DUI checkpoint goes viral...

[kentuck]

Personal note: I was once escorted out of Murfreesboro by the same police force, a long time ago. Also, WATE-TV is out of Knoxville, TN and was the only channel we could pick up in the hollow in Kentucky when I was a kid.

[uppityperson]

1. I love the moment they figure out they are being filmed. Shame on them.

[panader0]

12. I am amazed that the video survived.

The cops do this where I live regularly. The checkpoints are Border Patrol checking for illegals, but they have dogs, presumably who can smell if you are not a citizen. The dogs are for drugs. I cannot travel north to Tucson on ANY road without hitting a checkpoint, some of which are over 50 miles from the border.
NSA has got me pissed off, but these checkpoints have been going on for many years and infuriate me.
One friend had his truck alerted on by a dog. It was driven over 50 miles, one way, to an x-ray machine, found clean, and after three or four hours, they let my friend go, not reimbursing him for gas or the many hours of lost time. ASSHOLES.

[Comrade Grumpy]

24. Yes, welcome to the Border Patrol's fiefdom. Also known as the Constitution-free zone.

[MindPilot]

62. That Constituition-free zone extends ~100 miles from the coast

Almost all coastal states are completely within the zone.

[RC]

81. AND - From both borders also.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

103. That map needs to be updated.

[RC]

116. Why?

The Border Patrol claims jurisdiction 100 miles in from any border or coast.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

122. The Constitution-free zone is not limited to Border Patrol activities.

In particular, the use of coordinated police violence to suppress speech that the super-rich and their politicians do not want to hear, and do not want others to hear, is a nation-wide suppression of the First Amendment.

[RC]

142. This is a map showing the area where the Border Patrol say they have authority.

That's it. Although it would be hard to argue against your viewpoint.

[Jenoch]

129. The map is inaccurate as far as Minnesota is concerned.

The shore of Lake Superior is not the border between the U.S. and Canada.

[uppityperson]

93. so am I and we get it at the northern border also.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

2. good example of white privilege

I would not like to see how this goes down if a young black man tried this same stunt.

What did you prove, boy? That police are "PIGS" because they know people drink and then drive on holidays and try to reduce DUIs and resulting traffic fatalities?

NOTE: This dipshit LOOKED and SOUNDED suspicious from the outset. I am sure any law enforcement would have been similarly triggered to investigate further.

[Comrade Grumpy]

7. What a piece of crap response. More like blue privilege.

What did he prove?

That police respond angrily to people who question them or exercise their rights.

That they then single you out for special treatment.

That they vandalize your vehicles with their dogs.

That they use their dogs to generate fake alerts to they can do warrantless, unconsented-to searches.

And that the checkpoint is largely a pretense. They didn't even ask if he had been drinking.

Sadly, the Supreme Court had held that police can stop everyone on a highway without personalized suspicion to do drunk driving checks. The court held that the end was public safety, not law enforcement. The Supreme Court has also held that police cannot put up checkpoints to look for drugs (except the Border Patrol in those constitution-free zones along the border). Given that the cops cannot put up checkpoints to look for drugs, one might ask why the drug dog was there? Was it to check drivers' licenses?

[Pretzel_Warrior]

8. so I take it you have a low opininon of law enforcement

[Comrade Grumpy]

11. I think the police are out of control in this country.

I think we need a national commission on law enforcement standards and practices. This video is just Exhibit #848,311.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

16. I can agree with the statement that many police are out of control in this country

and local and state departments should be reviewed for abuses of power (such as the women being cavity searched on their way home from the beach in Texas).

But this doesn't seem remotely like that kind of example.

[Comrade Grumpy]

28. I'm glad we can agree on something.

We repeatedly see justifiable (and sometimes not so justifiable) outrage when the police outrage du jour is posted. But we need to translate that anger into something useful. I think a national commission is one way to possible advance.

[xtraxritical]

54. "White priviledge", what kind of racist are you?

This goes on all the time in "white" So. Cal. and everyone gets stopped.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

56. what are you talking about?

WHOOOSHH!!!

[rhett o rick]

119. If you cant see that this is a violation of this person's rights, then you and I are a long way

apart. I am for freedom and liberty. What are you for? The fucking authoritarian big brother state????

[Major Nikon]

51. I think we should do like some other countries do...

and have a separate agency that handles police complaints and investigations with an emphasis on customer service. When cops start getting fired for assholery, a lot of the bullshit will come to an abrupt halt.

[truebluegreen]

128. Excellent idea.

We know all too well they won't investigate or "police" themselves.

[NuclearDem]

18. ....you live in the United States, right?

