On her way over here last night, my son's girl friend was pulled over by a trooper for her bumper

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

sticker.

JJ just turned 19. She lives about 40 minutes south from us in Westchester Co. NY (40 mins from NYC), and she was driving on the parkway when a marked state police car pulled her over. She was driving right on the speed limit. The trooper said he noticed her bumper sticker which called for the end of the war. He then asked her if she had any drugs in the car and started spouting that she was a hippie and that he hates hippies. She said he was all of maybe 30 years old and asked him how did he know about hippies as he was too young!
He wanted to search her car and she told him he had no probable cause. She also informed him that her uncle was a cop (and so was her grandfather) and she knew her rights. She asked him why he was so uptight and if he had a bad day! He said he did and eventually let her go.

I asked her if she got his name and shield number but she didn't. I warned her of pulling over when alone at night. There is a law here that allows people to drive to a police station if they are being pulled over at night. There were a few cases of women who were harassed, sexually molested and even a case of a woman disappearing after being pulled over by a cop.

So here, in one of the most wealthy counties in the country, fascism is alive and well.

[lonestarnot]

1. Sounds like she did ok, but should have taken his name and number to report "it."

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

2. Exactly. nt

[Captain Hilts]

3. The cops know who was patrolling that area when. Report it. Send a copy to your assembly member.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

4. I'll ask her when she wakes up if she wants to pursue it. Thanks for the advice. :) nt

[Mr Rabble]

18. Please follow up on this incident.

This sort of thing should not ever be allowed.

By us. The taxpayers who pay the salaries of the police.

While we may not be able to do anything about the Bush Crime Family, we sure as hell can stop their minions and followers, like this cop, from getting any farther up the chain of command.
We still have the power to make a difference in small matters like this, and we need to do so at every opportunity.

All politics is local? Start right here.

[renie408]

50. Exactly. If we don't pursue these sorts of things, they are just going to happen again and again.

I am not anti-police, but I am anti-police abusing their position. This is so egregious it shouldn't be ignored.

[merh]

39. Cops have to call it in when they pull over to stop a vehicle

there is a call card on the stop - complete with her make and model of car and license plate number.

There would be no problem with following up on this if she wanted to.

Depending on how he treated her after she began to have a conversation with him and how he might have "wised up", I'd say maybe the best impression she left with him is that he has been misjudging anti-war folks and that may help others in the future. If she stirs the pot, he may just continue to mess with folks cause she pissed him off when she reported him.

[renie408]

49. Yep. And there are cameras that record stops made by state troopers.

at least in NC and SC there are. ALL stops are recorded. I would be willing to bet that the local TV stations would love this sort of thing.

[Aviation Pro]

5. Let me guess....

...the "cop" was between 21 - 25 years old, probably looked like he was a football hero in high school, tried college (but it was too tough for him), and could only make it in law enforcement because they laxed the hiring standards. He's currently assigned to a unit that patrols the rich section of town and he resents it because he knows he'll never make it and he is fueled by a daily infusion of right wing fuckhead talk show bullshit.

That about right?

[lonestarnot]

7. You left out C student.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

8. lol! I'll ask her! I do know that the troopers around here are hated by the kids as they

are always being pulled over locally without probable cause. And then people wonder why the police aren't loved and appreciated?

[JerseygirlCT]

14. And I imagine, if the younger people don't react as

calmly and wisely as this young lady did, it would be quite easy for the cop to nudge things into an escalating situation from which he could squeeze an arrest.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

21. She's very smart and a great "kid". I love the fact that she asked about his day.

I think the fact that she comes from a police family was a big help to her in dealing with this. I hope that in some way she has this idiot thinking.

[Junkdrawer]

10. RW hate radio and the radicalization of police has always been a pet fear of mine.

Why do you think the Pill Boy is still being pumped to the troops?

[Occulus]

52. You should see the ads they get in the mail

I do, frequently. The marketing is paramilitary in design.

What does that tell you?

[Matariki]

65. And of course the question begs why he himself isn't serving in Iraq

since it's so important to him.

[Roon]

6. I was parked in front of my client's house

waiting for her to come home. A cop drove by and started harassing me because I had a head shop bumper sticker.

[Al Federfer]

28. Is having a head shop bumper-sticker on your car a good idea?

Seems like that's just asking for trouble.

[Roon]

43. I was 19-years-old eom

[Al Federfer]

47. Best to keep a low profile, no matter what your age. n/t

[Roon]

51. The point I was trying to make

is that I was a stupid kid.

