer to see if there's any hint of anything on your breath. I've been stopped a number of times but only breath tested once in 25 years here.

If people didn't drive while over that limit there'd be no need for it all.

a reply to: WeRpeons

Maybe he just wanted to check that also because he already pulled you over. I think its not a violation of human rights and I think its his right to ask that. In some other countries they keep asking you many questions till they find something off just to charge you or to get bribe, for quota or just to irritate you you know. Its also something about "Hmm he did not notice the light so maybe he is on alcohol." which is a possibility.

By the way I lived in Canada sometime in the past and I think Canada has the nicest cops I have ever seen in my life.

a reply to: 123143

Cmon you should be more polite.

a reply to: belkide

By the way I lived in Canada sometime in the past and I think Canada has the nicest cops I have ever seen in my life.

I was pulled over when I was back in the states. I agree, the cops in Canada are very friendly. They're just as nice at the border crossing.