[Pretzel_Warrior]

23. I like Jon Stewart's funny take back when he was doing standup around 96

He's talking about how he and others in NCY area got all upset about Rodney King beating and police being acquitted so they're heading out and get a little protest going, "FUCK THE POLICE! FUCK THE POLICE" and then after awhile there are hundreds and it devolves into fighting, people wielding weapons and all of a sudden he's saying "WHERE'S THE FUCKING POLICE?"

They are cruel overlords out to take away your natural freedom and Constitutional rights until you need them in your own particular case.

[NuclearDem]

26. Oh, of course they don't only take away our freedoms and rights

They have to make time for murdering unarmed teenagers and beating defenseless protestors as well.

They have a habit of agitating more than calming a situation.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

29. that is your poorly informed opinion

if you take together all of the LEGITIMATE crime activities the police respond to or stop through community policing, etc. I think it is a tough case for you to make that police are far and away more of a menace than help to society.

Think about it. We have our own police here on DU.

[NuclearDem]

32. The police are a symptom of the problem

The prison-industrial complex makes a profit off of laws becoming more draconian and seeing more people thrown in prison. That leads to arrest quotas and peoples' lives being ruined for fairly petty offenses.

That, and the authority and power that comes with the badge and the gun tend to attract a very aggressive type of individual, and pensions being sliced and diced means the more seasoned, experienced, and sane officers no longer can make a career out of it.

I know there are good cops, and I don't doubt some element of policing keeps some neighborhoods and towns safer, but the largely militarized departments of the major cities, the pressure from the Drug War, and the Cold War paranoia surrounding lefty groups has created a monster of the police in this country. Sorry, I've been at too many protests and have seen far too many Drug War atrocities to believe the police are anywhere near a pure force for good in this country.

[krispos42]

144. Why is it required to tolerate police over-reaction...

...in order to get them to go their everyday job?

Responding to and preventing crime is what is expected of them, not worthy of a medal for service above and beyond.

[frylock]

82. fuck tha police

[nadinbrzezinski]

137. That tape showed a gross violation of the 4th amendment

Congrats

I hope he sues.

[TheMadMonk]

96. This isn't even an issue in most of the rest of the civilised world, where you have to prove...

...you and your vehicle are properly licensed AND IN A FIT CONDITION to be on public roads at any and all times.

And guess what? Where we have such road regulations, we also have a shit ton fewer dead bodies to bury.


Drink Drive, You're a bloody idiot. Are your "rights" worth this;

[AnotherMcIntosh]

106. Actually, in 2000, the Supreme Court decided that it is unconstitutional to conduct suspicionless

searches at roadblocks with drug-sniffing dogs.

City of Indianapolis v. Edmond, 531 U.S. 32 (2000)
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/pdf/99-1030P.ZO

[indepat]

145. That Supreme Court decision apparenty doesn't apply to Governor Haslem's lads who

appear not to take any lip with those cannons strapped on their hips. Certainly questioning any demand an officer makes, for example by reciting one's constitutional rights, is regarded impudent and insolent on its face and will not be tolerated, 'cause: in a land of big brother, the citizen is powerless to question the actions of an officer, no matter how unreasonable, unlawful, or unconstitutional the actions of that officer might be.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

149. Where the Constitution is not recognized, a person who speaks up risks getting hit, zapped, or shot.

How long did it take this cop to settle down? Did he take it out on the next 5 drivers? I'm willing to bet that he physically took it out on someone.

[indepat]

151. I bet your bet is as good as money in the bank

[truedelphi]

152. The worst cop I have dealt with in the last ten years -

His life story was a feature article in the local paper about 45 days ago.

The guy has been indicted for child molestation.

I knew that he was not merely irritated by women drivers like me. My gut instinct was that he was a very bad apple.

[indepat]

158. That a lot of bad apples are in the barrel is a given

[Mariana]

113. These DUI checkpoints are usually fishing expeditions.

DUI is a handy excuse to stop everyone so they can ask anyone who looks "suspicious" for ID and for permission to search them and their cars. And most people allow it, because they don't understand that they have the right to say, "No, you may not."

[Comrade Grumpy]

9. Oh, and "this dipshit LOOKED and SOUNDED suspicious from the outset."

He sounded like a polite young man who knew his rights. I guess that pisses off authoritarians. I see it pissed off at least one.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

10. he was looking for a fight and got it. "But what if I don't want to roll my window down?"

the kid is an ass hat (and probably Ron Paul lover).

[Comrade Grumpy]

13. I love the smell of authoritarianism in the afternoon.

[frylock]

84. oh no no no, dude. you got served with that ron paul rejoinder..

that's the new insult de jour around here, and if you don't pipe down, then you too will be labeled as ron/rand paul supporter.

