I have been driving for almost 20 years now and I've never once been asked by law enforcement to search my vehicle. I've been asked to throw the keys out of the vehicle and had guns pointed at me twice for very high speed and or reckless driving when I was much younger. However even during those intense and dramatic encounters I was not asked for permission to search my vehicle and my vehicle has never been searched. I have been cited a few times for traffic violations, I have won three cases by going to court and the officer not showing up. Once I was actually guilty but still won because I went to trail and the officer didn't show up and the other two that I had dismissed for no-show on the officer's was because they either lied or messed up. So I've had my fair share of interactions with law enforcement and I've still never even been asked once for search privileges. Maybe it's my male white privilege at work.
I've been robbed once by an old roommate, stabbed by a druggie when he didn't like me walking by his house, but the cops have stolen more and hurt me worse in greater variety and in greater number, often for less than the druggie.
Last time I "cooperated" with a cop was almost 16 years ago when I was 55. I had gone out to the store to but some peach brandy for my wife's sore throat at around 5 pm on Dec. 19 (it was just getting dark about that time). We had had an argument a bit earlier and I decided to pout for a bit before going home, so I drove about a 10th of a mile up the hill from the store in my F150 pickup and just sit for a bit. I was going to sit in the darkness overlooking the local freeway, but I had noticed a patrol car prowling the parking lot of the medical offices up there and parked directly under a street light so that I could be seen. In the mean time, my wife called to find out why I hadn't come home yet and we started talking, The cop then came out of the facility directly in front of me and turned down the street to leave, suddenly making a U turn, flipping his high beams on and then U turning again to come directly behind me. I had no reason to fear him, I hadn't committed any infraction sitting there with my engine off, legally parked and speaking on my phone. While I continued talking to my wife, he asked for ID and registration which I promptly supplied, putting my wallet down on the bench seat which had only the bagged bottle of Brandy on it otherwise. The officer seemed annoyed because I wasn't worried about him and though I was polite, my expression probably reflected that I thought he was an idiot. When he handed my license back, I reached for my clearly visible wallet (still with the wife on the phone) and I heard "PUT YOUR HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!" The idiot had drawn on me and ordered me out of my truck at gun point. He slightly injured my hand as he patted me down and put me in the back of his patrol. In the meantime, my wife called his duty officer and another cop we'd known as a teenager was sent and asked the first one what was going on. I was unceremoniously released without apology. When I got home, I called that same duty officer to lodge a complaint. That's when the moment came which caused me to be forever suspicious of cops. Rather than apologize or placate me at all, the duty officer said (and I shall remember the exact words forever), "He could have done a lot worse"... That's not a bad cop, that's a dangerously bad system...
@@kpdvw While true, I didn't know that at the time. Never really had reason to know it. But even now, depending upon the level of aggression of the cop (this little guy was incredibly aggressive - a newbie to the sheriff's dept.) I might show a polite cop my ID and not much more. Answering any questions would not be on my to do list now, knowing how they can twist words to find "probable cause". There is great danger in talking to these people and/or any detective or prosecutor. Saying too much (as in anything beyond name, rank and serial number) is a sin which probably will come back and bite you - hard...
> that's a dangerously bad system... People need to understand that the cops are doing what they are taught to do, backed by policy and law. The entire policing system needs to be updated and changed... but it won't.
CDC3: It IS a dangerously bad system--that can take your life over nothing but cop's ego and power tripping paranoia. We shouldn't have to live like this.
Had this happen several times when I was working night shift at a Postal Service Encoding Center in my early twenties. Would get pulled over on my way home for the ambiguous and always false "I saw you weaving / crossing the center line." Then they make me sit for a half hour while they brought in the drug dog to search the vehicle because the officer "thought he smelled pot" (never found anything of course). It was obviously just a fishing expedition, they saw a young guy in his 20's out at 3:00am and just assumed there was no reason for him to be out unless he was up to no good, Funny thing was, the third time it happened I immediately handed the officer my Postal Badge along with my ID and told him I just left work and was headed home. Amazingly this time he didn't "smell pot", he just handed my badge backs and told me to have a nice evening. But it's a bit pathetic you have to justify driving on a public road at "the wrong time".
> But it's a bit pathetic you have to justify driving on a public road at "the wrong time". Now imagine if you were black with no postal badge to save your ass...
Civil Forfeiture should also be completely abolished as well. Your money *IS* your property. Your property *IS* your property. Everything that the cops steal from you *IS* your property. The reality of Civil Forfeiture is so horrifying and so extremely commonplace that a single traffic stop can cost you literally everything but your life if the cop(s) *allow* you to continue living. Specifically, if you are not ruthlessly publicly executed by the cops so they can freely loot your corpse you will most likely become permanently homeless because the cops stole as much of your property as they possibly could as fast as possible.
@@adamgray1753 Unfortunately I believe you are correct. To me, "civil forfeiture" is legalized theft. It does violate the US Constitution but, for some reason, it has been held to be legal.
@@adamgray1753 The more I find out about the Patriot Act the more I realize it is NOT a good law for this country. In so many ways it violates the basic tenants of our culture as it has developed over the last two centuries. The sooner it is repealed, the better off we are as a country. Thanks for your response.
How exactly does a cop walk into a courtroom and prove/verify to a judge that he actually did smell marijuana? Especially in cases where no marijuana is found...
@@ianbattles7290 He doesn't have to prove anything. The standard for the search is merely probable cause, and if the judge believes the LEO (which is likely), he will probably find the LEO had probable cause for the search. As soon as you get pulled over, start recording on your cell phone.
@@ianbattles7290 He can claim he smells it. That all he has to do. And...it could be that he really DOES smell it...because there is weed upwind of you. It's just not originating from you car.
When I was in my 20's, I had my car searched by the police after "Your refusal to allow us to search your car is the probable cause we need to search your car."
This also sounds as cuckoo as "not talking to me under the 5th is obstruction!", both happen and both are bananas. Also, "not answering my questions is grounds for reasonable suspicion/probable cause".
YEARS AGO I WAS STOPED BY POLICE AT NIGHT ,,,,,IN MY VAN / HOUSE CAR ,,,NO REASON FOR STOP ,,,ORDERED OUT AT GUN POINT ,..HELD AT GUN POINT WHILE VAN WAS SEARCHED ,,,,,,,AFTER 10 MIN, OR SO ,,,,,COP TOSSED MY WALLET ON GROUND AND THE JACK ASSES LEFT ,,,,IM STILL HANDS UP ,,,,,DUH
My experience from Louisiana in the 90's: I was driving cross country from California to Florida when I was stopped by the sheriff's office vehicle literally for doing the speed limit. He told me I "look suspicious and matched the description of the vehicle they were looking for" and proceeded to ask me why I was driving precisely the speed limit. I informed him that I had a CB radio in the car and they have been talking about him sitting in the center median for the last 20 miles. When he told me that my vehicle fit the description of the vehicle they were looking for I literally looked at him and said "really? Because we're in the middle of Louisiana and if the vehicle you were looking for is a maroon 1990s Lincoln town car with California plates chances are you probably found it." After getting my license registration and insurance card he then asked me if he can search the vehicle to which I said no of course. Next thing I know he brings out the canine unit who proceeds to go around the car and then starts jumping at the right rear tail light. The officer then informed me that the dog "hit" on the car and they're going to search it. Now I knew that I had placed nothing in the vehicle but after seeing Fido over here so eagerly jump at the car I'm not going to say I was not concerned. I asked another officer who had arrived how often the dog had been wrong, he literally looked at me and says "never". Well, of course this time they didn't find anything in the car. I looked over at the officer and said "never say never". You're talking to a guy who doesn't even drink let alone do drugs or transport it. I could not be more boring. I was 24 years old driving a brand new Lincoln town car because I like the style. That shows you how boring I am. Anyway, long story short I got back in the car and went on my way. It dawned on me years later that if they can teach a dog to smell cocaine from outside the vehicle, they could probably teach the dog a hand signal to jump up on the car and provide them with probable cause.
Yep, Jim Alger. I have a first hand experience where the cop who stopped me driving my mother's car more than six years ago one night he literally said the same thing to me. After he came back to me with my Driver's License, Insurance, and Registration in hand he was in mid-sentence when somewhat loudly on his radio the APB changed from a description almost perfectly matching my mother's car to a black SUV. Almost immediately he let me go. I had learned many years prior to be nice to the cop(s) who stop me. Otherwise they become unruly POSes who will lawfully and legally destroy your life and there is naught a thing you can do about it because you are too goddamn poor to afford even a Dollar Tree lawyer. With this video though... I figure even being nice to the cop(s) will give them "probable cause" to become hellbent to escalate the situation so they can successfully publicly execute you at least.
They have non verbal commands they can give to make the dogs hit. This is 100% a fact. My uncle used to be a canine unit in California and he told me all about the dirty tricks they use to violate our rights.
I used to hate when our military working dog would get a false positive for explosives. Once we had to be moved outside the wire with no QRF in Fallujah.
I worked with a guy who got a false positive hit on his car in the random drug sweep. His own bitch was in heat at the time. That dope pooch got horny and the man had to take a piss test to prove he ain't a crack head. The man parked his vehicle off property and across from the employees parking lot in the view of the HR managers office window on purpose for a while.
@@TheBooban Sure it's possible, but you're dealing with an animal that isn't perfect to begin with. It's why they shouldn't be used in law enforcement where they have profit and power motives. Leave them in search and rescue where they belong.
I was once in traffic court many, many years ago. The guy in front of me was being charged with speeding and resisting arrest because he didn't pull over on what is a very busy street during rush hour. Apparently he pulled off at the next street where it would have been safer. The judge looked at the cop, berated her for the resisting charge and threw it out. I applaud that judge.
Gee, why would that be? Something to do with interacting with someone with a gun who literally has the power of freedom or life-and-death over you? And you have no idea what their mental/ emotional state is?
When you know they are on a fishing trip to turn anything they can into a criminal indicator as an excuse to take your money or property or hang a charge against you let alone if one of goes off the rails & does something worse who wouldn't be nervous?
I know plenty of people that blindly support law enforcement that absolutely believe that if they just show respect everything will be good...even as they are having their rights trampled on. Just doin their jobs. 🙄
Officer - Where are you headed? Where are you coming from? Driver - Detective, my headlights indicate the direction I’m headed and unsurprisingly my taillights indicates where I was. Officer - Get out of the car, smart ass
Got pulled over in Reno NV. Had recently moved and did change of address through DMV. I had the paper receipt and was waiting for the new card in the mail. I handed both to the cop and explained the situation. Also, there is 1 DMV in the entire city. 1. Cop: which dmv? Me: THE... DMV. The one Cop: okay smartass (the reason you reminded me of ths story) which one? Me, completely dumbfounded: Okay, you take the 4th st exit. Make a right. A quick left. Go over the train tracks. DMV is on the right. I don't know their address. Is there another somewhere in the city i am unaware of? Im sorry im not trying to be smart, i literally don't know of another DMV. That was 10 years ago and I still think about that question often. "Which DMV?" Are you retarded?
My reply: this entire encounter is recorded and broadcast to the Cloud immediately. I'm not answering any of your questions. Please violate my rights so I can sue the piss out of your and your jurisdiction.
I had an office ask me to step out of the car once (only happened like 2 or 3 times in my life). So I said "wait one," shut the car off, raised my windows, shut the sunroof and stepped out. When I stepped out I made a point of showing the officer me locking the car, tossing the keys on the driver seat and closing the door. The look on his face was priceless. When our interaction was complete (no ticket), he gets back in his car and watches me. That priceless look? Completely disappeared when I took a second key out of my pocket and unlocked the door. Also, I have a dashcam in my car that helps refute claims of wrongdoing and such things as stuttering, correcting myself, etc since it records audio as well. Just some tools in my toolbox to help keep some of these fools honest.
