Date: Sun, 14 May 2006 13:38:48 -0400
Reply-To: neil <goofymuso@YAHOO.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil <goofymuso@YAHOO.CA>
Subject: Re: trailer lights; rap 420
In-Reply-To: <416.1a8aa0c.3198853f@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Hi John.
That's some very useful info you've posted.
I live in Canda (eh?) and though I don't actually know
what a rainbow gathering or similar event is, I found
the info below quite interesting. Don't know how it
applies to a non-US citizen, but from now on I'll make
sure all my lights etc. are up to snuff.
I travel by myself, and am really enjoying
seeing/learning more about (aboot? heh heh) the US via
my Westy. You never know what can happen out on the
road, so being informed really helps. I am sure the
info below will help all citizens regardless of
origin.
So even though the info may not totally apply, all you
fellow Canuck listers out there?
Read the rap sheet.
Thanks!
Neil.
--- "John C." <Trvlr2001@AOL.COM> wrote:
> Rap 420
> This rap sheet has been prepared to help you stay
> out of jail. In the past,
> rainbow gatherings have been the target of
> unjustified police influence and
> harassment, often illegal. Many of the brothers and
> sisters that have been
> arrested in the past could have completely avoided
> wasted jail time and expensive
> court dates if they had just known a few of their
> basic rights. This rap sheet
> is a tool. Read and understand it and next time YOU
> will have the upper hand in
> the situation.
> ROADBLOCKS (DUI CHECKPOINTS, ETC.)
> When heading to a gathering, ALWAYS assume you will
> run into a roadblock on
> the way in. It is very important that you know your
> rights before reaching the
> roadblock because this is where most of the coercive
> tactics and encroachments
> of rights will take place.
> Law enforcement officers are trained to intimidate
> people into consenting to
> searches. You may be asked SEVERAL times during the
> detention if they can
> search your car or person. ALWAYS refuse and youıll
> be fine. The only legal reason
> they have to search you without arrest is that they
> feel they are in danger
> of being attacked which should not be an issue with
> rainbows.
> If you do find yourself under arrest for any reason,
> always exercise your
> right to silence. Continue to refuse to allow any
> searches and politely inform
> them that you will not say anything until your
> attorney is present.
> Your driver's license, registration and proof of
> insurance should be legal
> and accessible. You will sometimes need all three as
> the requirement laws vary
> from state to state. Always assume that you need all
> three and you'll never
> have a problem.
> Your car must be road-legal. No broken tail-lights,
> windshields,headlights,
> etc. You will be cited for these.
> Never leave anything in "plain view." Anything
> inside the car that is visible
> to the officer is considered to be in "plain view."
> Although this does not
> give them the right to search your car, they can
> confiscate the item and place
> you under arrest. They will still need to obtain a
> warrant to search the rest
> of your car which will not be very hard if they
> found something in plain view.
> Never consent to a search of your body or your
> vehicle. This is your fourth
> amendment. The only reason they would ask is that
> they do not have enough
> evidence to obtain a search warrant (or they may
> just be too lazy to get one). JUST
> SAY NO!!
> At rainbow gatherings in the past, officers have
> been known to plant drugs in
> cars after consent to search is given. You can avoid
> this problem by refusing
> to consent.
> If you are harassed or mistreated, write down all
> the information you can
> about the incident. The officer's county, name,
> rank, badge number, etc. Date,
> time of day, location, etc. Contact one of the
> organizations listed at the end
> of this document to pursue the matter or just file a
> complaint with that
> officer's superior.
> OTHER POLICE CONTACT
> It is important to remember a few things about
> police officers. One is that
> they are aware of your rights and they have been
> known to intentionally violate
> them. If you find yourself in a situation with an
> officer who is out of
> control, it is best to be submissive in order to
> avoid injury or even death.
> Remember that THEY are ARMED AND DANGEROUS!
> If you are stopped by an officer outside of a
> vehicle, your contact with
> him/her will fall into three categories. Consensual
> contact, detention or arrest.
> We are mainly concerned with consensual contact and
> detention as this document
> is intended to help you in NOT GETTING ARRESTED.
> CONSENSUAL CONTACT
> Consensual contact means the officer comes up to you
> and says, Can I speak
> with you?" If you say "yes," you have consented to
> have contact with the police.
> This is not good. When you consent to contact, you
> waive some of your rights
> especially if you think you may be guilty of
> something. NEVER consent to speak
> with an officer.
> If the officer asks, "can I talk to you," reply with
> something like "I'm
> sorry, I'm in a hurry and don't have time to talk to
> you right now." If he/she
> insists, ask, "Are you detaining me? Am I free to
> leave?" You should ask this
> several times to make sure the officer will remember
> you asking if the encounter
> results in an arrest and court case. If it is really
> a consensual contact, the
> officer is required to let you go on your way if you
> ask to. If you don't
> verbally ask to leave, the court will presume you
> consented to whatever follows.
> DETENTION
> The police are only allowed to detain citizens when
> there are "specific and
> articulable facts supporting suspicion" (SAF) that
> you are involved in criminal
> activity.
> This means they can't detain you on a "hunch." They
> must have observed
> something about your behavior or character that
> links you with specific criminal
> activity. If you are detained without SAF, you are
> detained illegally. If this
> matter ever lands in court, you may be able to get
> off because the original
> detention on their part was illegal.
> When you use terms like "detention" and "specific
> and articulable facts², the
> officer will usually back down a bit. The majority
> of a police officerıs
> power in the united states comes from intimidation
> and prey on the publicıs
> ignorance of its own rights.
> It is crucial that you let the officer know that you
> are not consenting to
> talk with him and that the only way you will talk to
> him is if he detains you
> which he can not do without SAF.
> ARREST
> If you find yourself under arrest, there's not much
> left you can do. You are
> going to be searched. It is important to continue
> refusing consent to search
> your vehicle (if there is one involved) as they will
> still need a search
> warrant to search your vehicle. This, however, will
> not be difficult to obtain now
> that you are under arrest.
> By refusing to consent to a search of your vehicle,
> though, you are
> maintaining your position. They may get impatient
> and search the vehicle without a
> warrant which is completely illegal. If this
> happens, anything they find in the
> vehicle will not be accepted by the court because it
> was evidence obtained
> illegally.
> Those are the basics rights you have when involved
> with the police. By
> exercising these rights and using a little common
> sense, you should be able to have
> a safe and happy gathering. Below are some legal
> contacts you may find
> yourself in need of if placed under arrest.
> For everyday police harassment, call COPWATCH at
> 510/548-0425.
> If you feel your rights were violated or that you
> are being charged unjustly,
> contact the National Office of The American Civil
> Liberties Union at 132 West
> 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036. or call
> 212-944-9800.
> Love your brothers & sisters with guns even when
> they are misguided.
> Know your rights. Spread the light.
>
> peaceout,
> John C...
> SLC, UT...
> 85 Westy; Sitar
>
Neil Nicholson.
1981 air cooled Westfalia.
Cheap-o web site:
http://www.members.shaw.ca/tubanick/welcomewesty.html
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