DUI Checkpoint caught on film

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http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/15/1522.asp

Some interesting video of a St Lois County DUI checkpoint, taken by a 19-year-old driver who was stopped at it. Since he politely declined to chat with the officers, they made him get out of the car, threatened to arrest him for asking why he was being detained, and illegally searched his car while moving it (poorly too; the officer doing the driving didn't know how to drive a stick shift).

Kudos to the kid for having the cojones to actually challenge police actions rather than meekly submit to their every demand.

The link above has a partial transcript of the event, the full video can be seen here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2585482423715017278

Officer #1: How are you tonight sir?
Brett: Hi.
Officer #1: Can you put your window down for me.
(I roll the window ALL the way down.)
Officer #1: Do you have a driver's license and proof of insurance?
(I begin to get my information out of my wallet)
Officer #1: Where you headed tonight?
Brett: I don't wish to discuss my personal life with you officer.
Officer #1: Alright, come on up here.
(I start to move my car)
Officer #1: As a matter of fact, just stop your car right here and step out.
Click to expand...

Brett: Why am I being detained officer? (directed toward Officer #4)
Officer #4: You better stop runnin your mouth or the other officer will find a reason to lock you up tonight.
(Audio can now be heard again)
3:22
Brett: You're saying you're going to make up a reason to arrest me?
Officer #4: No I didn't. I said we would find a reason.
Brett: Okay. I just want to let you know all of this is being recorded.
Officer #4: That's good, we're recording it too. Do what he tells you to do--
Brett: I don't have a right to talk right here in a normal voice?
Officer #4: Yes you do.
Brett: You're saying I'm going to be arrested.
Officer #4: I'm just saying...
Brett: You just said you‘re going to find a reason to lock me up.
Officer #4: I said do what he telld you to do.
Brett: You said if I keep runnin my mouth, I will be locked up.
Officer #4: I said he'll find a reason.
Why are you going to find a reason to lock me up when I'm only asking why I'm being detained in a normal voice?
Officer #4: Do what he tells you to do.
Brett: Am I being detained?
Officer #4: Yes you are!
Brett: May I leave?
Officer #4: No, you may not.
Brett: Why am I being detained?
Officer #4: Because you don't have a driver's license.
Brett: I do have a driver's license. I gave it to the other officer.
Officer #4: When the other officer comes back--When he comes back--When he comes back you can talk to him about it.
Brett: Why are you saying I don't have my license?
Officer #4: Nineteen years old and you know everything.
Brett: Yes sir.
Click to expand...
 
funny

the video i saw sorta never had audio come back . and some of the best stuff was like the nixon tapes.
but he gets my heroe of the revolution award for his brave 15 mins confirming the cops and my opinion about 19 year olds.
he get a ticket? any bruises? or just get himself jerked around for being snotty
 
i know it the high road

but since i'm not talking about the poster i will comment about the young hero

hes less than truthful and not even very good at it. i invite folks to watch the video bear in mind only first4 mins has any meaning. and compare his comments with the reality.
the cop that couldn't drive clutch got out another got in and i didn't see the abuse of his clutch he whimpered about. and the thorough search? boy need to buy a clue. if you're gonna bs you should not make the video that exposes you available. if he wants to challenge the whole dui checkpoint bit thats one thing when he prevaricated shamelessly he didn't help le cause.
that said i was 16 once myself and not much better.
 
there are lots

"A 19 year old with a good understanding of how screwed up things are. Too bad there aren't more Americans like him."

sadly there are plenty of 19 year olds who lie poorly
 
SORRY GUYS, I SEE IT A LITTLE DIFFERENT. THE POLICE TRIED TO MAKE SMALL TALK AND THE KID WAS BEING A SMART A--. IF YOU DON`T HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE THEN WHY NOT BE RESPECTFUL OF THE LAW. I`M SURE SOME OF YOU RIGHT NOW READING THIS ARE ALIVE TODAY BECAUSE SOME DRUNK WAS TAKEN OFF THE ROAD AT ONE OF THESE CHECKS.
 
JD0608: Dude, no need to yell. ;)

Small talk perhaps, but I did note just how quickly the cop's demenor changed when the driver declined to discuss his personal life with an armed agent of the state. Minor Contempt of Cop there I wager.

As too the "lying", the linked article talked about the clutch in the Maxima being trashed by the cop, but on viewing the video I did not see nor hear any abuse of the clutch in the car.
 
Cops dont make small talk. They're trying to get people's guard down so they slip up and give the cops something. Those cops dont give a crap where you're going.. they're trying to get you talking to see if they can smell alcohol on your breath and so they have time to run the vehicle.
 
Is it real or is it...?

The good thing (and the bad) about audio and/or video is it tells the unfettered truth. :) Make if it what you all will, the truth is to be observed by any who look/listen with an open, objective mind.

For what it is worth, it is possible to object to over intrusiveness without being snotty. Simply state that fact, "I feel that this event is overly intrusive of a person not accused of a violation or crime. In that same spirit, I do not feel compelled to disclose my destination."

Doc2005
 
Where the wheels started to come off was when the cop asked the kid where he was headed. This was absolutely none of the cop's business. The kid said he had no comment. This piqued the cop's feelings and he started to come on with comments he couldn't back up. But let's continue to blame the victim. After all, it's easier that way.
 