[SomethingFishy]

19. It was supposed to be a DUI checkpoint not an "ass hat" checkpoint..

The guy was obviously not drunk, they never should have bothered him in the first place. This incident took place because the cop didn't like being told no. He didn't like someone not kowtowing and shivering in fear of his badge.

No one with "illegal drugs" in their car would do anything to get the cops all riled up like that. The search was pointless and the cops knew it. Yet they did it anyway. All because the guy had an attitude.

i wonder how many drunk drivers got away because a handful of cops were used to detain this guy and search his car? If they were so concerned about everyones safety maybe they should have spent their time looking for actual criminals instead of throwing their weight around.

[1monster]

27. Well, his window was down far enough to have a conversation with the "LEO" and

no law says he had to lower it more.

The truth of the matter is that most people no longer trust LEOs. And the LEOs have no one to blame but themselves for that.

Personally, I have to wonder about people who think that demanding (even politely) that one's constitutional rights be respected is looking for a fight...

[BornLooser]

41. No, YOU are, with your RW pretzel logic. I think your hiding and projecting, Meats!

[Pretzel_Warrior]

42. A 30 post person is telling me I'm hiding and projecting? uh..yeah.

what is my RW pretzel logic?

[BornLooser]

47. DERP!

[frylock]

87. you've been here since december, son

[Pretzel_Warrior]

88. but in a former life I've been here since 2003

and from December to July is a pretty long time compared to 30 posts.

[frylock]

91. so you've had your posting privleges revoked..

back for another round of stupid, are you?

[grasswire]

101. heh heh heh

That's gotta burn.

[Autumn]

105. ROTFLMAO

[AnotherMcIntosh]

111. Too funny.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

117. I think you're supporting unsupportable thugs, and I've been here 13 years

[Mojo Electro]

72. WOW!

Just wow!

The bootlickers amaze me sometimes. He was under no obligation to roll his window down whatsoever. The police had zero authority to stop him unless he was suspected of a crime. Was he?

This post reminds me of the "If you aren't doing anything wrong, what are you worried about?" justification for massive police over-reach.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

83. just 12 more and you can start your own threads!

yippee~~

[frylock]

89. Member since: Sat Dec 15, 2012, 11:36 PM

[Mojo Electro]

112. Just wondering...

How does that matter?

[panader0]

14. The cops were wrong. Period.

[RedCappedBandit]

20. So exercising your rights is suspicious. Got it.

[galileoreloaded]

21. Embarrassing post.

[Egalitarian Thug]

34. Do you feel better now? Your's is the most bizarre, slanted, right-wing reply on the thread.

Over 3 million people (at the moment) watched this a saw blatant abuse of power, but you saw a suspicious dipshit...

[chervilant]

39. I think the reason this video went viral

is because we're seeing a dreadful number of cases where police are out of control. Take this thread, for example:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017130464

I hope you will consider that there are those of us who are fearful of the very people who are supposed to protect and defend, and for good reason. I hope I'm never in a situation where I have to call my local LEO--meth is a big problem here, and some of our LEO don't have 'clean hands,' so to speak.

[Travis_0004]

73. So its ok, to investiage anybody who looks suspicious?

By that standard, I suppose you don't have a problem with stop and frisk, and other such policies.

[CreekDog]

92. what is the crime of "looked and sounded suspicious from the start"

what crime was being committed?

suspicious of what?

[markiv]

95. there are people who could find 'white privilage' in an electric chair

'an african american wouldn have had such comfortable straps'

[a2liberal]

97. Wow

amazing how far this attitude has pervaded at DU. I suppose if the federal government violating Constitutional rights is ok, the 4th amendment doesn't apply to local police either in the minds of the DUers of that thought...

[Blue Palasky]

107. you mad?

my apparently not white brother?

[truebluegreen]

127. Who are you calling "boy"?

Do you think he sounded drunk? This was a DUI checkpoint, allegedly not an intimidate-the-citizenry checkpoint. Safety my flabby white ass.

[LeftofObama]

3. K & R!

I love how the guy whispers when he sees the camera like the microphone won't pick up his voice. What a bunch of dicks!

[liberal_at_heart]

4. I have to show this to my 18 year old daughter. Young people really seem to know

their rights and are not afraid to exercise them. Way to go Millennials!

[Logical]

5. Cops are not your friends! n-t

[Aerows]

15. No, they aren't

People need to get that through their thick skulls.

[Jenoch]

135. "Cops are not your friends!"