[karlrschneider]

68. Yes, of course. Must not rock the boat.

:eyes:

[LanternWaste]

77. Almost as silly as Fighting Windmills.

Rocking The Boat: Almost as silly as Fighting Windmills.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other. One driven, more often than not, by Vanity; while the other is driven by Fear. Only critical difference between the two-- one's good ad copy, while the other is a trite, overused cliche so vague as to be without meaning.

[WinkyDink]

66. You think the police have "trouble" with the First Amendment?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

72. What about freedom of speech?

We can have anything (except stuff that promotes the illegal overthrow of our gov't) on our vehicles...

And that is just how it should be.

Period.

[backscatter712]

73. Having a bumper sticker shouldn't be asking for trouble.

I don't care if the bumper stickers say "IMPEACH", have a Darwin Fish on them or a marijuana leaf or cuss words. It's First Amendment protected speech, and if a cop targets a person for selective law enforcement because he doesn't like those stickers, he's breaking the law.

[rodeodance]

9. This should NOT be left go. It NEEDS to be reported----even if anomously.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

12. I'd like her to ask her uncle, a local city police officer to call. He is very protective of her

and would probably take them to task. And you are right, this has to be reported.

[supernova]

11. Eventhough she pulled over

she did keep her wits about her. :thumbsup:

We've had similar incidents here, a guy posing as a highway patrol man, complete w/ blue light, pulling women over in the night. We have a similar law that it's alright to drive to a gas station, police station, or shopping area because of him.

[Botany]

13. The cop should be reported ASAP

1) To the commander of his station for an explantion of his actions.
phone call and letter. He also should be reported to the top cop
of the N.Y. Highway patrol too.

2) To the local press.

3) Her State Rep.

That cop "thinks" he is the law, the judge, and a "warrior" for
the right way of thinking.

[havocmom]

17. Yep. Report it to the police & the local press, TV, radio

Make sure as many people as possible know about it. So that:

1) Others can avoid the situation by remaining calm - be sure and get the word out about their right to go to a well lighted public place before pulling over

2) The top cops and beat cops know they can't get away with this crap AND they will be SO busted for retaliating against anyone with the spine to stand up for their rights

That last on is important, people. A cop that would pull a young woman over for a bumper sticker has a serious problem with anger issues and boundaries. That sort of personality with a badge can easily keep escalating their unlawful behaviors against citizens.

[cuke]

27. This cop is a public safety hazard

You're absolutely right. This asshole is drunk on power. He doesn't care about the law. He's all too happy to not only use the law to pursue his own selfish ends, he's stupid enough to tell the OP's daughter her stopped her for a bumper sticker.

Stupid and powerful is a dangerous mix

[havocmom]

31. One would want the story out so others who may have been harrassed will speak up

If the one man is a problem, get the word out and get him removed. IF he is the tip of the iceberg (in some local forces, that could be the case) best call attention to his behavior and see if the brass actually does anything constructive. Their reactions will tell the population A LOT.

[Coyote_Bandit]

15. Something similar

happened to a young guy I know. Cute, baby-face fellow was driving a high dollar vehicle. Was stopped on a pretense so the cop could ask to do a search. Guy refused. Cop would not allow him to leave until the drug dog was called. They sat on the side of the road waiting for the drug dog for six hours. The drug dog did not alert on anything and the cop was forced to let him go. Unbeknownst to the cop, the fellow he stopped was a young newly minted attorney who he did get the cop's name and badge number. Reported the incident to everyone he knew. About ten days later the cop was caught in the act of planting drug evidence during a similar stop and search. Every case involving a vehicle search by that cop has now bee reopened. And, of course, the cop lost his job as he should have....

Don't ever consent to a search without probable cause.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

30. I am so happy that the cop unbeknownst to him messed with the wrong person.

Wonderful outcome! :)

[tularetom]

16. She sounds like a mature and poised young lady

Instead of getting all flustered and crying, or trying to flirt with this cretin, she stood up to him and forced him to back down. She sounds like someone who really has her shit together, your son should hang onto her.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

24. She is Wonderful and my son has been seeing her now for 3 years and is

madly in love with her. She was also invited to join the Honor Society at her college yesterday! :)

[hisownpetard]

69. Sounds scary, but she sure had her wits about her!

[Neecy]

19. Welcome to Bush's America....

Where cops can pull a young woman over and try to intimidate her for expressing political views in opposition to the King. Typical GOP bully.

Nami Wolf was dead-on when she wrote of the fascist shift taking place in this country - there are examples of this everywhere.

