I agree with both of you actually.
Unfortunately the police are the duly consituted authority, endowed with
power by the system we live under. So bucking the system, for what is a
minor, and unwarranted intrusion, and acting in a way likely to cause
oneself more than a minor inconvenience, would not be in one's own
self-interest.
Even walking down the street as a teenager, close to 30 years ago, I had the
police pull over and ask me what I was doing. I was a clean cut kid doing
nothing except walking down the street. I suppose they didn't like me
looking at their police cruiser as it drove by.
OTOH, if the police were to single me out because I had a camera, I do not
believe I would allow them to view the photos taken without a search
warrant. Not because I'd be worried, but because I have reasonable
expectation to privacy. That would just go against my grain.
Back to the ACLU... recent article...
http://www.uexpress.com/johnleo/
Tom C.
From: keith_w <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Stopped By The Police Again
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 09:47:47 -0700
William Robb wrote:
----- Original Message ----- From: "keith_w"
Subject: Re: Stopped By The Police Again
No, I think not. I'm not some small-minded activist, who will take it to
the highest court, just to make a legal point! Out there be dragons!
This is what those who abuse their power count on.
I wouldn't have thought it was small minded to insist that your basic
human rights be respected.
I guess it boils down to an elaboration on what "basic human rights" might
have been denied.
A lot of things one might not care to be subjected to are not necessarily
human rights issues. They might be inconveniences, picky inquiries into
what I might be doing, but merely inquiring into my intentions and such I
do not consider violations of my human rights.
I have no problem with a cop doing his or her job, and making inquiry into
what *I'm* doing might well be part of it.
It all depends on what the stopper does after he stops you, doesn't it.
Answering a few questions is not a serious impediment to my usually busy
day.
Hard to really know what drives any given cop, asking any bunch of
questions.
I don't deny there might be a**holes out there, conducting themselves
inappropriately, but...if I am polite and hold off on the smart ass
answers, I'll probably be on my way sooner than I would have were I
belligerent, suspicious, hostile and questioning his authority to do what
he obviously thinks is his right...
keith whaley
William Robb