At least not until you need one because you've been severely injured in an auto accident. Or your home has been burglarized. Or you father is having a heart attack and you call 911. Or the neighbors are having a domestic dispute and it sounds like someone could be hurt. Or your young child or grandchild goes missing and you are desperate. I could go on and on.

Of course cops do not like to be challenged. This kid did nothing wrong. The deputies searching the car knew he did nothing wrong but they were following orders.

In Minnesota these kinds of checkpoints are illegal and are not conducted. They used to stop cars coming in from Wisconsin at the end of June and beginning of July looking for illegal fireworks. Those checkpoints are illegal too. Later, they had a cop at the fireworks stand, watched people get into Minnesota licensed autos and phoned ahead so they were pulled over after crossing the border. I think they have better things to do these days, that was a long time ago.

[Comrade Grumpy]

6. Thank goodness we live in the land of the free.

[Baitball Blogger]

17. Brave soul.

[kentuck]

22. They are not the brightest bulbs on the Christmas tree....

With today's technology, this is so stupid.

Why not set up a small obstacle course with those orange cones, and put sensors on each of them in case they are bumped or knocked over, and only check those folks that couldn't drive thru the cones? Alcohol definitely affects most folks perception and reaction time. In my opinion, this would be more successful and wouldn't piss so many people off...

[Shankapotomus]

25. So the driver did something weird

to incite suspicion he most certainly knew he would get? You have to admit it's unusual to refuse a simple request to roll a window all the way down for no sensible or apparent reason. If it's a DUI check point and they are looking for unusual activity that could indicate an attempt to hide illegal activity, not rolling down a window does seem a little suspicious.

I mean, if the driver had complied with the request to roll down the window and they still hassled him and searched the vehicle, then maybe he would have a point.

It's difficult for me to say it but I'm not sure the video is being fair to the police.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

30. THANK YOU! I was getting a bit lonely on this thread. Another point--editing

it is hard to know what transpired between the segments he cut together.

Clearly they aren't that over the top or they would have found a pretext to destroy the evidence found on his little camera.

[trumad]

35. You're lonely because you love illegal searches.

Admit it--you do.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

46. no, trumad. I don't.

[Shankapotomus]

37. yes

and I even hear at one point one of the officers defending the kid to the other officer, saying something to the effect of "maybe he just knows his rights?"

If someone doesn't comply with an innocent request to roll down a window so you can communicate with them better, what would you think? Are they going to shoot me and drive away? Are they going to detonate a car bomb? What?

I'll give to the kid that the officer could have maybe asked why he didn't want to roll down the window and failing to get a sensible answer, I would be very suspicious. Take away the police altogether. It's just annoying to talk to someone through a 3/4's rolled up window and who doesn't comply with a request to roll it down? It's a weird refusal and using it on police is going to incite suspicion.

[Paulie]

118. If the LEO is saying the kid knows his rights

Why do they continue to violate them? Just asking...

[Shankapotomus]

123. good point

It safe to say my initial judgement of the scenario was incorrect. But, in my defense, I never was that committed to it. I did use words like "could", "maybe" and "It's difficult for me to say..." in my initial posted impressions.

[nebenaube]

33. bullshit...

he only has to open the window enough to have a conversation, not expose himself to being extracted from the vehicle.

[Shankapotomus]

124. I think my initial problem was

not understanding the initial difference between what police are legally allowed to do and what we all know police are capable of doing.

I was anticipating what a rogue officer was capable of doing and, based on that, concluded the kid was kind of stupid for not rolling down his window all the way to make it easier on himself.

But, as the video is demonstrating unlawful police activity, your assessment of "bullshit" in this case would be correct.

[Cronus Protagonist]

40. A sensible reason would be fear of the angry cop

I've been attacked by cops before. And I never wind my windows down any more than that either - that is truly a sensible reason to keep the window as he did. The cop was a loose cannon and the driver was correct in his assessment as the rogue cop attempted to open the door illegally, and no doubt if it had opened, he would have dragged the driver out of his car and began a beating, possibly even a tasering. The driver did the right thing, that is his right. The cop was acting illegally.

Your expression of support for the cop and his illegal actions is disgusting to me.

[Shankapotomus]

94. Well, I'm not married to it

It just was my initial impression on it prior to further discussion, as this is a discussion board where we bounce around ideas and present counter interpretations.

I've never been attacked by the police but I see your point and will remember your perspective the next time I comment on similar situations.

I have not always defended police in such scenarios before. Mostly I haven't. Here is part of what I wrote to my brother two weeks ago concerning an encounter he had with an off duty police officer many years ago:

"Don't give them too much benefit. One almost pulled you out of a car for giving him the finger. That's abuse of power. If someone gives you the finger you can't do that."