I haven't set it up yet, I read in my owner manual that I can unlock and start my car from my phone. Would be handy if I toss keys in car and they can't grab your spare out of your pockets!
We pretty much are to a degree. That degree is once you see need to challenge the so called peace keeper in anyway. The courts are designed to take everything you own down to nothing in fees. Then even if innocent reward money goes to your lawyer and you can buy lunch a few times. Then figure out where to go work till you die.
YUP ,,,I WAS STOPED IN MY VAN / HOUSE CAR AND WAS HELD AT GUN POINT WHILE MY VAN WAS SEARCHED ,,,,,,,NOTHING FOUND ,,,,COP TOSSED MY WALLET ON GROUND AND THE JACK ASSES LEFT
I was pulled over several years ago for smiling and politely waving at a state trooper on the freeway as they passed me in the fast lane. They slowed down and got in behind me, turned their lights on and I pulled over and stopped. The Trooper asked if I "needed any assistance", to which I replied "for what?". They then said that I had waved at them, which was an indication of possible distress, requiring them to commence a stop. I told them that I just waved to show my support for the job that they do and keeping me safe. Even though the trooper was appreciative, I still got a lecture that I could have been arrested for "false reporting" for simply waving at a cop. My last words to him were jokingly "When you get to the point that you start thinking that a smile and a wave is a crime, you need to take a vacation with a bottle of rum and a fishing pole".
I imagine signaling for distress comes in many forms in an officer's business. CIP, a special wave can signify a problem in the vehicle and the individual waving needs help. It can be that subtle for an officer being alerted to a wave. In today's world pleasantries seem to be going out the window.
@SittingMoose Shaman Just remember, it takes the sentiments of the majority that allows you to be considered a citizen. Sentiments seem to be changing in today's day and age. There is a war going on and you are involved whether you like it or want it or not. You can hear the pain and suffering disguised as individual rights through the courts trumping the many not unlike the deaths brought on by a 1973 decision by the SCOTUS that legalized death in the womb. Said rights began the disregard for life to the point legislators in New York applauded and celebrated their law allowing abortion up to the time of delivery. That applauding took a few decades but only about one to two years for another legislature in Maryland to consider death post birth, you know, sorry you made it but ha ha you didn't. Do the people of Maryland want and expect such a consideration from their legislature? Yes, the Constitution if enough like minded people remain to defend it. The government is you and your neighbor and "his" neighbor. Should we lose our Republic to the popular vote the cities in chaos will determine our leader. Speaking of leader, the prized Constitution is being disregarded involving the eligibility requirement. Did you know we have a VP whose parents were not US citizens when she was born? Well we allowed a candidate with just one citizen to begin the ball rolling. I just wonder if the next step will be illegals demanding to be allowed? It is at the top and the bottom that is being attacked but you must be quiet. Silence will be our undoing.
When I was a little kid, I used to smile and wave at police officers. Most just thought it was cute and waved back. I stopped doing it after one thought I was signaling distress and came over to find out what was the matter. He wasn't a jerk about it or anything; it was more just to prevent a misunderstanding like that from happening again.
Years ago I was stopped outside of Memphis for having a new car that was dirty, seriously, I was told that was suspicious activity. I refused a search, was asked why and still refused. By the time that it was over they had 4 cars, 7 cops and a K9 that went around my car twice. Nothing was found, but it took almost an hour and I was on my way back home. FWIW, no search was conducted.
I have been pulled over and searched for all those reasons in Idaho. You would think they would give up after so many times of finding nothing, but they still do.
In Virginia I got pulled at an alcohol check point and during the search he found a 9mm casing and for the next 3 hours they tore my car apart looking for a gun. Well..Long story short I have a concealed carry permit and I had left my weapon home. When they found this out they got pissed and made me put all my stuff back in my car and let me go. Dont talk to them. They are not your friends.
@John Smith yeah right, have you seen all the videos where people do that and get their ass handed to them? I guess not. Why don’t you post up a video of you telling the cops they gotta do something. Wimp
Heisenberg, Schrodinger, and Ohm were traveling in Heisenberg's car when an officer pulled them over. The officer asked Heisenberg if he knew how fast he was going and he answered "No, but I know where I am." You were doing 55 in a 35 zone replied the officer. "Now I am lost." said Heisenberg. This is weird thought the officer, I need to search the vehicle. Upon opening the trunk, he noted "There is a dead cat in here!" "WELL NOW THERE IS!" said Schrodinger. The officer decided to arrest them all, but Ohm resisted.
I've been wracking my brain trying to get Wittgenstein into this story, it just seems he would fit. But I'm going to be retelling this one to special people. Cheers!
only free to do as we are told, dont and they storm your house at 3am with assault rifles and military attack dogs. they take you kids by force and kill you dogs...
How do you defend against "I smell alcohol or weed"? How about these questions while on the stand? 1. Alcohol - what does an orderless liquid smell like? 2. Weed or alcoholic beverage - A. Where did you get your training on identifying certain smells? Was it in the Academy or on the job or through a training course? B. Who was the certified teacher and how did they get accredited as a trainer. C. What was the course, Smells 101 or an advanced class? D. Can you please show the court your successful completion certificate?
The broad notion of qualified immunity is reasonable. You can't be sued for doing your job as a public official. If the zoning board clerk rejects your application because it's in some way defective you can't sue them personally and bankrupt that person for doing their job. Fair. But this ridiculous notion that cops can't be sued unless someone was previously sued for doing the exact same thing under the exact same circumstances needs to go.
We all need a dash cam that swivels and is small. Then we have the police at our window on video. Check out the AUKEY Mini Dash Cam $48 but get an endurance 128 gig Micro SD card ($25 more)
My work truck has 3 cameras - I was pulled over (at 3am) and when the officer saw the cameras asked to turn them off - I informed them that I wasn't going to turn them off - they then asked if they could search the truck as they smelled weed ( I don't and weed is legal in CA) - I said no - they called for a dog. The dog handler knew me - had a short talk - and told me I could go.
My true concern isn't that they'll find anything, but that during the search they'll break something, or scratch my paint. Can they be held responsible for that?
The scary fact is that it isn't getting worse. You just aren't old enough to know. What we see today is just Scalia's "new professionalism" in action. Cops have learned to use magic phrases like "I felt threatened" or "I smell Marijuana". In the past a cop could just beat you down on a whim without so much as a "stop resisting!" for the cameras that they didn't have at the time. Today you at least have a fighting chance sometimes.
The ugly reality is , once they search your vehicle , and turning your property inside out , & upside down !! FIND NOTHING , YOU HAVE TO FIX THEIR MESS , AFTER HOURS OF BEING DELAYED !!!! 😡
Officer: “Your Honor the defendant was breathing. I found that suspicious. The air quality in Pennsylvania is not conducive to the free exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
I moved to the U.S from England a little over two years ago and had to resit my test for my Connecticut licence. While doing the 8 hour mandatory classroom section the teacher asked.. "After you have all passed your test how many of you will go out to just drive your car for the fun of driving?" I said that in England I do that all the time. Don't do it here he said. Even if you have to just tell a cop you are just driving home. I asked why. They don't like it he said...They don't like it!.. Land of the Free is just something Americans get told by politicians. It's the most oppressed country I've ever lived in. Suffice it to say I don't go out at night here and I don't go driving without a prepared reason. Not scared of the criminals, The people I know and those I've met out are wonderful. I'm scared of the police..
Well well well I thought I would never see someone say this because we are not the land of the free. We are brainwashed we are. I barely find anyone to thinks like this.. I've been saying this for years
@@janechambers9980 "When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. " -I have no idea who said that, but it works perfectly with the police!
@Superduper DavidMiorgan 40 years ago you had to crash into the police dept to get a DWI. They were still taking your keys until morning and following you home and many other things that I have seen first hand to certain few so you can shut your pie hole
I was stopped in Michigan by state police once. They did not give a reason for the stop. The only reason they gave for the stop was to search my car. I gave consent only so I could get on with my day. I figured they were going to search it anyway, and I didn’t want to sit there waiting for the dog. In hind sight, I should’ve refused. Apparently driving the speed limit with Ohio plates is suspicious.
Have him carefully craft a laminated card signed by his doctor that he can hand over to the pigs whenever he encounters them. Have him make several copies to keep in the glove box in case they don't return it.
You should be afraid for him. Cops kill such people. Case in point is Roger Holyfield in Jerseyville, IL. The cops killed him for carrying a Bible. True story, Google it. The St.Louis coroner reported 6 tazings which killed him. The cops reported only 2. The cops lied on their report. Not only that, but a couple of weeks later the boy's mother's house burns down killing her other son and her little granddaughter. She was my employee. The second son rented from me for a while and had just moved back in with mom. Of course the fire chief covered for the cops and said it was because of an extension cord. You do not trust anyone in that town. That was 3 murders of children in 1 family. And this is only a drop in the barrel for this town as I ran a business there for 22 years.
Back in the day... PA used to have billboards up, emblazoned with, "You've got a friend in Pennsylvania." My trucker father used to say, "Yeah, you can tell because they've always got their hand in your pocket."
If they fail to give you a sobriety test then it’s an indicator that they didn’t think you were impaired. I’m using this to file for a motion to dismiss my traffic ticket. Hope it works.
Connecticut has a new police accountability act that forbids them from searching a car on a traffic stop without written permission or the motorist giving permission on camera
Q: Why should the client never be put on the stand? I ask because if I had to go to court, my gut / emotions would want me to explain my side of what went on. But I'm gathering that this would not be a beneficial for me. While one would like to think, "Innocent until proven guilty", from everything I've learned from this channel, it seems that a cop can say about whatever and a judge will likely beLIEve them. Found this channel a few months ago & LOVE the material. VERY educational. Thank You Steve Lehto!
When I told them, truthfully, that I was dating a fiery, tenacious, redheaded Public Defender, and she would give me a hard time if I let them search my truck, the officer agreed, and let me go.
Man I wish I had seen a judge not believe a cop. I've literally had a judge ignore photographic evidence and a weather report that showed no rain after an officer wrote that there was rain to raise the ticket cost.
I'll give you two words that people should remember: Fishing expedition. I would say that if an officer at roadside tries to coerce a search, because you said 'no,' and he insists anyway, ask him flat out: "Officer, why are you engaging in a fishing expedition and trying to search my car? I said 'no, you may not search my car,' yet you're trying to anyway. Do you realize that in engaging in a fishing expedition, you are attempting to violate my Fourth Amendment rights regarding searches and seizures?" Way it's going, doing _anything_ around a cop turns into a catch-22, where it doesn't matter how you answer a cop's questions or not. I don't know about anyone else, but it seems to me that cops seemingly have carte blanche to abrogate a person's Fourth Amendment rights, despite the fact we are supposed to be free from unwarranted searches and seizures -- and mere non-consensual contact should never be enough to basically say that our rights end, just because we got pulled over. This is the exact reason why I have felt for the last 15 years that cops have too broad an authority at a traffic stop. It's not enough to merely pay lip service to the concept of rights, it should be recognized that the most important time for rights to be respected is when someone deals with law enforcement.
Officer: "Sir, do you know why I pulled you over?" Smart ass: "Uh, let me guess, you have a naturally authoritarian personality that caused to to gravitate into a career in law-enforcement so you could satisfy your internal cravings to dominate and bully people, and after 6 months at the police "academy", you now have a badge, gun, and ticket quota, and here we are? Am I close? Am I under arrest?"
