I would just like to comment on this civilians' rights versus police state
issue. I just went out to dinner last night with a very good friend of mine,
who is also a public defendent.
She gets a LOT of cases of police brutality, if not just plain meanness. She
gave me some examples that are downright scary. She usually wins.
What she finds is that most often those who work in the law enforcement
industry are bullies themselves. She said it is imperative that you be
careful at all times when dealing with the police. Treat them with respect.
That absolutely does not mean you should let them search your vehicle if
they ask without a search warrent. The police, most often times being high
strung over-testosteroned males themselves, often go looking for trouble. I
am speaking in grand generalizations, most coming from articles and research
I've read over the past ten years or so, personal experiences told to me,
and witnesses myself, and from my friend Christine's experiences as a public
defendent. This does not mean police offers treat everybody unfairly. In
fact, I would say that in general, the CHP and local police do outstanding
jobs. I like the police, myself.
But you do need to be careful. Christine told me a story of a woman
handcuffed and battered because of an alcohol blood level reading of .02.
She won that case.
Being polite and cordial to the police is one thing, complying to the law is
one thing, but complying to the every wish of a police officer is something
else, and absolutely NOT required by law. As a responsible American citizen,
you absolutely must not stand for this. Just for heaven's sake be polite
about it. It's rudeness that marks the decay of our society.
We need more politeness and better public transit.
If the police asked you to strip naked and do the hokey pokey, would you do
that, too?
Power to the people,
Katie K.
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