I guess the non-compliance part in the video with the window threw me off on this one. But as the kid in the video was trying to illustrate police abuse of power, on second consideration, it makes sense.

I hope that helps restore something. I never meant to make you or anyone upset.

[Mariana]

71. So what was the "sensible and apparent" reason

for the cop to ask him to roll the window all the way down? What did the cop expect to accomplish that he couldn't do with the window open a few inches?

He rolled down the window enough to converse with them. I don't think it's all that suspicious for someone to decline to obey a request that he isn't required by the law to obey. And even if it is "a little suspicious", so what? We're under no obligation to facilitate these fishing expeditions by the police.

They didn't suspect this guy was DUI. They never even asked him if he'd been drinking. They never requested that he blow into a Breathalyzer or perform a sobriety test. They were just pissed off that he dared to exercise his right to say, "No."

[Shankapotomus]

86. Good points

I have to say I can't argue with them.

[Neoma]

157. When you watch videos of "what to do when a cop pulls you over."

Not rolling the window all the way down is one of the things you do. When you get out of the car if they ask, you also lock it. And then it went into other details on if you're required to give information on this or that, and to check to see if it's the law to give the police officer your ID, etc.

This guy was simply informed of the law and how to handle his rights when confronted...

[burnodo]

155. reality isnt fair?

the kid was right...he didn't have to do any of the things he was told to do

every last cop on that scene should be fired...even though it will never happen

[FuzzyRabbit]

31. Officer: "He's perfectly innocent . . .

and knows his rights. He knows what the constitution says."

So even knowing the kid did nothing wrong, they still attempt to terrify him while vandalizing and ransacking his car. These "law enforcement officers" are nothing but a group of thugs and bullies.

[LittleGirl]

44. best response on this thread.

thank you.

[Mariana]

100. I thought the cop was being sarcastic

when he said those things.

Either way, the search was illegal and the cop was way out of line with the intimidating and threatening behavior.

[truebluegreen]

130. I did too--

the implication being that a person who was "really" innocent would not know his rights and so this one was obviously guilty of something. Notice he or someone wonders later if he is a lawyer, another despicable type of troublemaker, no doubt.

[Sheldon Cooper]

132. Me too - I thought it was sarcasm by the cop.

[NuclearDem]

36. Indianapolis v. Edmond

SCOTUS specifically struck down searches like this as unconstitutional. No matter what your opinion is of the police, what they did here was patently illegal.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

38. Well, I was right. Chris Kalbaugh is affiliated with Libertarian Party

and goes to Middle Tennessee State. He has a habit of planning and filming these confrontations with police. He also has a habit of confronting and filming local homeless people as well. Apparently he has a FB page or website where he posts this stuff.

Keep on supporting these jokers, people.

http://www.bizpacreview.com/2013/07/07/dui-checkpoint-video-goes-viral-but-theres-a-twist-79271

[NuclearDem]

43. ...really?

I mean...really?

[Cronus Protagonist]

45. His politics don't come into play here

I'll stand up for his rights to hold the cops to the law of the land before I'd abrogate them just because the citizen has a differing political opinion than I do.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

50. this guy's guerrila tactics and video splicing are no different than James O'Keefe

I find it interesting that looking at only this guy's highly edited video and his narration, you take his side.

[Cronus Protagonist]

67. I saw enough

To see the cop was acting illegally and the dog search was a lie. Are you saying there's something lying on the cutting room floor in the edits that would change that? I doubt it.

[MindPilot]

68. I haven't had a chance yet today to tell an authoritarian to piss off.

Piss off.

[Inkfreak]

115. lol +1 n/t

[Trajan]

108. " No different than James O'Keefe" ?

THAT is utter bullshit .... How dare you compare the two ...

What a piece of work you are ..

I, as an educated Liberal, respect the police in general, and don't ' hate the police' ... Yet, there are lines that shouldn't be crossed ... by them and by you ...

James O'Keefe is a proven fraud .. you cannot say the same about this young man ...

Your previous DU experience did not last, and I can only imagine why ...

[kentuck]

48. Well, good for him!

He goes to MTSU, is affiliated with the Libertarian Party, and has a FB page. Therefore, he is a criminal or suspicious at best?

[Pretzel_Warrior]

52. no. any normal human being at a DUI checkpoint is going to act normally

but he didn't want to act normally. he wanted to provoke a confrontation which he did. How did he provoke confrontation? By refusing a fairly innocuous order from the officer to roll down his window a bit more. Then, as the officer tried to understand what might be happening with this guy who wants to be noncompliant rather than sail through a checkpoint and be on his way, this young guy continues to say and do things that any normal person could take to mean he is hiding something.

again, this is without the benefit of the raw video to see what other things might have been said and done to further escalate it.