I would just tell them that I have no problem with them searching if they have a warrant. Then proceed to tell them that I would also like to have a court appointed attorney present too.
Specifically, the United States of America died on January 21st, 2021, @@jenniferwhitewolf3784. We are officially a Communist Country. We failed our Military Veterans and they failed us. We failed one another. We failed ourselves. The only truly successful people in America are the Communists who successfully stole all the political, financial, and justice powers from all Americans. You gotta admire the tenacity that it took for these damnable Communists to have achieved this much though.
I once had a Michigan DOT K9 cop run their dog around my truck 3 times. He asked if I had any drugs because the dog had "alerted". My response was no I do not have any drugs and you've run your dog around there so many times it's now just trying to please you. He didn't say anymore.
Do not forget, @@garypierce7380, the dog is not ruthlessly and cruelly beaten down until doggie does literally whatever his or her handler demands at any given moment.
This is nothing but conjecture. If cops violate your rights, sue them! Make sure they issue you a ticket, take it to court and force them to admit what they did. Then sue based on statements.
Having been a court officer for MANY years (now retired), judges always sided with the cop even when they knew that officer was lying (testimony conflicted with the citation, for example). We had one local LEO that was notorious for lying under oath, just to get a conviction.
It was so common in NY, they had a term for it. Testilying. It was routine for officers to lie under oath in court with impunity, and everyone from the judges to the DA's knew it and didn't care. Most corrupt legal system in the world.
They get money for making Convictions. And the Judge makes money from siding with them. Of course they will almost always side with Police. You might fine a rare, very rare judge who stands for freedom and the law, and will not listen to police BS. But most don't give 2 shits about the law, or you, or the case. They just want you out so the day can end faster so they can get home for personal reasons. So will side with the police, cause it's the most common and safe and money making option.
@@debbiputman3482 there are always "court costs" that are paid by the person ordered to appear. The cop hands out the order. The prosecutors justify the cops order. The the Justice of the Peace, Magistrate or judge order the person that "appears" to pay for their "appearance."
I was stopped taking a nap in my car in a parking lot next to the road because I was tired. 2 "thugs" from the PA State Police took the time to hassle me for 45 minutes because I was sleeping in my car, because I was tired and apparently that's SUSPICIOUS! THEN, they asked to search my car. I complied because I had NOTHING to hide. After they trashed the inside of my car, and dumped out the food in a box in my trunk, they let me go. Now, NEVER will I ever consent to a search, or answer any questions they ask, other than identification and insurance.
this is the real reason not to consent to a search... what alot of people don't realize is they are most certainly not gonna put anything back if your car isn't very tidy although as a counterpoint i used to keep alot of trash in my car to discourage searches
I watched cops "produce" cause to impound a car ( after given consent to search by the owner) which consisted of.............a tiny piece of paper( about 1/4 the size of a postage stamp) that " appeared" to be singed. i will never give consent to search unless their is a literal gun to my head after thT.
@@ATAdude666 The REAL REASON is that , if you consent to a search, you lose a lot of ability to contest the search, and what they "found" in court. Deny consent and it automatically gives you a possible motion to suppress evidence victory on 4th Amendment grounds.
in the early 1970's, I took the test for n.y.c' s police department..but, as some ppl. may remember, the corruption in the force was overwhelming.. even though I passed the test..I shied away from joining..and I have never had any regrets..
I can't thank you enough for spreading the word Steve. The awareness your bringing to what's going is so important. Freedom is truly under assault in so many ways and it's got to stop.
@@j0hnnykn0xv1lle Nope. I'm just some hillbilly from Tennessee who stays as far from any cities as I can. I only had to go to one 6 times last year. My nearest neighbors are mostly Amish. It's pretty nice out here.
@@widehotep9257 I think this whole country needs to OD on red pills a couple times. It's like folks don't even care anymore and just go along with all the bullshit.
Years ago I was a foreman for a commercial carpentry crew. We had some tedious technical work to do and were behind on the job so I worked late by myself and left the job around midnight pulling a tool trailer. I was immediately pulled over and I knew I wasn't speeding or had committed any other obvious violations. The cop came up to me and exclaimed in an accusatory tone, "I saw you pull out of there!". I probably said something like "So, what's the problem?". He had me get out of the truck and let me know he thought I had stolen something. I told him I'd been working late and was just leaving the job. Then he asked me why I was sweating. I almost burst out laughing at that one as I told him "I was working, like I said". This was in Texas in the middle of summer when it's still in the mid-80s to low 90s at midnight. Then he says he's going to have to search the trailer. At this point I was wondering who tied his shoelaces in the morning and asked him what he expected to find because I could tell him right now that it was full of tools, because I was working. I went ahead and opened it up for him and, sure enough, there were a bunch of tools. Somehow I managed to convince him that I was actually working and hadn't worked up a sweat loading up a bunch of tools from the construction site to take down to the pawn shop. Maybe it was the fact that I was still covered in saw dust. Somehow I don't think that guy ever did make detective.
One of the few good things about the ubiquity of recording devices these days is that now more people know what some of us have known about cops for decades.
It's a moot point now, Pennsylvania now requires a search warrant to search a vehicle now. There a very few exceptions now that permit a roadside search without one.
Pennsylvania is one of the most corrupt police states in America. I was driving through there years ago. Moving with the flow of traffic in the slow lane. Cop was hiding behind the "Welcome to Pennsylvania" sign. Of course I had out of state plates. He wrote me a ticket for not using my turn indicator properly when he pulled me over. You can't make this sh*t up. Never went back. I actually drove the long way around on the return trip to avoid PA.
@@RespectMyAuthoritaah well that was a ticket that you should've been able to meet because the stop was initiated before you activated your turn signal
I figure this is a major reason why more and more cops are being outright shot and even shot and killed these days. No matter what the cop(s) in question will do literally whatever it takes to escalate the situation so they can lawfully and legally murder you and up to everyone in the immediate vicinity. Almost every time they get off scot-free via Qualified Immunity. So if you have a gun, knife, and/or some other weapon you can use to defend yourself the best you can before you are publicly executed for the "extreme crime" of breathing oxygen on Earth will you actually fight back the best you can, or peacefully be publicly executed? What gets me is everything I just said in my previous paragraph are things that the cops bemoan as reasons why they must absolutely commit up to mass murder in court and even in various PR statements I have seen for over a decade now. Let's face it, guys, anytime a cop stops you for literally anything just assume that day is your day to die a horrific death via murdered by cop(s). Immeasurably tragic that real life has progressed to the point where this is all Americans' fate in real life. So good luck to everyone in staying as invisible as you can muster to the cops.
@@adamgray1753 I just wont drive with cops behind me anymore. I will pull over in front of the next parked car the second I see one get behind me. They are all criminals with badges
Fully understandable, @@joesosnowski7568. I have not been stopped by the cops in over five years. I have had some cops literally follow me for miles before abruptly turning off somewhere else. My guess is they were trying to spook me and/or worse.
@@adamgray1753 I've been relentlessly and mercilessly harassed and railroaded by my local PD to the point where I was terrified to leave my own home. I started recording every breath I'd take. Filming every white line of every stop sign. Every turning signal. Speedometer. Everything, just to prove that I was being constantly pulled over without cause. Over a two week span, I was pulled over 5 different times. I went and spoke to a Lieutenant who made it stop, but not without giving me plenty of static and being very confrontational. I told him I spoke to an attorney who is confident I'd have a case for pattern and practice of violating/depriving rights, but would only sue if it continued. I told him I dont want problems with a bunch of retaliatory criminals in the village I live in. I havent been pulled over in my town since then but LT no longer works there. IL also just passed police reform and I guess they're all terrified of misconduct complaints now.
There's a good quote from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Tribunal" where O'Brien was arrested by the Cardassians on trumped up charges. They said to him: "You have the right to refuse to answer questions. However, such refusal may be construed as a sign of guilt."
Just about the whole narcotics division of the Baton Rouge, La. police department was fired and/or arrested for stealing drugs that were evidence and selling them.
@@davemojarra2666 -- If the next parish didn't take them, just about any county in Idaho would have. Several high-profile officers who were fired because of incidents that made national attention ended up here, in small towns with small budgets.
Build/conjure/invent/forge/falsify/fabricate, etc, etc. You know, whatever it takes to get a conviction. It's all good for them. It certainly doesn't happen all the time, but they'll definitely do it if they have a weak or wrongly accused case. I've seen it happen to good friends of mine.
Yes, @@charlesshreeve319. For many, many years I had been seriously wondering why so many Defendants have been ruthlessly executed in the Courtrooms. Death is much preferred when you are looking at hard prison sentences for horrific crimes you never committed and are about to be successfully tried and convicted of such crimes. Everything is so deeply and strongly stacked against you, the American.
@@adamgray1753 Executed in the Courtrooms? Not sure what you're trying to say here to me, "the American". But Justice isn't always blind and equal. Police definitely have the advantage in the courtroom, and will occasionally ruthlessly abuse that inequality.
Yes, @@charlesshreeve319. Some people have been ruthlessly murdered in Court by the cops. Usually because they go off and try to assault the Judge because the Judge does their best to "legally" destroy the Defendant however they can. This is a major reason why the cops get to have all the weapons and you get nothing to protect yourself with.
Every now and then, that comes back to haunt them, and the bustling metropolis they work for..all it takes is a judge that sees a difference between body camera footage and a written incident report...Happened in Des Moines a while back..and two young African-American men got paid...and their lawyer..
@@RonKris One thing a camera they can't control will do...drive a stake right thru the heart of "make it up as you go along"...that's what drives the vitriolic hate cops have for them...but the times they are a changin'.....
Also Mr. Lahto i find your videos interesting, informative and many times entertaining. Thank you for that and for your contribution of shining a light on evil and corrupt government actions.
Will you pay me for my time, damages and detailing to clean up the mess you will leave and allow me to do a full body cavity search beforehand to preclude you from planting evidence as well as an additional full body search afterwards to ensure that you didn't steal anything? NO? Then I don't consent to a search.
Sadly, his comments sometimes seem to support conservative positions and sometimes they support liberal positions, so no party would take him. Besides that, he probably wouldn't be able to continue this channel after that, which would be a true tragedy.
@@daverobson3084 I think his views often align with the Libertarian party's views, but it's difficult for third parties in the US to get any traction. The libertarian party would have to control the executive branch and the US Senate in order to get folks like Steve into the judiciary. (Then they have to find them.)
Cop: Why are you sweating? I need to search your car? Everyone in Maricopa county AZ: it is 117 out, you made me turn my car off and roll the window down.
I was asked “Why are you sweating” in the Lagos, Nigeria airport (lovely place, vultures perching on the buildings... makes you feel real safe - of course there was a Dana air crash a few days before...) then he laughed and said, oh, you are from the US - that explains it! I told him that this 35 degree weather is a bit hot, and I prefer 5 degrees.... (Celsius!) At least he believed me and they only searched me gently, although one of the 'TSA’ people asked for Niara, and I quite truthfully said I had none... and donated nothing
@@cat-.- It's a dry heat in Maricopa county. A person doesn't sweat. (Well, they do sweat, but the sweat evaporates before it can dampen your clothes.)
I have told a cop before, "you can search my car if you'll apologize for wasting my time when you don't find anything". After a 20 minute search that produced nothing, the cop silently uncuffed me and handed my car keys back. He looked so angry that I wasnt breaking the law, oddly...
