Post by Don on Dec 18, 2016 13:24:22 GMT -5
Police Keep Pulling People Over In 'Cute' Christmas-Themed Publicity Stunts
Citizens forced to comply with unconstitutional stops get gift cards. (link added by forum software)
I'll admit I'd be first nervous, then ticked off if I was the victim of an abuse of power like this, but I recognize I'm a bit atypical. I'm not holding my breath waiting for the ACLU to file a Fourth Amendment case over this.
What say you?
Citizens forced to comply with unconstitutional stops get gift cards. (link added by forum software)
It's that most wonderful time of the year, when police illegally stop drivers so they can hand them gift cards, all recorded on camera for public relations purposes.
The recurring gimmick is meant to show police officers have "heart," and just about all the videos of such stunts show drivers displaying the same hidden camera game show-type reaction, where their tense and concerned face drops in relief and laughter as they realize they've been lovably duped by an armed agent of the state.
...
But no one likes being pulled over, it can often be a terrifying experience just seeing those flashing lights in your review mirror. Leaving people alone for obeying the law is the appropriate default posture for law enforcement.
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Some might say this is classic humorless libertarianism playing Grinch to some harmless holiday fun. It doesn't change the fact that the stops are a violation of the Fourth Amendment or that people are understandably jittery when being detained by police.
The recurring gimmick is meant to show police officers have "heart," and just about all the videos of such stunts show drivers displaying the same hidden camera game show-type reaction, where their tense and concerned face drops in relief and laughter as they realize they've been lovably duped by an armed agent of the state.
...
But no one likes being pulled over, it can often be a terrifying experience just seeing those flashing lights in your review mirror. Leaving people alone for obeying the law is the appropriate default posture for law enforcement.
...
Some might say this is classic humorless libertarianism playing Grinch to some harmless holiday fun. It doesn't change the fact that the stops are a violation of the Fourth Amendment or that people are understandably jittery when being detained by police.
I'll admit I'd be first nervous, then ticked off if I was the victim of an abuse of power like this, but I recognize I'm a bit atypical. I'm not holding my breath waiting for the ACLU to file a Fourth Amendment case over this.
What say you?