[kentuck]

55. What is acting "normal"?

Nervous and shaking like a dog shitting a peach seed just because some asshole has a badge and an attitude?

[NuclearDem]

58. I think acting "normal" is doing whatever the police tell you to do

You know, like a good little serf.

[Nevernose]

104. I was ALMOST going to tell you

To fuck off. But then I read your post.

So, if you detect any negative thoughts coming your way...yeah, that was me before I read your "serf" line. Sorry!

[NuclearDem]

121. I knew I felt a chill coming my way!

No worries at all.

[Logical]

63. What did he do illegal? Please explain. n-t

[RobinA]

125. There Would Have Been

no confrontation if the police hadn't stepped over the line. The kid was a textbook example of "What You Can Legally Do When Stopped By Police." While I think there are times when it is just avoiding trouble to act "normal" and let the police have their little couple minutes of fun by blowing off some testosterone, by no means are we OBLIGATED to do so. People wearing uniforms and badges, allowed to speed through the 'burbs at 90 mph if they decide to, able to exercise special authority, and carrying guns should be PARTICULARLY unflappable when someone tries to pull them over the line. Unfortunately, the opposite is often true.

[X_Digger]

69. Can't attack the message? The messenger is still fair game. n/t

[LittleGirl]

49. so what!

We're all sick of these officers taking our constitutional rights away from us for simply going from one place to another. It's fucking b.s. I live in AZ and went to San Diego in March. We had to stop at 3 checkpoints on the way there. It was a Friday. On Monday, not a one. We could see the border but never crossed it. The whole time on Hwy 8.

[onethatcares]

57. I don't care who he's affiliated with

or where he goes to school.

This is supposed to be the farking United States of America with Constitutional rights protecting us against searches without warrant.

I guess you don't really care about those rights, but they have been the basis for our "freedoms" the past 200 years.

Remember when we were taught that only the communists would search their citizens for any reason or no good reason. With an attitude like yours, you would have fit right into 60s style Russia or East Berlin.

[liberal_at_heart]

60. here we go again. We're never allowed to agree with a libertarian right? Well too bad.

Many on here and in this country support legalizing marijuana. My state was one of the states that did legalize it. I guess that means my entire state is libertarian right? Give me a break.

[tkmorris]

90. Who...gives...a...FUCK?

It aint about him. It's about the actions of the police in dealing with him. Let's just go ahead and stipulate that the guy is a total asshole, a discredit to the human race.

None of that matters. What matters is what the police did. Trying to cover for the boys in blue by assassinating this dude's character is a very poor argument.

[Th1onein]

102. So the EFF what?

Look, there's something you and a lot of other people need to figure out: CIVIL libertarians, who have been, historically, associated with the Democratic Party and liberals, have in common with the so-called "libertarians" a thing called civil liberties, that they BOTH support.

I don't give a crap if this kid is sleeping with Ron Paul himself every night, he's still fighting for YOUR liberties. For MY liberties. And, because he does these sorts of things, and broadcasts them on his Facebook page, YOU know what your rights are. Other people know what their rights are, and cops, who constantly infringe upon these rights, know that people are figuring out what THEIR rights are.

When this kid stands up for HIS rights, he's standing up for YOURS, as well. You ought to be grateful for what he's doing. Instead, you're engaging in what people do when they don't want to hear the message--attacking the messenger.

[nadinbrzezinski]

140. Indianapolis v Edmond those supremes are also

A bunch of libertarian cooks I guess

[Gravitycollapse]

161. A wholly transparant smear on your part.

[obxhead]

53. Land of the free, home of the brave.

Yeah right.

This man was brave though, I'll give him that!

[JaneyVee]

59. F**KING OBAMA!!!

[kentuck]

64. What the fuck does Obama have to do with it?

And why are you bad-mouthing the President just because of some butt-holes down in Tennessee??

[Skittles]

85. she's obsessed with the Obama perfection image

even if it makes no sense whatsoever

[NuclearDem]

65. OIC

[DirkGently]

61. "It wasn't a very good alert." Sounded like the cops knew they were full of it.

Who would defend nonsense like this? Not any defender of good law enforcement.

Thanks for posting this.

[Egalitarian Thug]

66. This is how you fight.

It cost him aggravation and time, but if a couple of dozen people do this every time they set one of these "extralegal" demonstrations of authority up, they will have to stop as it will lose any effectiveness. Remember, these demonstrations are not about reducing drunk driving, they are about reminding you who is in charge.