In the video Steve mentioned that judges don't always believe the police officer. This reminded of a story that a friend of mine told me. This friend of mine said he was speeding down the highway in his turbo 1966 Corvair and at some point got pulled over. Well when he went to court the judge threw the case out. He didn't believe a Corvair could go 140 mph.
Isn't this another case of *damned if you do, damned if you don't?* It is myth that most of the population enjoys rights afforded by law, when the supposed enforcers of same violate it like this routinely. Thanks for discussing this subject, Mr. Lehto!
I had a friend that attended the PA State Police academy. He became a local policemen for a few years and not a State Trooper. He told me that the bottom third of the graduating class of Troopers where directly assigned to the Pa Turnpike and that he would never drive the Turnpike.
I don't recall what I was watching, but I was floored when the cop in the thing I was watching was listing off suspicious things that could be seen through a car window and one of them was "trash in the floorboard." Excuse me? Where the hell else am I going to toss the fast food bag before I find a trash can to toss it out, you pricks?!
As someone that was an Explorer (think high schooler that thinks they want to be a cop, working with them in low risk ways) I can tell you that we had officers in some jurisdictions that were known as Officer Seeds and calling them meant you had a car you wanted to search without probable and he was to come dump some MJ seeds in the car in order to give it. It was also the reason I never joined the police force
Problem with that is MJ seeds have never been illegal. They are considered a novelty. Also it's pretty much impossible to determine if the seed is MJ or Hemp or one of several seeds that look similar.
@@moguaiato5583 seeds had always been a reason for probably cause though. Specifically in CA there were multiple cases that said so in the 80s and early 90s so I dont know why you think its important that they are illegal cause that dont mean shit.
@@dgilliam usually the pre-text for pulling them over at the time was cruising as we had city ords at the time that made it illegal, of course the low riders were the only ones that ever got pulled but you know back then (mid 90s) profiling was a good thing
My favorite excuse ive read on my own paperwork “suspect was too friendly and overly cooperative” i learned then and there to just hand them my id and not say a word to them unless asked a question.
Anybody can have the police treat them like crap. A few years ago to New York cops pull the man out of his car because they saw he had a gun. And that's how the New York Police Commissioner got pulled out of his car
I always sweat, stutter and correct myself when I get pulled over. That is because I've seen first hand the abuse by LE too many times. I know that I am literally an eyeblink away from illegal search seizure and jail. I have a clean record and still am terrified. Now do you understand why I'm wishing for a free country?
Hey Steve, so what were the consequences to the officers in the cases found to be illegal searches by the Court? Until REAL consequences occur, this behavior will continue.
After hugging my bumper from the freeway, through town, and through my neighborhood, a cop hit his lights just as I turned into my driveway. I continued to pull into my driveway, which upset the officer a good deal. After berating me for not immediately pulling over, he asked me why. My response: "You have had three miles to pull me over. Was I supposed to back into you and then pull to the side of the street in front of my own house?" We finally got to why he pulled me over: one of my license plate lights was out. Not both. Just one. When I pointed that out, he said: "Well, the other one could blow at any time!" 🤣 My current vehicle has no license plate lights. It has been that way for two decades, ever since a previous owner replaced the rear bumper and never wired them up. Funny how the cops only pull me over for it when they want to stick their head in my window and snoop; it is never about the actual lights.
Yes, while waiting for a part to get my running lights to work again I would drive home from work with my emergency flashers on. Not pulled over once. But once my license plate lights quit working pulled over, no fix it ticket even, just questions like are there any drugs in the vehicle. My vehicle is 20 years old, cops get new vehicles here every 3 or 4 years, sooner if they wreck em all, one year two cops actually hit each other in an intersection. But I have been behind police vehicles at night that don't even have working license plate lights.
I see it even worse after all the BLM riots, the cops are even more hostile towards us. More and more like not police, but an occupying army. I don't like leaving the house anymore really. But soon they'll get wise to that and change all the laws to empower the Gestapo door-kickers...
@@fs127 SCOTUS case Graham v Connor: they let the thug cop get away with it. So many bad practices by police officers were deemed okay by the Supreme Court in that decision!
@@edwardmiessner6502 That was a really horrible one that encouraged bad training. Unfortunately judges work the back end so they don't get as much scrutiny nor publicity.
@@fs127 An elderly uncle of mine was arrested for having a bottle of wine in his coat pocket (given to him by my father), when he was collapsed on the street. He was having a heart attack.
In Tennessee we joke that the word "no" smells like weed.
As a Tennessee resident, I can vouch.
Here in Memphis we're just happy not to have gotten shot on the interstate...
Nashville MPD is the world's worst with this. Hendersonville PD is almost just as bad.
Cops everywhere seem to believe that. Just like anything other than immediate obedience is resisting arrest.
I have been driving for almost 20 years now and I've never once been asked by law enforcement to search my vehicle. I've been asked to throw the keys out of the vehicle and had guns pointed at me twice for very high speed and or reckless driving when I was much younger. However even during those intense and dramatic encounters I was not asked for permission to search my vehicle and my vehicle has never been searched. I have been cited a few times for traffic violations, I have won three cases by going to court and the officer not showing up. Once I was actually guilty but still won because I went to trail and the officer didn't show up and the other two that I had dismissed for no-show on the officer's was because they either lied or messed up. So I've had my fair share of interactions with law enforcement and I've still never even been asked once for search privileges. Maybe it's my male white privilege at work.
Sadly, the average law abiding citizen has more reason to fear police and the judicial system than they do the criminals.
The police are just the best armed and best organized gang of criminals
Damn right!
The police are nothing but criminals who carry a badge. They should all be referred to as "badge carrying criminals".
I've been robbed once by an old roommate, stabbed by a druggie when he didn't like me walking by his house, but the cops have stolen more and hurt me worse in greater variety and in greater number, often for less than the druggie.
the police and judicial system ARE THE CRIMINALS
Last time I "cooperated" with a cop was almost 16 years ago when I was 55. I had gone out to the store to but some peach brandy for my wife's sore throat at around 5 pm on Dec. 19 (it was just getting dark about that time). We had had an argument a bit earlier and I decided to pout for a bit before going home, so I drove about a 10th of a mile up the hill from the store in my F150 pickup and just sit for a bit.
I was going to sit in the darkness overlooking the local freeway, but I had noticed a patrol car prowling the parking lot of the medical offices up there and parked directly under a street light so that I could be seen. In the mean time, my wife called to find out why I hadn't come home yet and we started talking,
The cop then came out of the facility directly in front of me and turned down the street to leave, suddenly making a U turn, flipping his high beams on and then U turning again to come directly behind me. I had no reason to fear him, I hadn't committed any infraction sitting there with my engine off, legally parked and speaking on my phone. While I continued talking to my wife, he asked for ID and registration which I promptly supplied, putting my wallet down on the bench seat which had only the bagged bottle of Brandy on it otherwise.
The officer seemed annoyed because I wasn't worried about him and though I was polite, my expression probably reflected that I thought he was an idiot. When he handed my license back, I reached for my clearly visible wallet (still with the wife on the phone) and I heard "PUT YOUR HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!" The idiot had drawn on me and ordered me out of my truck at gun point. He slightly injured my hand as he patted me down and put me in the back of his patrol. In the meantime, my wife called his duty officer and another cop we'd known as a teenager was sent and asked the first one what was going on.
I was unceremoniously released without apology. When I got home, I called that same duty officer to lodge a complaint. That's when the moment came which caused me to be forever suspicious of cops. Rather than apologize or placate me at all, the duty officer said (and I shall remember the exact words forever), "He could have done a lot worse"...
That's not a bad cop, that's a dangerously bad system...
No reason to show this bofoon a registarion or a ID/License as it was NOT a traffic stop!
@@kpdvw While true, I didn't know that at the time. Never really had reason to know it. But even now, depending upon the level of aggression of the cop (this little guy was incredibly aggressive - a newbie to the sheriff's dept.) I might show a polite cop my ID and not much more. Answering any questions would not be on my to do list now, knowing how they can twist words to find "probable cause". There is great danger in talking to these people and/or any detective or prosecutor. Saying too much (as in anything beyond name, rank and serial number) is a sin which probably will come back and bite you - hard...
Imagine their palpable fear if citizens thought that way about them. It's coming.
> that's a dangerously bad system...
People need to understand that the cops are doing what they are taught to do, backed by policy and law. The entire policing system needs to be updated and changed... but it won't.
CDC3: It IS a dangerously bad system--that can take your life over nothing but cop's ego and power tripping paranoia. We shouldn't have to live like this.
Had this happen several times when I was working night shift at a Postal Service Encoding Center in my early twenties. Would get pulled over on my way home for the ambiguous and always false "I saw you weaving / crossing the center line." Then they make me sit for a half hour while they brought in the drug dog to search the vehicle because the officer "thought he smelled pot" (never found anything of course). It was obviously just a fishing expedition, they saw a young guy in his 20's out at 3:00am and just assumed there was no reason for him to be out unless he was up to no good, Funny thing was, the third time it happened I immediately handed the officer my Postal Badge along with my ID and told him I just left work and was headed home. Amazingly this time he didn't "smell pot", he just handed my badge backs and told me to have a nice evening. But it's a bit pathetic you have to justify driving on a public road at "the wrong time".
Yeah we just have to illusion were different from Germany but we're not
@@africacarey What's wrong with Germany
> But it's a bit pathetic you have to justify driving on a public road at "the wrong time".
Now imagine if you were black with no postal badge to save your ass...
German police today are much more professional, polite and civilized than US police.
Imagine you're an attractive female without anything to save your ---.
Defendants who are found not guilty should get ALL of their fees and expenses back
Civil Forfeiture should also be completely abolished as well. Your money *IS* your property. Your property *IS* your property. Everything that the cops steal from you *IS* your property. The reality of Civil Forfeiture is so horrifying and so extremely commonplace that a single traffic stop can cost you literally everything but your life if the cop(s) *allow* you to continue living. Specifically, if you are not ruthlessly publicly executed by the cops so they can freely loot your corpse you will most likely become permanently homeless because the cops stole as much of your property as they possibly could as fast as possible.
@@adamgray1753 Unfortunately I believe you are correct. To me, "civil forfeiture" is legalized theft. It does violate the US Constitution but, for some reason, it has been held to be legal.
The Patriot Act is why Civil Forfeiture is legal, @@Harry-zz2oh.
@@adamgray1753 The more I find out about the Patriot Act the more I realize it is NOT a good law for this country. In so many ways it violates the basic tenants of our culture as it has developed over the last two centuries. The sooner it is repealed, the better off we are as a country. Thanks for your response.
As a side note, @@Harry-zz2oh, Joe Biden, our completely illegitimate President, is the one who wrote the vast majority of the Patriot Act.
3:18 Steve "Imagine your a company that rents cars realizing that everyone of your customers is a criminal".
Hertz has entered the chat.
Moral of the video: never travel without a lawyer in the car.
How exactly does a cop walk into a courtroom and prove/verify to a judge that he actually did smell marijuana?
Especially in cases where no marijuana is found...
@@ianbattles7290 He doesn't have to prove anything. The standard for the search is merely probable cause, and if the judge believes the LEO (which is likely), he will probably find the LEO had probable cause for the search. As soon as you get pulled over, start recording on your cell phone.
My 'lawyer' is 4 cameras in my SUV that stream live to the net 24x7 and cannot be disabled
Sucks that this is the world we live in.
@@ianbattles7290 He can claim he smells it. That all he has to do. And...it could be that he really DOES smell it...because there is weed upwind of you. It's just not originating from you car.
Traveling with a lawyer is deemed suspicious.
Cop: Do you know why I pulled you over?
Me: Yes, to violate my rights.
