Scrapper pulled over by 2 cops with police dog. Patted down for weapons

No kidding. I am that scrapper and this is what happened to me today:

My wife and I were returning from a trip to the yard and in my rear view mirror I see two local sheriffs patrol vehicles; Dodge Daytonas to be exact. One was a K-9 unit, both with lights going full blast right behind me.

I don't speed. I had just replaced a light on my trailer that was out in the Walmart parking lot moments before, so I have no idea what all the commotion is about.

I'm approached at my driver window and informed I have an illegal window tint job. I've had the truck 7 years and this is a first.

The other officer is peering in the windows to see what we have inside. I give over my credentials and pop the rear glass so they can get a better look. I have nothing to hide.

I ask the officers if they want to check it out and they reply with a no. I tell them that I must close the back hatch so I will be stepping out of the vehicle and begin to get out.

As I'm walking to the back the Sergent ask if he can pat me down and if I have any weapons. My reply is yes to patting me down and no to the weapons.

He then pulls my Walmart pocket knife that's clipped inside my right pocket out and places it on the tailgate that's now been dropped down and exclaims to me that he thought I said that I had no weapons.

I'm temporarily speechless because when I think of a weapon I think of something designed to inflict pain onto another person and I don't use that knife that way so it never crossed my mind like that.

I'm very intrigued at this point at where this is going. I shrug my shoulders and just say 'I'm a scrapper. I have a lot of things like that' and proceed to show him the back of my truck. It's brimming with power and hand tools.

(I'm getting yelled at to come to bed. The rest of the story soon guys. it's a trip.)

Jim

Haha! Wow! Can't wait to hear the rest!

You seriously did not just leave us hanging like that.

On to the rest of the story my friend Parrothead.


So I show him the screw driver in my Carhart jacket pocket, the leatherman in a leather sheath along side a Mag lite on my belt and he asks me to empty my pockets and where my scrap metal comes from.

I empty out worn sheet metal screws and a couple of bucks. He asks me what I do with the money I make from scrapping and how long I've been at this Georgia address as he points out my Florida license plate.

I tell him what money I make basically goes back into the job for tools and materials if anything is left after filling my gas tank. He steps away to run my drivers license.

I ask my wife to grab a couple business cards and I hand them over and invite them to visit the website on the cards to see the videos that would answer all his questions.

I also ask him for a business card of his, pointing out that I'm on that corridor often and we should get to know each other.

He gives me his card while the dispatch person on the radio is telling him all my information is current and I have nothing outstanding on my record.

At this point I suppose he just sees us as a couple of scrappers doing honest work and his demeanor changes.

He informs us that the pass through Tallulah Falls on through North Carolina is a major drug smuggling corridor and they can't be too cautious. He mentions having just caught an old retired couple transporting meth claiming they were honest people with a gambling debt to settle. He tells me of scrappers stealing copper earns from grave sites and selling them for scrap. (Would that go as #2 with great grandma still inside?):p

I tell him I will address my license plates and window tint asap. We leave with a written warning.

I don't know if there is a moral to the story. Maybe the fact that I had no attitude what-so-ever or I'd have a court date over stupid BS right now. Who knows.

Just proof I guess that if they want to pull you over and do a search, perfect lights and driving under the speed limit ain't gonna stop 'em.

Good luck to you guys out there on the roads,

~Jim

Nice story glad it went well for you. Also you are correct that as far as searches go, they don't need a "reason".

I'm sorry that this happened to you. If it was me, I would not have given him any type of permission to search your car, pat you down, or anything like that. In fact, it is illegal for them to search you or the car without your consent.

As far as the "illegal tinting" goes, if you didn't custom add a tint to your windows, then that makes no sense. Totally wouldn't fly in court.

Its a great story, but we all know what this is about... The cops see a few people driving by that they think look "shady", pulls them over for a BS reason, and considers them guilty before they even start talking. I get the feeling that he was disappointed you weren't a drug runner or something. That's just not cool. I hate that I feel this way, but I really don't trust the cops.

Its kind of tragic, but great story!

I've had a similar run in like yers. Got pulled over in Eagle by a State Trooper. Had a load of tin. About 2 feet above my cab. But i had 5 straps, 1 big army tarp, and 4 more straps on that. My load wasnt goin ANYWHERE lol. I was doing a ranch clean up, and had to pull a LOT of things out of the ground. So i had my big hitch on meant for pullin. He said it "Obstructed the view of my license plate". We both know that it was just an excuse to check out what i was doin with a huge load covered by an army tarp. But no worries. Cops will be cops!

Good! Glad to hear it ended well instaed! That should work in your favore now. You made a "friend" in the department. A lot of them will chat back and forth, and it may save you trouble with other officers in the future. Good show on being civil!