Fuck them. Refuse to live in fear.

[Travis_0004]

78. I agree, but more importantly, why do people stop at DUI checkpoints

I have never gone through a DUI checkpoint, and I refuse to. I've seen them, and made a legal U turn to avoid it. (I wasn't drinking or breaking any laws). At least by me, they don't really have the staffing to chase you if you are going around the checkpoint, and its illegal under state law for them to do so.

I agree, I think more poeple should do this at DUI checkpoints, but if you are less timid, they should just go around.

Maybe one day I'll stand in front of a DUI checkpoint, with a sign that says 'dui checkpoint ahead.' I can even pass out maps to get around the checkpoint. Since they announce them 12 hours in advance, it would be easy enough to find one and do some planning.

[leeroysphitz]

80. Excellent reply.

Even if the check point officer simply waves you on through the check point you are still being detained. You need his or her PERMISSION to go on about your business.

[WillyT]

70. K & R !!!

[RainDog]

74. k&r

cause, if you haven't done anything wrong - why do you care if people shit on your right to be left alone? (sarcasm)

[Samantha]

75. I guess I missed it -- what police force is this?

My family is from Knoxville, TN and everyone is getting ready to go the family reunion in a couple of weeks. I am not going but would still like to know -- is this the Knoxville police?

Sam

[kentuck]

77. I think this is the County Sheriff Department of Rutherford County?

Just south of Nashville, in Murfreesboro, TN.

[Firebrand Gary]

76. Dirty bastards. nt

[ErikJ]

79. Too bad they didnt do that to Timothy McVeigh!

[Dawson Leery]

98. This copper was not serious about finding drunk drivers.

He was looking to harass.

[DustyJoe]

99. missing points

Some observations from a long time ago cop

1. DUI checkpoints are legal
2. Valid reason for window request
. A major indicator for DUI is smelling alcohol on person or in the car
. A clear unimpeded (not thru dirty glass) of a persons eyes for bloodshot
or watery eyes or rapid blinking
A refusal of a driver to roll down the window should have been followed
by a request to exit the car and talk face to face to ascertain the above.

So what should have happened ?
Typical request of drivers verbally, first words out of cops mouths
. Good evening Sir, this is a sobriety checkpoint
have you drank any alcohol this evening ?
Where are you coming from ? (or going to)
. Not a request to really learn of a persons comings or going, but
to get enough verbal response to gauge any speech slurring

When a the does not get ANY of the above indicators of drinking the only response from the officer should be..
Thank you sir, have a good evening and drive safely

I did not see anything of the above from the officer in the video other than the window request, everything else was a total attitude cluster grope on the cops part.

[RobinA]

126. Several Years Ago

I went through a DUI checkpoint where this exact format was followed. The guy didn't even cop an attitude just because he could. He was a guy doing a job and I was a motorist driving home. Gave me a positive impression of our local police.

[LibAsHell]

109. Important note at the end of the video

"He didn't even ask me if I had been drinking. This was a DUI checkpoint."

He made the cops look like fools. Great video.

[Liberal_in_LA]

110. K&R thank you for posting this

[MustBeTheBooz]

114. Big K&R!!! The police DO ignore constitutional rights...

be it in the context of safety, public good, minor suspicion, long hair & leather, bad day, whatever. I've been on the receiving end of these more often than i like to admit. All without an attitude (or a camera) and it rings pretty damn true. It all depends on the LEO and whether or not s/he will honor your rights under the law in a given situation. This was traffic check! Police better, NOT harder! Protect AND serve, man!

Hey! This is vodka, man!!!

[Paulie]

120. No labrador found in that car

[MustBeTheBooz]

164. Ha! You see what I did there!

Apologies for the late reply. I don't get out too often.

[arely staircase]

131. why is he being such a dick

just because the cop asked him to roll his window down?

[kentuck]

133. The cop gets the benefit of the doubt?

Instead of the honest citizen? Why is that? Why must the citizen be subservient to the cop instead of the other way around? Do we work for them or do they work for us? Do they pay our salary or do we pay their salary? There is so much wrong with this.

[arely staircase]

134. common courtesy.

cop asks you to roll your window down so he can talk to you, do it. no need to be a dick. the cop wasn't being a dick by asking that.

[kentuck]

136. Common courtesy?

Common courtesy is not to pull such bullshit in the first place. Common courtesy is owed the citizens - not the person wearing the badge and making demands and raising his voice.

[arely staircase]

138. not pull what bullshit?

asking someone to roll their window down at a traffic stop/DWI checkpoint?