[Blackhatjack]

20. As a young single woman she might want to consider installing a tape recorder in her car...

If she lives in a state which allows the police to videotape traffic stops, she likely can videotape and/or tape record any interaction she has with a police officer.

It can be installed under the seat or above the window within easy reach of being activated before the officer reaches her window.

There have been numerous instances of law enforcement officers being taped engaged in offensive and unlawful behavior. The courts have upheld admission in states where the officer has the right to videotape the defendant.

Make sure she gets a tape recorder that actually uses a tape, and not a digital variety that can be easily erased.

Should be essential equipment for individuals driving alone at night.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

25. She could probably even use her cell phone for that. I believe they tape messages, don't they?

Excellent suggestion btw. Thank you!

[Felinity]

58. I believe they have digital cameras

that automatically upload by satellite to a secure location. To keep the evidence in the car could be dangerous if the camera is spotted.

And by the way, this young woman was placed in a highly dangerous situation. She is fortunate that she didn't let him search her car, or she probably would have landed in jail.

If the police ever want to stop me, I slow down, put my blinker on and drive to the nearest, well-lit if at night, location on private property with plenty of witnesses. Not than I'm paranoid, I just know there are bad people (and cops) who are out to get me.

[Postman]

22. Report the cop with extreme prejudice....

I would if it happened to my daughter.

I'll be damned if I'm going to let some fascist with a badge intimidate me or my family.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

26. I can never condone violence. eom

[cuke]

29. You sound like the cop

You act as if you're ready to take the law into your own hands, but probably would never do it IRL. You're just ten feet tall in ASCII

[seabeyond]

32. break the law, do the time. oh wait.... she didn't break the law

just a man with power over her abusing his power.

kinda like what we are talking about in the airport thread on the cops abusing their power and the few i that thread that think we should be so very afraid of every damn thing we allow authorities over us free reign.

i wish she had gotten the info and even not having it, still call the higher ups to let them know of this abuse of their power.

[annabanana]

33. I travel those roads regularly

I have a DU sticker, "I'm Already Against the Next War", and "US Constitution, Don't Get Over It" stickers...

But I'm not a 19 year old girl travelling on my own....

I doubt he'd stop me. (I wish he would.. You'd better believe I'd I.D. him. . . )

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

35. I don't travel down county too often now but have been driving around here with

my Impeach Bush and Weapons of Mass Deception/Bush-Cheney bumper stickers for 3 years now, and have never been stopped. I have not even had anyone comment negatively about them and have on occassion been asked where I got them from.

BTW..I just spoke to her about it and getting her uncle who is a White Plains police officer to help her make the complaint. She is still p.o.'d over it, as well as she should be and will be letting him know what happened.

[Kingshakabobo]

34. Fucking pig.

[undeterred]

36. I lost my job over a bumper sticker

though I can't prove it. Defend America - Impeach Bush. One day shortly after we had a new CEO I saw the human resources manager standing behind my car in the parking lot. Suddenly I was having trouble with my new manager and not much later I was fired. He was ex-military and the company does have contracts with the DOD, but nobody else had a problem with it, and he wasn't man enough to deal with it directly. I guess I'm lucky he didn't have me shot.

[Bennyboy]

37. A Grateful Dead sticker is "probable cause" according to the Supremes...

The thing is if she reported this officer, she would never be able to drive anywhere again. I did this once, sued over officer harrasment...and won. And I had to move. It did nothing except make me "public enemy #1" in the cops eyes.

[Mutineer]

38. If cops in your area have on-board cameras

this guy's goose could be cooked for what he did if he had no other valid reason to stop her other than to bitch about her choice of bumper stickers.

[Toasterlad]

40. Where Are the Police Apologists?

I thought they'd be all over this by now.

Meanwhile, I saw a great bumper sticker the other day:

"I love my country. But I think we should start seeing other people."

[renie408]

48. I will defend things that are defensible. Something like this isn't.

And highlights to me why people shouldn't jump on the other stuff. When you scream EVERY time the police arrest somebody, then when they do things that really ARE fascist, it doesn't have the same impact.

This is flatly wrong and I think should be pursued tenaciously. It wouldn't be hard at all to find out which state trooper was on that road at that time. And all stops are recorded, so it shouldn't be too hard to get a recording. This girl should go to her local TV stations and tell them about this. With the way the tide is turning in this country, I think they would check into it for her.