😂😂😂😂 I'm using that
@@wakeup6910 I see you have good health insurance.
Yes, you are on a fishing expedition.
I smelled donuts in your vehicle.
@@jtandme-ot9cl 😂🤣😂
When I was in my 20's, I had my car searched by the police after "Your refusal to allow us to search your car is the probable cause we need to search your car."
This also sounds as cuckoo as "not talking to me under the 5th is obstruction!", both happen and both are bananas. Also, "not answering my questions is grounds for reasonable suspicion/probable cause".
YEARS AGO I WAS STOPED BY POLICE AT NIGHT ,,,,,IN MY VAN / HOUSE CAR ,,,NO REASON FOR STOP ,,,ORDERED OUT AT GUN POINT ,..HELD AT GUN POINT WHILE VAN WAS SEARCHED ,,,,,,,AFTER 10 MIN, OR SO ,,,,,COP TOSSED MY WALLET ON GROUND AND THE JACK ASSES LEFT ,,,,IM STILL HANDS UP ,,,,,DUH
My experience from Louisiana in the 90's: I was driving cross country from California to Florida when I was stopped by the sheriff's office vehicle literally for doing the speed limit. He told me I "look suspicious and matched the description of the vehicle they were looking for" and proceeded to ask me why I was driving precisely the speed limit. I informed him that I had a CB radio in the car and they have been talking about him sitting in the center median for the last 20 miles. When he told me that my vehicle fit the description of the vehicle they were looking for I literally looked at him and said "really? Because we're in the middle of Louisiana and if the vehicle you were looking for is a maroon 1990s Lincoln town car with California plates chances are you probably found it." After getting my license registration and insurance card he then asked me if he can search the vehicle to which I said no of course. Next thing I know he brings out the canine unit who proceeds to go around the car and then starts jumping at the right rear tail light. The officer then informed me that the dog "hit" on the car and they're going to search it. Now I knew that I had placed nothing in the vehicle but after seeing Fido over here so eagerly jump at the car I'm not going to say I was not concerned. I asked another officer who had arrived how often the dog had been wrong, he literally looked at me and says "never". Well, of course this time they didn't find anything in the car. I looked over at the officer and said "never say never". You're talking to a guy who doesn't even drink let alone do drugs or transport it. I could not be more boring. I was 24 years old driving a brand new Lincoln town car because I like the style. That shows you how boring I am. Anyway, long story short I got back in the car and went on my way. It dawned on me years later that if they can teach a dog to smell cocaine from outside the vehicle, they could probably teach the dog a hand signal to jump up on the car and provide them with probable cause.
Judge Kilo can bark a warrant at any time.
Yep, Jim Alger. I have a first hand experience where the cop who stopped me driving my mother's car more than six years ago one night he literally said the same thing to me. After he came back to me with my Driver's License, Insurance, and Registration in hand he was in mid-sentence when somewhat loudly on his radio the APB changed from a description almost perfectly matching my mother's car to a black SUV. Almost immediately he let me go. I had learned many years prior to be nice to the cop(s) who stop me. Otherwise they become unruly POSes who will lawfully and legally destroy your life and there is naught a thing you can do about it because you are too goddamn poor to afford even a Dollar Tree lawyer. With this video though... I figure even being nice to the cop(s) will give them "probable cause" to become hellbent to escalate the situation so they can successfully publicly execute you at least.
They have non verbal commands they can give to make the dogs hit. This is 100% a fact. My uncle used to be a canine unit in California and he told me all about the dirty tricks they use to violate our rights.
@@bigchiefsmackaho387 Did you rightly call your Uncle an asshole?
PD always destroy the very expensive training by retraining the dogs to alert on command.
I love when they make the dog give a false positive for drugs, tear your car apart, and find no drugs.
I used to hate when our military working dog would get a false positive for explosives. Once we had to be moved outside the wire with no QRF in Fallujah.
Sir the dog is alerting to your posterior so,. Dun dun dun
I worked with a guy who got a false positive hit on his car in the random drug sweep. His own bitch was in heat at the time. That dope pooch got horny and the man had to take a piss test to prove he ain't a crack head. The man parked his vehicle off property and across from the employees parking lot in the view of the HR managers office window on purpose for a while.
@@TheBooban Sure it's possible, but you're dealing with an animal that isn't perfect to begin with.
It's why they shouldn't be used in law enforcement where they have profit and power motives.
Leave them in search and rescue where they belong.
The dogs ARE a false positive, they are a ruse so police can have a way to take our rights that we have no legal way to defend against
I was once in traffic court many, many years ago. The guy in front of me was being charged with speeding and resisting arrest because he didn't pull over on what is a very busy street during rush hour. Apparently he pulled off at the next street where it would have been safer. The judge looked at the cop, berated her for the resisting charge and threw it out. I applaud that judge.
What was the outcome of YOUR case?
I'm pretty sure 99% of people are somewhat nervous when they get pulled over for any reason.
Gee, why would that be? Something to do with interacting with someone with a gun who literally has the power of freedom or life-and-death over you? And you have no idea what their mental/ emotional state is?
I know your post is sarcastic, @@spikespa5208, but you still deserve a round of applause for your post, man.
A lack of nervousness could be considered suspicious.
When you know they are on a fishing trip to turn anything they can into a criminal indicator as an excuse to take your money or property or hang a charge against you let alone if one of goes off the rails & does something worse who wouldn't be nervous?
I know plenty of people that blindly support law enforcement that absolutely believe that if they just show respect everything will be good...even as they are having their rights trampled on. Just doin their jobs. 🙄
Officer - Where are you headed? Where are you coming from?
Driver - Detective, my headlights indicate the direction I’m headed and unsurprisingly my taillights indicates where I was.
Officer - Get out of the car, smart ass
"Only gay cops pull me over."
Got pulled over in Reno NV. Had recently moved and did change of address through DMV. I had the paper receipt and was waiting for the new card in the mail. I handed both to the cop and explained the situation. Also, there is 1 DMV in the entire city. 1.
Cop: which dmv?
Me: THE... DMV. The one
Cop: okay smartass (the reason you reminded me of ths story) which one?
Me, completely dumbfounded: Okay, you take the 4th st exit. Make a right. A quick left. Go over the train tracks. DMV is on the right. I don't know their address. Is there another somewhere in the city i am unaware of? Im sorry im not trying to be smart, i literally don't know of another DMV.
That was 10 years ago and I still think about that question often. "Which DMV?" Are you retarded?
Now that's a reply .... you forgot the
Duhhhhhh!
at the end.
My reply: this entire encounter is recorded and broadcast to the Cloud immediately. I'm not answering any of your questions. Please violate my rights so I can sue the piss out of your and your jurisdiction.
you don't have to answer questions
I had an office ask me to step out of the car once (only happened like 2 or 3 times in my life). So I said "wait one," shut the car off, raised my windows, shut the sunroof and stepped out. When I stepped out I made a point of showing the officer me locking the car, tossing the keys on the driver seat and closing the door. The look on his face was priceless. When our interaction was complete (no ticket), he gets back in his car and watches me. That priceless look? Completely disappeared when I took a second key out of my pocket and unlocked the door.
Also, I have a dashcam in my car that helps refute claims of wrongdoing and such things as stuttering, correcting myself, etc since it records audio as well. Just some tools in my toolbox to help keep some of these fools honest.
I haven't set it up yet, I read in my owner manual that I can unlock and start my car from my phone. Would be handy if I toss keys in car and they can't grab your spare out of your pockets!
I'm totally convinced we're living in a police state.
And you would not be wrong.
We pretty much are to a degree. That degree is once you see need to challenge the so called peace keeper in anyway. The courts are designed to take everything you own down to nothing in fees. Then even if innocent reward money goes to your lawyer and you can buy lunch a few times. Then figure out where to go work till you die.
And who's fault is that?
welcome aboard and examine how it's role is seeking ever more control, It is insidious. a cancer.
YUP ,,,I WAS STOPED IN MY VAN / HOUSE CAR AND WAS HELD AT GUN POINT WHILE MY VAN WAS SEARCHED ,,,,,,,NOTHING FOUND ,,,,COP TOSSED MY WALLET ON GROUND AND THE JACK ASSES LEFT
I was pulled over several years ago for smiling and politely waving at a state trooper on the freeway as they passed me in the fast lane. They slowed down and got in behind me, turned their lights on and I pulled over and stopped. The Trooper asked if I "needed any assistance", to which I replied "for what?". They then said that I had waved at them, which was an indication of possible distress, requiring them to commence a stop. I told them that I just waved to show my support for the job that they do and keeping me safe. Even though the trooper was appreciative, I still got a lecture that I could have been arrested for "false reporting" for simply waving at a cop. My last words to him were jokingly "When you get to the point that you start thinking that a smile and a wave is a crime, you need to take a vacation with a bottle of rum and a fishing pole".
I imagine signaling for distress comes in many forms in an officer's business. CIP, a special wave can signify a problem in the vehicle and the individual waving needs help. It can be that subtle for an officer being alerted to a wave. In today's world pleasantries seem to be going out the window.
Yea dont pay any attention to the officers. @$$ kissing will get you nowhere with the "bear" lol.
@@Nekulturny
You talk like you know all about what it is like to be subjected to an occupying police force. Please expand on other rights denied us.
@SittingMoose Shaman
Just remember, it takes the sentiments of the majority that allows you to be considered a citizen. Sentiments seem to be changing in today's day and age. There is a war going on and you are involved whether you like it or want it or not. You can hear the pain and suffering disguised as individual rights through the courts trumping the many not unlike the deaths brought on by a 1973 decision by the SCOTUS that legalized death in the womb. Said rights began the disregard for life to the point legislators in New York applauded and celebrated their law allowing abortion up to the time of delivery. That applauding took a few decades but only about one to two years for another legislature in Maryland to consider death post birth, you know, sorry you made it but ha ha you didn't. Do the people of Maryland want and expect such a consideration from their legislature? Yes, the Constitution if enough like minded people remain to defend it. The government is you and your neighbor and "his" neighbor. Should we lose our Republic to the popular vote the cities in chaos will determine our leader. Speaking of leader, the prized Constitution is being disregarded involving the eligibility requirement. Did you know we have a VP whose parents were not US citizens when she was born? Well we allowed a candidate with just one citizen to begin the ball rolling. I just wonder if the next step will be illegals demanding to be allowed? It is at the top and the bottom that is being attacked but you must be quiet. Silence will be our undoing.
When I was a little kid, I used to smile and wave at police officers. Most just thought it was cute and waved back. I stopped doing it after one thought I was signaling distress and came over to find out what was the matter. He wasn't a jerk about it or anything; it was more just to prevent a misunderstanding like that from happening again.
Years ago I was stopped outside of Memphis for having a new car that was dirty, seriously, I was told that was suspicious activity. I refused a search, was asked why and still refused. By the time that it was over they had 4 cars, 7 cops and a K9 that went around my car twice. Nothing was found, but it took almost an hour and I was on my way back home. FWIW, no search was conducted.
They stole an hour of your life
@@mrwess1927 And thousands of the city's budget
THATS NUTS ,,,,,DUMMY COPS
"If they run, they're V.C.!" "If they don't run, they're well disciplined V.C.!"
Exactly
“If they drown they are not a witch. If they don’t drown they are a witch and must be executed.”
Ain't war hell?!
@@mdcraig62 yes and it's also a racket
@@mdcraig62 we shouldn't be at war with our own government
"the officer is a trained professional. He has seen all the Police Academy movies".
Good post, Bond James.
Leslie Neilson would be proud !