[kentuck]

139. The DUI checkpoint and calling out the drug-sniffing dogs, etc...

Never once asked if he had been drinking??

[arely staircase]

141. that all came afterword

my comment was about the dick move of not rolling his window down, pretty much setting the tone for the rest of the interaction. fact is the kid went out there to bait the cops into doing something. and he got his car searched - a search that would hold up in any court. they didn't arrest him or otherwise violate his rights in any way. they didn't even really inconvenience him.

[kentuck]

143. He had his window rolled down enough...

to smell any marijuana or to talk. There was no problem hearing what he said? Is there a rule that says you must roll the window down all the way so they can more easily grab your throat if they take a notion, and judging from this cop's behavior, he was the type to resort to physical violence. It was a DUI checkpoint - not for anything else. You are right that he did not like the idea of being challenged. It may hold up in court but I'll bet the cop thinks twice before he tries to pull rank on common citizens again? I think the kid did all of us a favor.

[arely staircase]

150. what would have been wrong with rolling the window down as the cop requested?

what was the point of challenging the cop over something piddly like rolling the window down? I could see not giving consent to search if he thought that was out of bounds, you know something substantive.

[Neoma]

160. Because that's what you're taught not to do when you watch...

Videos of how to handle cops when they are trying to violate your rights. Not rolling your window all the way down is advice given to a lot of people.

[ieoeja]

147. So when you say "most cops are good", we now know that your definition of good includes ...

... treating the public like shit for the crime of not being sufficiently subservient.

Thank you for the admission.

[arely staircase]

148. kid made an ass out of himself nt

[beevul]

162. Common courtesy was abandoned...

Common courtesy was abandoned the moment law enforcement decided they could or should require mandatory interaction between themselves and members of the public, when no probable cause for that interaction exists.

Think about that for a minute.

In other words, they were ALL being dicks by being there to ask in the first place.

[burnodo]

154. no wonder you like the NSA spying

you like people telling you what to do, even when they have no authority to do so

[ieoeja]

146. Sadly, that was what passes for GOOD cops.

The BAD cop plants drugs, arrest you for the "crime" of talking back to you, beats you, pepper sprays you, tazes you, etc.

The GOOD cop treats you like scum, violating both laws and your civil rights in the progress, solely because you are not sufficiently subserviant.

And the DU cop defenders defend the cops.

[burnodo]

153. fucking jack-booted thugs

What did we fight all those wars for? OUR FREEDUMZ?!? Fuckin nazis

[Gravitycollapse]

156. Oink oink.

[d_r]

159. the dude is lucky

the cop didn't put dope in his car for him.

Techinically, all they had probable cause to search for in the car (because of the dog alerting) was drugs.

In the late 80s, me and two other guys in our late teens were in a parking lot in crystal river florida. Kids were hanging out in the parking lot. We were driving out, so it was a ways away from the hanging out part, and my friend who was driving forgot to turn on his headlights. The parking lot had street lamps so you couldn't really tell yet that his lights were off.

A cop pulled up and stopped us, then about four more cop cars burned in there with lights on. the first cop was at the window getting the license and everything, and he said the reason they pulled us over was because the lights were off and that was reasonable suspicion of drugs. He had us sit on the curb of the shopping center and they brought in a k-9 unit. That dog was barking in the police car, barking walking from the police car, and barking next to the car we were in.

Then a cop came over and sort of repeated a script that the dog had barked for the presence of drugs and that they were going to search the car.

The car was an old hoopty fury II. I know they thought they'd find some pot in there at least. But we were poor kids and didn't have any that night. They tore that car apart. We were all sort of worried that one of the others with us had put a joint under the seat or something or that there was a roach in the ash tray or something but it was clean. They took the seats out, both front seats and the rear seat. You could tell it was really frustrating them not to find anything. They left us there on the side of the shopping center with the seats out of the car.

I've said this on DU before. My mom lives in new mexico and when I was in my 20s I used to smart off to the border patrol people at the stops. Back in the 90s. I am white and I knew they just wanted to hear me talk when they asked things like "where you headed" and it always pissed me off as some sort of nazi traveling papers thing and I would always say something smart. I wouldn't do that today. I'd be afraid of how they'd react. And that is real shame. Now I'd be all yes, sir no, sir just going to the store sir. And it is a real shame on me and a shame on the country.

[jmowreader]

163. There are no heroes in this incident

The cops are dicks. More importantly, their dickishness crossed the line of what's permissible.

But the guy who tested the checkpoint is a grade A asshole...he set his car up with a video camera pointed at the driver's window, stuffed tons of air fresheners under the seat like drug mules do, and started acting like he had something to hide.