NEVER give permission to search.

If you get out of the vehicle- lock your doors.

NOTHING good will come from allowing cops to go on a fishing expedition through your personal belongings.

d a m n jack booted thugs.

Why did they pull you over to begin with???

(I just had my car inspected to get the sticker renewed and they use an electronic meter to measure the tint %- so I'd tell the cop that my tint passed state inspection standards)

I hate cops that screw with citizens.
They don't care about you- or the laws- it's all about the money for them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheIrrationalist

I'm sorry that this happened to you. If it was me, I would not have given him any type of permission to search your car, pat you down, or anything like that. In fact, it is illegal for them to search you or the car without your consent.

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It may be illegal for cops to search without consent, but it sure is a HELL of a lot faster getting back on the road this way, especially if you have nothing to be hiding from.

If you decline consent, you will sit there until a K-9 unit comes, to sniff your vehicle, I don't think there is an abundance of K-9 units handy either.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rca987

It may be illegal for cops to search without consent, but it sure is a HELL of a lot faster getting back on the road this way, especially if you have nothing to be hiding from.

If you decline consent, you will sit there until a K-9 unit comes, to sniff your vehicle, I don't think there is an abundance of K-9 units handy either.

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Not true- a cop can't detain you past the original reason for the traffic stop.

The correct answer to be asked for permission to search is:
No thank you- may I go now?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rich

Nice story glad it went well for you. Also you are correct that as far as searches go, they don't need a "reason".

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Do you always just roll over and submit???

You have rights- you need to use them.

What to do when you get pulled over FLEX YOUR RIGHTS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkpOpLvBAr8

How to Refuse a Police Search :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyokK...feature=fvwrel

BUSTED: The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA

flexyourrights.org
use 'em or loose 'em

Yea, Rust Nuts, I agree with what you are saying. I've watched similar videos and even saved them to my computer. I would say you have a very valid point. Here's why I consented to the search:

I knew he had me for illegal tint, although I don't know the fine.

I knew he had me for Florida plates with a Georgia drivers license, although I don't know the fine on that one either.

I basically have no time for court dates to mess with something so trivial.

I have no money barely at all while scrapping these trailers. (See scrapping several trailers thread to see how much I make). To pay possible fines.

I know where the officers work now and will be traveling through their office regularly.

I had nothing to hide.

Incidentally, I have decided that removing/reducing the window tint will allow potential thieves to see what basically amounts to my net worth in the back of my truck in tools and such so I have no plans to change it. Seven years I've driven that truck without a mention of it until yesterday.;)

Thats funny i got pulled over today.A f-150 was infront of me then slowed down got behind.I didnt think anything of it then i see him behind the trailer but in the other lane with lights on.I was like scrap metalscrap metalscrap metalscrap metal so i pull over and man looked like a bunch a mexicans coming out of that thing there where 3 undercover cops in the.1 Came up and talked to me 1 walked up to talk to the wife and the other got on the trailer and had them run the vin number of the truck to make sure that is wasnt stolen.Took my d/l ask her but she didnt have it but gave him her d/l number.The 1 cop on her side stayed up there talking to us about they have been getting alot of car thefts and such.

But really my tag is expired and thats why i got stopped but in the mean time they checked us out ran the vin for a stolen vehicle and everything.Then finally after about 20 mins he comes back gives me my stuff and says your tag not a big deal and have a great day.I said ok thx c-ya lol.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Instaed

Yea, Rust Nuts, I agree with what you are saying. I've watched similar videos and even saved them to my computer. I would say you have a very valid point. Here's why I consented to the search:

I knew he had me for illegal tint, although I don't know the fine.

I knew he had me for Florida plates with a Georgia drivers license, although I don't know the fine on that one either.

I basically have no time for court dates to mess with something so trivial.

I have no money barely at all while scrapping these trailers. (See scrapping several trailers thread to see how much I make). To pay possible fines.

I know where the officers work now and will be traveling through their office regularly.

I had nothing to hide.

Incidentally, I have decided that removing/reducing the window tint will allow potential thieves to see what basically amounts to my net worth in the back of my truck in tools and such so I have no plans to change it. Seven years I've driven that truck without a mention of it until yesterday.;)

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I don't have anything to hide either- but I have a HUGE problem with someone that wants to go digging through my possessions for no reason.
I may have business notes that I don't want anyone to see, I may have goofy love letter or something. I wouldn't do it to them- so I expect the same in return.

One of the main reason I had my windows tinted was because I didn't want people to be able to look in and see my laptop or stereo- too much crime around here- that's what the cops should be concentrating on.

The entire thing about dark tint is total BS- can they see inside a cargo van????

I'm with you Rusty Nuts. I like your response!