[Generator]

57. I'll bite

Frankly I find this hard to believe. But stranger things have happened. I find it REALLY stupid that the cop would say the REASON for the pull over is a bumpersticker and her being a hippy. I find that incredibly hard to believe.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

59. He did and he did. Before she left a little while ago, she told me that he didn't

even call in her license or plate number. It was just harassment. Plain and simple and downright un-American.

[SNAKE MAN]

61. Her license plate number was checked before he got out of car!!!

[Mutineer]

64. I'll defend them when I think they need defending

and a hell of a lot of police-bashing does go on at this board. But not all cops are good cops, it's like any other profession, you have your good and your bad. This guy who stopped someone for their bumper sticker, was a baddie. Doesn't mean they all are. I can't defend him and I suggest he be turned in if he can be at all identified or go to the press and let them hunt him up and expose him. If I see another incident though where I feel someone needs to be defended, I'll defend. It's a case-by-case situation with me, not a "let's hate them all" scenario like so many here.

[Evergreen Emerald]

41. he should be fired.

[MattSh]

42. Not surprised. It happened to me.

Year 2004, Montgomery Township, NJ. Rich town just north of Princeton. (Yes, that Princeton).

The day before, I had just gotten my brand spanking new John Kerry bumper sticker. The next day I'm stopped, driving to work. He said I was over the speed limit, although I was going exactly as fast as the vehicles in front of me. That was the first time I had been stopped for a moving violation in around 30 years. Coincidence? I don't think so.

[renie408]

44. If this was a state trooper, all of it would be on tape

You need to get a copy of the tape and have the officer suspended or fired. A bumper sticker is not probable cause. This is incredible. You have to pursue this. You can't just let something like that go.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

60. She is having her uncle, who is a cop in a nearby jurisdiction look into it for her. eom

[QC]

45. DAMN RED STATES!1!!!!!!11 n/t

[tom_paine]

46. Just another rumble that makes up the roar of the impending storm...

[Retired AF Dem]

53. That was one side of the story

what was the other? Thats right, we don't have it.

[uppityperson]

54. I haven't been pulled over since removing my "impeach king george" sticker

Got pulled over a couple times when it was in the back window. Could be coincidence.

[Warren DeMontague]

55. Eh. It's the East Coast. Every time I'm on the East Coast total strangers feel the need to talk to

me about "smokin' weed" because I'm -get this!- a Man with Long Hair! Wow! Whoever heard of such a thing??? Total strangers will stop and engage me in conversations about this apparently freakish long hair growing out of my head.

And every time I used to fly out of airports on the East Coast, I would get stopped for "random" bag searches. This was before 9-11. Every time. Only on the East Coast. I'm certain the bored security guys saw the hair and went "hippie", figuring my suitcase had to be stuffed to the zipper with mar-eeee-wannna!

Never mind that it's been many, many years since I did anything stronger than caffeine. Sorry, gents.

No offense to the many fine people there, but I avoid the East Coast like the plague.

[southerncrone]

56. Fascism "thrives" in the most wealthy counties of this nation &

unfortunately the "sheeple" look up to wealthy and try to emulate them however they can. Sadly, that way is usually only to VOTE like they do. :eyes:

That's how the Repukes regained all this power.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

62. UPDATE... I spoke to her before she left to go home. She is going to call her uncle,

a cop from a nearby jurisdiction and ask his advice and ask him if he can do anything about this. She is very close to him and from what I've heard about him, I'm sure he'll be delighted to do so.
If it was me, I would scream from the highest mountaintop, but it's not me traveling that road a few times a week, but a 19 year old girl. I do not want her to suffer any retribution from this.

She also told me that the trooper never ran her license or her plates.

Thank you all for your concern and caring about JJ and the direction our country is taking.

Peace,
Ommmmmmmmmmm

[Felinity]

63. Is it possible that

this could be construed as unlawful detainment? No reason to stop her, no cause to search. Isn't that a crime similar to kidnapping?

[BornagainDUer]

67. If this was reported authorities, if they want to, could figure out who it was.

She should fill out an incident report.

[Cabcere]

70. Wow, what an asshole.

Sounds like your son's g/f handled it very well, though...probably much better than I would have! :scared: Good for her. :thumbsup:

[Duppers]

71. anyone pulled over without probable cause should immediately dial 911

on their cell and report that they're being pulled over w/o obvious cause. At least there will be a record and it could possibly save your life.

[SNAKE MAN]

74. What is the latest news??

You should of have talked to Internal affairs at the station by now. Keep us posted!!!!

[SNAKE MAN]

75. must be the cops won again!!!!

[bdamomma]

76. too bad she didn't get his badge number.