Once again, crazed_ss is on the ball.

When dealing with the police, you have to remember that
the police are not your friends.

Sadly, that's the way it is nowadays. I hear that it wasn't
always like that, however. But nowadays, you should be
under no illusions as to what the role of the police is.

Why do you think they call them Law Enforcement Officers?
 
JDO608: Would you mind if the cops came over and searched your house? They want to check your wife/girlfriends underwear drawer. And then they need to do a cavity search as well.

If you have nothing to hide then why not be respectful of the law?

As for the video I dont see why they have to search his car? He just said "I would rather not discuss my personal life with you officer."

As for the rest of the audio I could not hear it very well but you do get a few clips and pieces which the kid sounds composed and very respectful. He addresses them as officer and does not shout, raise his voice, threaten, or do anything that might offend the officers sensibilities. Try listening with headphones on. You can however hear his conversation with the supervisor pretty clearly while a lot of the rest is somewhat choppy. However the simple fact is that the officer did pull him out of his car after he said he would rather not talk about his personal life. Why?

Remember you cant see the officers and his car very well. Perhaps there is a lot of smoke coming out the back but you cant see due to the camera angle.

However this kid is doing the right thing. I dont see why everyone wants to down him for asking why his rights are being violated?
 
"IF YOU DON`T HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE THEN WHY NOT BE RESPECTFUL OF THE LAW"

BECAUSE THEY'RE WASTING HIS TIME. HOW'S THAT FOR AN ANSWER. IF HE HASN'T COMMITTED A CRIME THEN WHY STOP HIM.

BOY, TYPING IN CAPS IS FUN. MAKES IT EASIER TO SEE. :)

I GOT STOPPED ONCE. OFFICER SAID, "GOING A LITTLE FAST AREN'T YOU?"
I SAID, "NO, SIR." :) AND THAT WAS THAT.

JOHN
 
I still don't understand why people think the kid is lying?

From the transcript it is apparent that the only liars are the police.

Why is everyone so mad at the kid? Because he got the better of the police and made them look foolish? Heck some people here do that for a living.:D
 
two types of lie

one was obseved by sindawe above. and i can safely say hes no pawn for the man. and thanks for the honest observation.

second lie was to present the affair as being an expose of some sort. we have less than 4 mins we can here then he tells us his version of what happened. he'd have more credibilty with me if he hadn't found it so easy to lie.
he stretched it a bit when he described a "thorough search" and i invite others to see if they think cop a(i can't drive clutch) got out for another to drive. watch how car shakes and hear the sounds that i believe indicate a switch of drivers.

hes got almost as much blank tape as richard nixon and wants us to take him at his word after trying to fly one lie that the tape exposes.

if he was my son, and i saw this tape i'd whupp his butt and toss his butt outa my basement.

hes lucky to be as young as he is i can remember when there were penalties for being a richard. painful ones.
 
Kid sounds to me like a punk looking for trouble- I find it hard to believe that his clutch was bothered at all by what little it was used and the kid keeps pushing the issue- How hard would it have to been to just be courteous instead of acting so self important?- But instead it sounds to me like he was looking to make an issue out of anything he could-
 
I still don't understand how checkpoints are legal at all- you know, the whole "innocent until proven guilty" thing. Or maybe I have that backwards...

Anthony
 
Well thank you Cassandrasdaddy. I dont believe you even watched the tape or read the transcripts.

For everyone who says the kid is a punk: please explain how? He did not raise his voice, use cursewords, or threaten the officers in any way? What did he do that reflected poorly on him?
 
Maybe people don't care, but the power to arrest or detain free men is NOT to be taken lightly.

It IS a big deal when someone is detained. The courts thought about it, and decided it would be sorta OK if people were violated for a good cause, like catching drunks.

That's all they OK'd, and imo even that is too much. But like gov't does, you give it an inch and it takes a mile. So here you have a kid detained with no reasonable suspicion he's intoxicated.

Maybe he's 19 and snotty, but any time anyone is detained, they're no longer free. Suspending a man's freedom is a BIG DEAL.
 
I still don't understand how checkpoints are legal at all- you know, the whole "innocent until proven guilty" thing. Or maybe I have that backwards...
Click to expand...
I think the "logic" goes something like..

1. Driving is a privilege, not a right.

2. If #1 is true, then the State may set limitations on that privilege.

3. If #1 and #2 are not convincing, there is always the argument that the State has a "compelling interest" in keeping drunk drivers off the roads.
 
Charlottesville Police and Albemarle County Police (Virginia) have been using DUI Checkpoints for over a decade now. It has been challenged on the grounds of it voilating the 4th Ammendment. It has been upheld by the courts each time it has been challenged. So here in Virginia they are legal. If it had happened here the kid would only be digging himself a legal hole. Also in Virginia there is a charge of Failure to Cooperate with Police. It is a misdemeanor but, it is also effective. I seen it used or threatened more than once.
 
JD0608, turn in all your guns because 1 life might be saved.

When you're willing to do that, then talk to me about how a DUI checkpoint manned by rude JBTs are acceptable just because 1 life might be saved by tossing the 4th and 5th amendment out the window. :scrutiny:
 
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