Yes why are you question omg authority
It's all about generating Revenue they're broke
@@allenwimer7342 WE'RE ALL BROKE !!!!
I have been pulled over and searched for all those reasons in Idaho. You would think they would give up after so many times of finding nothing, but they still do.
Police academy training: 6 months max. Hairdresser training: 2 years.
So in other words... Respect the Hairdresser!
😆👍
So true. My academy was only fourteen weeks.
@Donald Thorpe I wouldnt go that far brah lol
Well to be fair EMT training is like 3 months
@@cat-.-
But emt's don't get authority to shoot people.
In Virginia I got pulled at an alcohol check point and during the search he found a 9mm casing and for the next 3 hours they tore my car apart looking for a gun. Well..Long story short I have a concealed carry permit and I had left my weapon home. When they found this out they got pissed and made me put all my stuff back in my car and let me go. Dont talk to them. They are not your friends.
Thought if they did not find anything they had to put it back like it was.
@@timmyhipbird7543 LOL...You are kidding right?
@@RT10Viperman no not kidding
@@timmyhipbird7543 Well in America if you were to say "hey put my stuff back" you are not going to like what happens next
@John Smith yeah right, have you seen all the videos where people do that and get their ass handed to them? I guess not. Why don’t you post up a video of you telling the cops they gotta do something. Wimp
Really glad Steve made this video. Analysis was perfect 👍
Heisenberg, Schrodinger, and Ohm were traveling in Heisenberg's car when an officer pulled them over.
The officer asked Heisenberg if he knew how fast he was going and he answered "No, but I know where I am." You were doing 55 in a 35 zone replied the officer. "Now I am lost." said Heisenberg.
This is weird thought the officer, I need to search the vehicle. Upon opening the trunk, he noted "There is a dead cat in here!" "WELL NOW THERE IS!" said Schrodinger.
The officer decided to arrest them all, but Ohm resisted.
Only a science geek will get the joke
Amusing.
I've been wracking my brain trying to get Wittgenstein into this story, it just seems he would fit. But I'm going to be retelling this one to special people. Cheers!
Ohm called his cousin Mho and currently they were released. Whereupon they all played a game of dice, greatly offending you know who.
Bravo Zulu, Sir.
These little things prove that we live in a police state and that we're not really free.
NYC has been a police state for 30 years and it's getting worse by the day.
And it’s about get 10x’s worse
Brown shirts are coming
only free to do as we are told, dont and they storm your house at 3am with assault rifles and military attack dogs. they take you kids by force and kill you dogs...
AS far as I'm concerned...that's been true for decades...my first ''profile'' encounter
WAS IN 1978 !!!!!!!!!!!
You've got that right.
How do you defend against "I smell alcohol or weed"? How about these questions while on the stand?
1. Alcohol - what does an orderless liquid smell like?
2. Weed or alcoholic beverage -
A. Where did you get your training on identifying certain smells? Was it in the Academy or on the job or through a training course?
B. Who was the certified teacher and how did they get accredited as a trainer.
C. What was the course, Smells 101 or an advanced class?
D. Can you please show the court your successful completion certificate?
WE NEED TO TAKE QUALIFIED IMMUNITY FROM THE POLICE WHERE THEY CAN BE SUED BY THE PUBLIC.
Who do you think grants immunity?
Raze the BAR.
wayne mcshane -- Then who will do the job? You? Haaaaaa ... Don't make me laugh.
Amen to that. NYC has done exactly that, to their eternal credit.
@@jamesbass9797 what are you arguing for or against?
The broad notion of qualified immunity is reasonable. You can't be sued for doing your job as a public official. If the zoning board clerk rejects your application because it's in some way defective you can't sue them personally and bankrupt that person for doing their job. Fair. But this ridiculous notion that cops can't be sued unless someone was previously sued for doing the exact same thing under the exact same circumstances needs to go.
This is why video cameras has become a police officer worst enemy
Sometimes their best friend, as well. Depends.
Good example: The chick stabbing her friends that got blasted last week. Video showed hero cop in action- they tried to frame him just the same.
We all need a dash cam that swivels and is small. Then we have the police at our window on video. Check out the AUKEY Mini Dash Cam $48 but get an endurance 128 gig Micro SD card ($25 more)
or best friend
My work truck has 3 cameras - I was pulled over (at 3am) and when the officer saw the cameras asked to turn them off - I informed them that I wasn't going to turn them off - they then asked if they could search the truck as they smelled weed ( I don't and weed is legal in CA) - I said no - they called for a dog. The dog handler knew me - had a short talk - and told me I could go.
My true concern isn't that they'll find anything, but that during the search they'll break something, or scratch my paint. Can they be held responsible for that?
Let's face it, we live in a police state and it's getting worse by the -day hour minute- second.
The scary fact is that it isn't getting worse. You just aren't old enough to know. What we see today is just Scalia's "new professionalism" in action. Cops have learned to use magic phrases like "I felt threatened" or "I smell Marijuana". In the past a cop could just beat you down on a whim without so much as a "stop resisting!" for the cameras that they didn't have at the time.
Today you at least have a fighting chance sometimes.
FTP. Don't trust them, they're not your friend, and avoid interacting with them at all costs.
qnd record ypur interactions with them
@@pinchevilla4268 definitely!! If you want to complain about the department, you have to go through them to get the body cam.
Yup. 👌
Have you been a bigot your whole life?
@@j0hnnykn0xv1lle have you always hated liberty or only when it comes to we the people vs pigs aka thick blue tumor gang
The ugly reality is , once they search your vehicle , and turning your property inside out , & upside down !! FIND NOTHING , YOU HAVE TO FIX THEIR MESS , AFTER HOURS OF BEING DELAYED !!!! 😡
Officer: “Your Honor the defendant was breathing. I found that suspicious. The air quality in Pennsylvania is not conducive to the free exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Violation of carbon laws for expelling during breathing lol
No officer in the country would use that verbage... Words are too big.....
@@jameswithey8898 Our PA Troopers all have college degrees. Most are not too bad but there are a few who need to be put in check.
Maybe he thought you were the *OTHER* Walter White.
Better call Saul....
@Walter White wtf?
"Welcome to America...where the People 'Think" that they have Liberty."
Somewhat related, check out Noam Chomsky's documentary: "Requiem for the American Dream" -- I found it on TUBi.
I moved to the U.S from England a little over two years ago and had to resit my test for my Connecticut licence. While doing the 8 hour mandatory classroom section the teacher asked.. "After you have all passed your test how many of you will go out to just drive your car for the fun of driving?" I said that in England I do that all the time. Don't do it here he said. Even if you have to just tell a cop you are just driving home. I asked why. They don't like it he said...They don't like it!.. Land of the Free is just something Americans get told by politicians. It's the most oppressed country I've ever lived in. Suffice it to say I don't go out at night here and I don't go driving without a prepared reason. Not scared of the criminals, The people I know and those I've met out are wonderful. I'm scared of the police..
Well well well I thought I would never see someone say this because we are not the land of the free. We are brainwashed we are. I barely find anyone to thinks like this.. I've been saying this for years
Lots of places have laws against driving without a destination.
@davidclough3951 What !?!?!?
Where is that, so I can avoid them when out for a drive??
This just shows that cops wake up in the morning knowing in their heart of hearts that the rest of us are criminals who just haven't been caught yet.
Exactly. I know this from experience; my late husband joined the police force, within months he told me that everyone outside the police is an enemy.
@@janechambers9980
"When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. "
-I have no idea who said that, but it works perfectly with the police!
But not all cops are bad
@@israelhurd3043 Every cop that does nothing while another cop breaks the law or violates someone's rights is just as guilty.
@@garygemmell3488 You know I was being facetious
The number of times I've had this happen to me is directly proportional to my contempt for most cops.
@Superduper DavidMiorgan I don't even have to DRIVE to get pulled over. And your point is?
@Superduper DavidMiorgan lucky boomer. new car ? kin to everyone that matters ? what else ?
@Superduper DavidMiorgan 40 years ago you had to crash into the police dept to get a DWI. They were still taking your keys until morning and following you home and many other things that I have seen first hand to certain few so you can shut your pie hole
I was stopped in Michigan by state police once. They did not give a reason for the stop. The only reason they gave for the stop was to search my car. I gave consent only so I could get on with my day. I figured they were going to search it anyway, and I didn’t want to sit there waiting for the dog. In hind sight, I should’ve refused. Apparently driving the speed limit with Ohio plates is suspicious.
This is why I'm scared for my step son that is high functioning autism. His normal actions can be considered combative or odd.
Have him carefully craft a laminated card signed by his doctor that he can hand over to the pigs whenever he encounters them. Have him make several copies to keep in the glove box in case they don't return it.
You should be afraid for him. Cops kill such people. Case in point is Roger Holyfield in Jerseyville, IL. The cops killed him for carrying a Bible. True story, Google it. The St.Louis coroner reported 6 tazings which killed him. The cops reported only 2. The cops lied on their report. Not only that, but a couple of weeks later the boy's mother's house burns down killing her other son and her little granddaughter. She was my employee. The second son rented from me for a while and had just moved back in with mom. Of course the fire chief covered for the cops and said it was because of an extension cord. You do not trust anyone in that town. That was 3 murders of children in 1 family. And this is only a drop in the barrel for this town as I ran a business there for 22 years.
@@heroesandzeros7802 That is sounding like the first part of a Stephen King horror novel! Yikes!
@@heroesandzeros7802 Condolences to anyone in the family the cops forgot to murder.
he's fucked
Back in the day...
PA used to have billboards up, emblazoned with, "You've got a friend in Pennsylvania."
My trucker father used to say, "Yeah, you can tell because they've always got their hand in your pocket."
Are there any street walkers in Lancaster? That would be... unique.
How nice of them to maintain such a close relationship!
You hit the nail on the head with this video. Thanks for talking about this, Steve!!
Judge in New York said he will no longer take “I smelled pot” as pretense for searches
I believe you, but I'd still like to read about it. Can you give a reference, please?
@@somebodyelse6673 he pro-pot decision by City of Ithaca Judge Scott Miller . Similar case in PA. NJ also reviewing it
@Jose Stickman DUI / OWI, etc. The suspicion isn't that you have it, but that you're driving while impaired by it.
If they fail to give you a sobriety test then it’s an indicator that they didn’t think you were impaired. I’m using this to file for a motion to dismiss my traffic ticket. Hope it works.
@Jose Stickman these cases were before legalization
Connecticut has a new police accountability act that forbids them from searching a car on a traffic stop without written permission or the motorist giving permission on camera
Let's get this passed in Maryland next
@@nicksshitbro let’s get this passed everywhere!
@@craftycriminalistwithms.z3053 Needs to be federal mandate.
Q: Why should the client never be put on the stand?
I ask because if I had to go to court, my gut / emotions would want me to explain my side of what went on. But I'm gathering that this would not be a beneficial for me.
While one would like to think, "Innocent until proven guilty", from everything I've learned from this channel, it seems that a cop can say about whatever and a judge will likely beLIEve them.
Found this channel a few months ago & LOVE the material. VERY educational.
Thank You Steve Lehto!
When I told them, truthfully, that I was dating a fiery, tenacious, redheaded Public Defender, and she would give me a hard time if I let them search my truck, the officer agreed, and let me go.
The "red-headed" part really did it ...
Hahahaha
Man I wish I had seen a judge not believe a cop. I've literally had a judge ignore photographic evidence and a weather report that showed no rain after an officer wrote that there was rain to raise the ticket cost.
I have set in court several times and have never seen a judge not take cops word as truth even when they were obviously lying.
If only that was the worst judges have done when it comes to believing cops.
