I am from a mostly populated minority town in Tennessee. I love where I am from and embrace the differences. My town has a very high crime rate and i havent learned anything about police but to do as they say. I have gone to college and have been at a few parties when the cops have busted. It sucks to see how the police are racial profiling when raiding parties. I am white and have been at parties where they search everyone but me.
The other day someone called the cops on me and my friends as we set in the parking lot of my apartment. Most of the people were black and in "urban" clothing. The cops came and took all of ID's and then searched all of us. I was really mad how they did this, also, one of my friends got a citation. I was really angry and decided to check my rights. I found out that I CAN SAY NO to a police search. None of my friends from where i was from knew anything about this. But you know who new about it? It was the WHITE people from the rich parts of where they were from. They knew about the law and everything. But no one taught us anything like this. It seems like they purposely dont teach us our rights so that the police can misuse them.
For everyone who dosnt know, if the cop does not have probable cause, you can deny the search when he/she asks. You can clearly state, " I do not consent to any searches" also asks, "Am i free to go officer?" I learned alot and wanted to spread the word to other teens. Also, they cannot search your car without cause. When the cops ask you to get out of your car, roll your window up and lock your doors. Tell them you do not consent to any searches. If you would like more information about this, you can go to www.flexyourrights.org and research them. I just want to help other teenagers like myself who knew nothing about this.
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Except if they had probable cause. They can search you if they want and because someone called the cops on you they have probable cause.
Yes if they have probable cause. But the person called the cops on a noise complaint. There is no cause of us doing anything illegal. There was no cause. we consented and that is why we were searched
http://digits2006.blogspot.com/
Well than yes you could have said no.
How do you know if they have probable cause or not? I'd probably be a little bit uncomfortable saying no to the policemen since I don't think they would make some random search on people. Maybe I'm giving them too much credits. But saying no to the policemen, wouldn't that add even more drama to the situation?
I would think so.
Besides... I'm from a horrible, mostly minority, "urban" neighborhood. My neighborhood was considered the "ghetto" of Lakewood in my city... usually cops don't even bother to patrol there or even respond to complaints.
That said, there are numerous times when my friends and I have been questioned by Police just for sitting in/on/around our cars watching a movie or hanging out in a park. Once we were asked to surrender our IDs to be run through their system just for hanging out in a park. During its open hours. And I'm not exaggerating.
I didn't mind because I had nothing to hide... but that's not the point. In that situation, and in most of the situations where we've been questioned by police, we were all white, and we were never doing anything wrong.
I know people will argue and argue that there is an unjust racism problem with many police, but honestly, I think many of those stories are greatly exaggerated. I'm not saying digit's is, and of course I'm sympathetic to individuals who are truly treated unfairly...
But come on. I'm white. I don't look "ghetto" or "trailer trash..." actually, my friends and I were usually dressed well, in one of our mommy's cars, totally obeying the law, but we were still questioned.
And white.
I'm not complaining... the cops were just doing their jobs. But hopefully you all get my point.
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If You Swear That There's No Truth And Who Cares, How Come You Say It Like You're Right? [Bright Eyes]
http://progressiveu.org/143541-how-to-survive-the-2008-elections