Everybody repeat after me, “I will never, ever give a police officer permission to search my vehicle. If he wants to search it he can come back with a fucking warrant.” Even if you have nothing to hide the police will plant evidence in your vehicle if they want to nail you. Don’t believe me? Why don’t we ask Officer Bill Glass:
A former Haskell police officer was found guilty after pleading no contest to fabrication of physical evidence charges.
Bill Glass resigned from the Haskell Police Department in March of 2010, saying allegations he’d planted methamphetamine in a car during a traffic stop were “baseless.” When the drugs were sent off for testing, a chemist at the lab traced them back to the officer.
When you give an officer permission to search your vehicle your are giving them an ample opportunity to boost their arrest numbers by fabricating evidence. Unless the officer has a warrant or probably cause (which basically means any poor excuse an officer can fabricate, but at least it’s something) they can not search your property without express permission.
If you’re asked to step out of your vehicle during a traffic stop do so but make sure you lock your car doors and put your keys into your pocket before exiting the vehicle. At any point during the traffic stop if an officer asks, “May I have a look inside the vehicle?” you should only responsd by saying, “No.” Ignore anything they say after that because they’re going to try guilting or threatening you into giving them permission. Do not say anything further because the officer will try to hang you with it. In fact it would be a very good idea to get your lawyer on the horn at that point in time.
Good advice. Since I’m basically a nice and law-abiding guy, I am far too trusting in the police.
We should all remember that it only takes one bad apple to plant evidence or misquote you to ruin your day.
I assume the same goes with them knocking on your door. Assuming they do not have a search warrant, asking for identification and going outside for a very one-sided chat with the option of bringing your lawyer over to participate, sounds like a good plan.
I really want the door mat that says, “Comes back with a warrant” to remind myself to never let a police officer into my dwelling unless they have a warrant. The golden rule is this; never give the police anything you don’t have to. Like yourself I’m law-abiding and thus need to remind myself that it only takes one bad officer with a chip on his shoulder to ruin my day. Knowing this I refuse to give the police anything unless I’m legally required to and make sure I’m aware of my rights.
Remember, the performance of police officers is usually judged by how many citations and arrests they’ve made. With criteria like that it’s in their best interest to write unnecessary tickets and arrest anybody they can even if it requires fabricating evidence.