@@Carahan oh yeah as far as it could have been it was pretty mild.
the pigs & the entire "legal" system are getting steadily more corrupt.
@William 989 You mean so the bailiff can make something up and put them in jail?
I'll give you two words that people should remember:
Fishing expedition.
I would say that if an officer at roadside tries to coerce a search, because you said 'no,' and he insists anyway, ask him flat out: "Officer, why are you engaging in a fishing expedition and trying to search my car? I said 'no, you may not search my car,' yet you're trying to anyway. Do you realize that in engaging in a fishing expedition, you are attempting to violate my Fourth Amendment rights regarding searches and seizures?"
Way it's going, doing _anything_ around a cop turns into a catch-22, where it doesn't matter how you answer a cop's questions or not.
I don't know about anyone else, but it seems to me that cops seemingly have carte blanche to abrogate a person's Fourth Amendment rights, despite the fact we are supposed to be free from unwarranted searches and seizures -- and mere non-consensual contact should never be enough to basically say that our rights end, just because we got pulled over.
This is the exact reason why I have felt for the last 15 years that cops have too broad an authority at a traffic stop. It's not enough to merely pay lip service to the concept of rights, it should be recognized that the most important time for rights to be respected is when someone deals with law enforcement.
"Why don't people like us?" -- US Law Enforcement
Officer: "Sir, do you know why I pulled you over?"
Smart ass: "Uh, let me guess, you have a naturally authoritarian personality that caused to to gravitate into a career in law-enforcement so you could satisfy your internal cravings to dominate and bully people, and after 6 months at the police "academy", you now have a badge, gun, and ticket quota, and here we are? Am I close? Am I under arrest?"
To the motorcycle cop: of course I know why you pulled me over. Do you know that you look like one of the Village People?
Those are the cops who spent most of there days in a JR HS or HS locker !
I'm going to print that, and decopage it to the drivers side front fender ...
@@uploadJ What are you going to Decoupage ?
That's so funny. Thank you.
I would just tell them that I have no problem with them searching if they have a warrant. Then proceed to tell them that I would also like to have a court appointed attorney present too.
Given this together with so many other things going on in our country these days, it should be starkly clear that America has died.
🇺🇸Rest in Peace, USA. 1776-2021🇺🇸
Specifically, the United States of America died on January 21st, 2021, @@jenniferwhitewolf3784. We are officially a Communist Country. We failed our Military Veterans and they failed us. We failed one another. We failed ourselves. The only truly successful people in America are the Communists who successfully stole all the political, financial, and justice powers from all Americans. You gotta admire the tenacity that it took for these damnable Communists to have achieved this much though.
It’s not dead it needs CPR
@@adamgray1753
Please get a dictionary and look up Communism and Socialism and Democratic socialism so you don’t sound so foolish
I do not sound foolish whatsoever,,@@carrabellicusp. I highly recommend you stop being a POS to people though.
I once had a Michigan DOT K9 cop run their dog around my truck 3 times. He asked if I had any drugs because the dog had "alerted". My response was no I do not have any drugs and you've run your dog around there so many times it's now just trying to please you. He didn't say anymore.
Judge Kilo is always alert....it gets him a biscuit.
Do not forget, @@garypierce7380, the dog is not ruthlessly and cruelly beaten down until doggie does literally whatever his or her handler demands at any given moment.
This is nothing but conjecture. If cops violate your rights, sue them! Make sure they issue you a ticket, take it to court and force them to admit what they did. Then sue based on statements.
Having been a court officer for MANY years (now retired), judges always sided with the cop even when they knew that officer was lying (testimony conflicted with the citation, for example). We had one local LEO that was notorious for lying under oath, just to get a conviction.
It was so common in NY, they had a term for it. Testilying. It was routine for officers to lie under oath in court with impunity, and everyone from the judges to the DA's knew it and didn't care. Most corrupt legal system in the world.
@@redbaron6805 the term has spread across the entire country.
They get money for making Convictions. And the Judge makes money from siding with them. Of course they will almost always side with Police. You might fine a rare, very rare judge who stands for freedom and the law, and will not listen to police BS. But most don't give 2 shits about the law, or you, or the case. They just want you out so the day can end faster so they can get home for personal reasons. So will side with the police, cause it's the most common and safe and money making option.
@@Jirodyne don’t know where you live, but our officers and judges have set salaries and don’t get paid for covictions
@@debbiputman3482 there are always "court costs" that are paid by the person ordered to appear. The cop hands out the order. The prosecutors justify the cops order. The the Justice of the Peace, Magistrate or judge order the person that "appears" to pay for their "appearance."
I was stopped taking a nap in my car in a parking lot next to the road because I was tired. 2 "thugs" from the PA State Police took the time to hassle me for 45 minutes because I was sleeping in my car, because I was tired and apparently that's SUSPICIOUS! THEN, they asked to search my car. I complied because I had NOTHING to hide. After they trashed the inside of my car, and dumped out the food in a box in my trunk, they let me go. Now, NEVER will I ever consent to a search, or answer any questions they ask, other than identification and insurance.
This happened to me, I wonder if the T-shirt i was wearing that said "SMASH THE STATE" affected this
this is the real reason not to consent to a search... what alot of people don't realize is they are most certainly not gonna put anything back if your car isn't very tidy
although as a counterpoint i used to keep alot of trash in my car to discourage searches
I watched cops "produce" cause to impound a car ( after given consent to search by the owner) which consisted of.............a tiny piece of paper( about 1/4 the size of a postage stamp) that " appeared" to be singed.
i will never give consent to search unless their is a literal gun to my head after thT.
@@ATAdude666
The REAL REASON is that , if you consent to a search, you lose a lot of ability to contest the search, and what they "found" in court.
Deny consent and it automatically gives you a possible motion to suppress evidence victory on 4th Amendment grounds.
in the early 1970's, I took the test for n.y.c' s police department..but, as some ppl. may remember, the corruption in the force was overwhelming.. even though I passed the test..I shied away from joining..and I have never had any regrets..
I can't thank you enough for spreading the word Steve. The awareness your bringing to what's going is so important. Freedom is truly under assault in so many ways and it's got to stop.
Says a guy who says "Fuck The Police" - were you part of the BLM Riots and insurrection last summer?
@@j0hnnykn0xv1lle Nope. I'm just some hillbilly from Tennessee who stays as far from any cities as I can. I only had to go to one 6 times last year. My nearest neighbors are mostly Amish. It's pretty nice out here.
Little by little Steve Lehto is getting micro-doses of red pills.
@@widehotep9257 I think this whole country needs to OD on red pills a couple times. It's like folks don't even care anymore and just go along with all the bullshit.
truth.
Years ago I was a foreman for a commercial carpentry crew. We had some tedious technical work to do and were behind on the job so I worked late by myself and left the job around midnight pulling a tool trailer. I was immediately pulled over and I knew I wasn't speeding or had committed any other obvious violations. The cop came up to me and exclaimed in an accusatory tone, "I saw you pull out of there!". I probably said something like "So, what's the problem?". He had me get out of the truck and let me know he thought I had stolen something. I told him I'd been working late and was just leaving the job. Then he asked me why I was sweating. I almost burst out laughing at that one as I told him "I was working, like I said". This was in Texas in the middle of summer when it's still in the mid-80s to low 90s at midnight. Then he says he's going to have to search the trailer. At this point I was wondering who tied his shoelaces in the morning and asked him what he expected to find because I could tell him right now that it was full of tools, because I was working. I went ahead and opened it up for him and, sure enough, there were a bunch of tools. Somehow I managed to convince him that I was actually working and hadn't worked up a sweat loading up a bunch of tools from the construction site to take down to the pawn shop. Maybe it was the fact that I was still covered in saw dust. Somehow I don't think that guy ever did make detective.
One of the few good things about the ubiquity of recording devices these days is that now more people know what some of us have known about cops for decades.
It's a moot point now, Pennsylvania now requires a search warrant to search a vehicle now. There a very few exceptions now that permit a roadside search without one.
Pennsylvania is one of the most corrupt police states in America. I was driving through there years ago. Moving with the flow of traffic in the slow lane. Cop was hiding behind the "Welcome to Pennsylvania" sign. Of course I had out of state plates. He wrote me a ticket for not using my turn indicator properly when he pulled me over. You can't make this sh*t up. Never went back. I actually drove the long way around on the return trip to avoid PA.
@@RespectMyAuthoritaah well that was a ticket that you should've been able to meet because the stop was initiated before you activated your turn signal
@@aigtrader2984 Except I wasn't going back to fight it. I will never set foot in that state again. Ever.
@@RespectMyAuthoritaah fair enough. I only drive through Pennsylvania on my way to New York :-)
"Driver is overly cooperative" this made me yell "what the fk!" You know what, police? I'm ready to say that you're hurting more than you're helping.
Straight up!
I figure this is a major reason why more and more cops are being outright shot and even shot and killed these days. No matter what the cop(s) in question will do literally whatever it takes to escalate the situation so they can lawfully and legally murder you and up to everyone in the immediate vicinity. Almost every time they get off scot-free via Qualified Immunity. So if you have a gun, knife, and/or some other weapon you can use to defend yourself the best you can before you are publicly executed for the "extreme crime" of breathing oxygen on Earth will you actually fight back the best you can, or peacefully be publicly executed?
What gets me is everything I just said in my previous paragraph are things that the cops bemoan as reasons why they must absolutely commit up to mass murder in court and even in various PR statements I have seen for over a decade now. Let's face it, guys, anytime a cop stops you for literally anything just assume that day is your day to die a horrific death via murdered by cop(s). Immeasurably tragic that real life has progressed to the point where this is all Americans' fate in real life. So good luck to everyone in staying as invisible as you can muster to the cops.
@@adamgray1753 I just wont drive with cops behind me anymore. I will pull over in front of the next parked car the second I see one get behind me. They are all criminals with badges
Fully understandable, @@joesosnowski7568. I have not been stopped by the cops in over five years. I have had some cops literally follow me for miles before abruptly turning off somewhere else. My guess is they were trying to spook me and/or worse.
@@adamgray1753 I've been relentlessly and mercilessly harassed and railroaded by my local PD to the point where I was terrified to leave my own home. I started recording every breath I'd take. Filming every white line of every stop sign. Every turning signal. Speedometer. Everything, just to prove that I was being constantly pulled over without cause. Over a two week span, I was pulled over 5 different times.
I went and spoke to a Lieutenant who made it stop, but not without giving me plenty of static and being very confrontational. I told him I spoke to an attorney who is confident I'd have a case for pattern and practice of violating/depriving rights, but would only sue if it continued. I told him I dont want problems with a bunch of retaliatory criminals in the village I live in.
I havent been pulled over in my town since then but LT no longer works there. IL also just passed police reform and I guess they're all terrified of misconduct complaints now.
The fact that our police want to search is troubling. The courts back them is worse. The police state marches on.
There's a good quote from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Tribunal" where O'Brien was arrested by the Cardassians on trumped up charges. They said to him: "You have the right to refuse to answer questions. However, such refusal may be construed as a sign of guilt."
Just about the whole narcotics division of the Baton Rouge, La. police department was fired and/or arrested for stealing drugs that were evidence and selling them.
Most were probably rehired in the next parish over. The cesspool known as Louisiana is corrupt at all levels.
Saw this case on f.b.i. files.
@@davemojarra2666 -- If the next parish didn't take them, just about any county in Idaho would have. Several high-profile officers who were fired because of incidents that made national attention ended up here, in small towns with small budgets.
I love how you explain things! Keep up the good work we’re all watching.
now i understand why they say: "they are building a case against you"
Build/conjure/invent/forge/falsify/fabricate, etc, etc. You know, whatever it takes to get a conviction. It's all good for them.
