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"stop and frisk" alarming numbers

KBCraig

KBCraig

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
4,886
Location
Granite State of Mind
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Of course it's unconstitutional, and it should outrage all Americans.

Should, but won't. Too many welcome such intrusive measures, and gladly give up their own rights because it makes them feel more secure to know "the police are doing something!"
 
C

Citizen

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Nov 15, 2006
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18,269
Location
Fairfax Co., VA
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There is another angle to this that is not mentioned. Excerpt from a different article:

First, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is not a crime in New York State. Since 1977 and passage of the Marijuana Reform Act, state law has made simple possession of less than seventh-eights of an ounce of pot a violation, like a traffic violation. One can be given a ticket and fined $100 for marijuana possession, but not fingerprinted and jailed...

...According to U.S. Supreme Court decisions, police are allowed to thoroughly pat down the outside of someone's clothing looking for a gun, which is bulky and easy to detect. But police cannot legally search inside a person's pockets and belongings without permission or probable cause.

However, police officers can legally make false statements to people they stop, and officers can trick people into revealing things. So in a stern, authoritative voice, NYPD officers will say to the young people they stop:

"We're going to have to search you. If you have anything illegal you should show it to us now. If we find something when we search you, you'll have to spend the night in jail. But if you show us what you have now, maybe we can just give you a ticket. And if it’s nothing but a little weed, maybe we can let you go. So if you’ve got anything you’re not supposed to have, take it out and show it now.”

When police say this, the young people usually take out their small amount of marijuana and hand it over. Their marijuana is now "open to public view." And that – having a bit of pot out and open to be seen – technically makes it a crime, a fingerprintable offense. And for cooperating with the police, the young people are handcuffed and jailed.

The entire article is very interesting.

http://www.alternet.org/story/141866/the_epidemic_of_pot_arrests_in_new_york_city/?page=2

I learned of it from the FlexYourRights website. Just put three "w"s in front anddot org after.
 
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