Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2002 17:32:38 -0800
Reply-To: developtrust <developtrust@HOME.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: developtrust <developtrust@HOME.COM>
Subject: Re: speeding ticket in Vanagon
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Sage advice if you want to hassle with a man with a gun. When traveling to
Baja a few years ago I'm afraid we have no choice there. If you object you
are in deep shit. The best thing is to do nothing illegal and go with the
flow. Get a haircut and look clean and conservative, be very polite and
friendly and you will increase your chances of not getting harassed. In
addition volunteer no information not requested. Officials have heard every
story under the sun and every phony attempt at friendly chit chat. Just let
them do their job, answer questions honestly and volunteer nothing.
In the 60's the best drug smugglers wore 3 piece suits & were clean shaven.
The fools had long hair, beards and bad attitude.
If you want to insist on your rights then pray the officer is civilized and
educated and not a redneck who is looking for a reason to make his day. If
you need to assert your rights you might start by asking the officer what
your rights are in his eyes, state that you do not mind being cooperative
but you think you should preserve your rights for his sake and yours.
When I was a young therapist I worked in the county jail for a spell and I
can assure you most officers had more problems than the inmates. Tension
everywhere in that profession and tension makes us do reactionary things.
I think the key is to do whatever you can to reduce tension and build trust.
It helps to have a good looking woman with you who is provocative and looks
and acts with seductive feminine grace. Cops are only human and often
without simple tenderness. It does not help to be smoking a cigarette or
have annoying facial expressions. Smiling does wonders. Courtesy is
contagious.
Just my 2 cents,
William Polowniak
1989 Vanagon GL
1988 Mercedes 300 SE
Subject: Re: speeding ticket in Vanagon
>open back window he took down my info and let me go with a warning. I
> was really waiting for him to ask to search the van.
>
> Folks,
>
> Make sure you understand your rights in the police state we are evolving
> into. The police have no right to search your vehicle without reasonable
> cause, and they have to tell you what it is. If you think they have no
> cause, you just say a courteous NO. If you tell them yes, you give up
> every right you ever had to privacy.
>
> Sadly, many of us are intimidated, and sadly, many officers go over the
> edge, but if you feel he is over the line, say no. Often we feel so
> innocent we figure 'sure, go ahead' but if you have ever seen a vehicle
> that has been searched, you will know its not desirable. If you want to
> feel you have been violated, go ahead and let them have at it, but you
> don't have to.
>
> Just an FYI opinion
>
> John