It certainly doesn't happen all the time, but they'll definitely do it if they have a weak or wrongly accused case. I've seen it happen to good friends of mine.
Yes, @@charlesshreeve319. For many, many years I had been seriously wondering why so many Defendants have been ruthlessly executed in the Courtrooms. Death is much preferred when you are looking at hard prison sentences for horrific crimes you never committed and are about to be successfully tried and convicted of such crimes. Everything is so deeply and strongly stacked against you, the American.
@@adamgray1753 Executed in the Courtrooms?
Not sure what you're trying to say here to me, "the American".
But Justice isn't always blind and equal. Police definitely have the advantage in the courtroom, and will occasionally ruthlessly abuse that inequality.
Yes, @@charlesshreeve319. Some people have been ruthlessly murdered in Court by the cops. Usually because they go off and try to assault the Judge because the Judge does their best to "legally" destroy the Defendant however they can. This is a major reason why the cops get to have all the weapons and you get nothing to protect yourself with.
If the police can't arrest a subjects unless they lie and break the law, they shouldn't be arresting them
Mo Diddle: In a perfect world..........
@William 989 I'm aware that SCOTUS would rather ignore the law than be have police be inconvenienced
And in these cases the defense lawyer needs to check the personnel files of the officers for cases of unethical behavior.
Yes. If the cop is on the Brady list the prosecutor should not let them testify. And if they do your attorney can get their testimony thrown out.
Every now and then, that comes back to haunt them, and the bustling metropolis they work for..all it takes is a judge that sees a difference between body camera footage and a written incident report...Happened in Des Moines a while back..and two young African-American men got paid...and their lawyer..
This is why I have a dashcam in my car.
Too bad the taxpayers have to pay
Yeah, I've seen the same thing here on UA-cam with young British-Americans. They get paid~
@@RonKris One thing a camera they can't control will do...drive a stake right thru the heart of "make it up as you go along"...that's what drives the vitriolic hate cops have for them...but the times they are a changin'.....
Thinking of that Florida cop that got caught planting drugs figure he been doing it for years.
Also Mr. Lahto i find your videos interesting, informative and many times entertaining. Thank you for that and for your contribution of shining a light on evil and corrupt government actions.
I've had them come up and just demand I get out of the car and then start searching. They then make up an excuse.
Will you pay me for my time, damages and detailing to clean up the mess you will leave and allow me to do a full body cavity search beforehand to preclude you from planting evidence as well as an additional full body search afterwards to ensure that you didn't steal anything?
NO?
Then I don't consent to a search.
Can I also get a nurse for the cavity search 🤢please
@G Thompson - You try to drive from home to the grocery store by not using roads, and you WILL wind up getting searched, probably at gunpoint.
I was pulled over for no reason in Nassau county NY ..they searched my car ,.found nothing and I retained an attorney and filed law suit
Help, how do we get Steve on the supreme court.
We need more level headed and reasonable opinions like this at all levels of government.
Sadly, his comments sometimes seem to support conservative positions and sometimes they support liberal positions, so no party would take him. Besides that, he probably wouldn't be able to continue this channel after that, which would be a true tragedy.
@@TheRealScooterGuy The way I see it. The pro liberty side is always the side not in office.
@@TheRealScooterGuy
libertarian?
@@daverobson3084 I think his views often align with the Libertarian party's views, but it's difficult for third parties in the US to get any traction. The libertarian party would have to control the executive branch and the US Senate in order to get folks like Steve into the judiciary. (Then they have to find them.)
@@TheRealScooterGuy
Unfortunately, too true.
The "big two" have a near stranglehold on US politics/government.
Much to the detriment of the country.
Cop: Why are you sweating? I need to search your car? Everyone in Maricopa county AZ: it is 117 out, you made me turn my car off and roll the window down.
I was asked “Why are you sweating” in the Lagos, Nigeria airport (lovely place, vultures perching on the buildings... makes you feel real safe - of course there was a Dana air crash a few days before...) then he laughed and said, oh, you are from the US - that explains it!
I told him that this 35 degree weather is a bit hot, and I prefer 5 degrees.... (Celsius!)
At least he believed me and they only searched me gently, although one of the 'TSA’ people asked for Niara, and I quite truthfully said I had none... and donated nothing
@@mikekane1980 it’s 117 out and you’re not sweating as much as you should, very suspicious
@@cat-.- It's a dry heat in Maricopa county. A person doesn't sweat. (Well, they do sweat, but the sweat evaporates before it can dampen your clothes.)
@@Galiuros "the sweat evaporates before it can dampen your clothes"?!?! Well that calls for an investigation
@@Galiuros You just hope it evaporates.
They’d have a field day with my peterbilt with 2.4 million miles 🤣
I don't think I've ever owned a vehicle with under 200,000 miles and I'm 62..
"you may search my car if you go down one one knee and apologize on camera when you find nothing "
That’s a great way to get something planted in your vehicle
I have told a cop before, "you can search my car if you'll apologize for wasting my time when you don't find anything".
After a 20 minute search that produced nothing, the cop silently uncuffed me and handed my car keys back. He looked so angry that I wasnt breaking the law, oddly...
@@ianbattles7290 yay little wins :)
"You may search my car if you eat your gun after you find nothing."
@@chevyon37s that's why you get both a dash cam and a trunk cam that backs up to a secure server. They plant evidence you'll have proof.
In the video Steve mentioned that judges don't always believe the police officer. This reminded of a story that a friend of mine told me.
This friend of mine said he was speeding down the highway in his turbo 1966 Corvair and at some point got pulled over. Well when he went to court the judge threw the case out. He didn't believe a Corvair could go 140 mph.
Isn't this another case of *damned if you do, damned if you don't?* It is myth that most of the population enjoys rights afforded by law, when the supposed enforcers of same violate it like this routinely. Thanks for discussing this subject, Mr. Lehto!
And how do I enforce those rights I supposedly have when HE is the one with the GUN?!
I had a friend that attended the PA State Police academy. He became a local policemen for a few years and not a State Trooper. He told me that the bottom third of the graduating class of Troopers where directly assigned to the Pa Turnpike and that he would never drive the Turnpike.
I don't recall what I was watching, but I was floored when the cop in the thing I was watching was listing off suspicious things that could be seen through a car window and one of them was "trash in the floorboard." Excuse me? Where the hell else am I going to toss the fast food bag before I find a trash can to toss it out, you pricks?!
Just tell them you would start throwing the trash out your window if they give you written permission to do so.
THATS TOO HARD FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT
As someone that was an Explorer (think high schooler that thinks they want to be a cop, working with them in low risk ways) I can tell you that we had officers in some jurisdictions that were known as Officer Seeds and calling them meant you had a car you wanted to search without probable and he was to come dump some MJ seeds in the car in order to give it. It was also the reason I never joined the police force
Cop: I'm pulling you over today because I see seeds on your floor.
Jeremy DeWitt, the greatest Junior Police Explorer ever. MotorOne out
Problem with that is MJ seeds have never been illegal. They are considered a novelty. Also it's pretty much impossible to determine if the seed is MJ or Hemp or one of several seeds that look similar.
@@moguaiato5583 seeds had always been a reason for probably cause though. Specifically in CA there were multiple cases that said so in the 80s and early 90s so I dont know why you think its important that they are illegal cause that dont mean shit.
@@dgilliam usually the pre-text for pulling them over at the time was cruising as we had city ords at the time that made it illegal, of course the low riders were the only ones that ever got pulled but you know back then (mid 90s) profiling was a good thing
This is so on point its scary. When you are the enemy everything you do is suspicious.
Cop: Do you know why I pulled you over?
Driver: CUZ I’M BLONDE !
My favorite excuse ive read on my own paperwork “suspect was too friendly and overly cooperative” i learned then and there to just hand them my id and not say a word to them unless asked a question.
A traffic stop is not a time to make small talk but some people when they’re stopped just can’t shut up.
You don't even have to answer questions.
@@DovidM Cops will tell you they are just making conversation. Don't ever believe them. They are fishing!
I have a son who has asperger's and in a situation like that he would immediately start to sweat and have difficulties in speaking coherently.
Anybody can have the police treat them like crap. A few years ago to New York cops pull the man out of his car because they saw he had a gun.
And that's how the New York Police Commissioner got pulled out of his car
I always sweat, stutter and correct myself when I get pulled over. That is because I've seen first hand the abuse by LE too many times. I know that I am literally an eyeblink away from illegal search seizure and jail. I have a clean record and still am terrified. Now do you understand why I'm wishing for a free country?
Ha Good luck with that...
Cops are always very professional and courteous...once they see I'm wearing a 'Lehto's Law' t-shirt!
Hey, that's a great idea. Think I'll get me one of those LL t-shirts. Thanks.
According to reports from insurance companies and DoJ, asset forfeitures now exceed the amount/value of stolen goods.
Hey Steve, so what were the consequences to the officers in the cases found to be illegal searches by the Court? Until REAL consequences occur, this behavior will continue.
It's all about incentives there is literally no incentive to get it right and not break the law and tons of incentives to do the opposite.
After hugging my bumper from the freeway, through town, and through my neighborhood, a cop hit his lights just as I turned into my driveway. I continued to pull into my driveway, which upset the officer a good deal. After berating me for not immediately pulling over, he asked me why. My response: "You have had three miles to pull me over. Was I supposed to back into you and then pull to the side of the street in front of my own house?" We finally got to why he pulled me over: one of my license plate lights was out. Not both. Just one. When I pointed that out, he said: "Well, the other one could blow at any time!" 🤣
My current vehicle has no license plate lights. It has been that way for two decades, ever since a previous owner replaced the rear bumper and never wired them up. Funny how the cops only pull me over for it when they want to stick their head in my window and snoop; it is never about the actual lights.
Yes, while waiting for a part to get my running lights to work again I would drive home from work with my emergency flashers on. Not pulled over once. But once my license plate lights quit working pulled over, no fix it ticket even, just questions like are there any drugs in the vehicle. My vehicle is 20 years old, cops get new vehicles here every 3 or 4 years, sooner if they wreck em all, one year two cops actually hit each other in an intersection. But I have been behind police vehicles at night that don't even have working license plate lights.
If you're early, you're anxious; if you're late, you're hostile; if you're on time, you're compulsive...
And Heaven forbid, if you hear uttered the word "ATTITUDE" - the flood-gates of Hell bouda open up
And the police wonder why they are getting so much negativity towards them? People can only take so much before they snap
I see it even worse after all the BLM riots, the cops are even more hostile towards us. More and more like not police, but an occupying army. I don't like leaving the house anymore really. But soon they'll get wise to that and change all the laws to empower the Gestapo door-kickers...
Overly cooperative gets me pulled out every time.
I remember a man being arrested for lying to police when he answered honestly when they asked if he has Type A diabetes or Type B
I remember police savagely beating a man who was having a diabetic episode because they thought he was drunk.
Wow. Yet they can lie all they want and not know the law.or make up laws which don't exist, and that's acceptable?
@@fs127 SCOTUS case Graham v Connor: they let the thug cop get away with it. So many bad practices by police officers were deemed okay by the Supreme Court in that decision!
@@edwardmiessner6502 That was a really horrible one that encouraged bad training.
Unfortunately judges work the back end so they don't get as much scrutiny nor publicity.
@@fs127 An elderly uncle of mine was arrested for having a bottle of wine in his coat pocket (given to him by my father), when he was collapsed on the street. He was having a heart attack.
Part of the reason I stopped being LE is this lack of integrity.