Got Pulled over By 4 cops today while carting (CA)

[50 Shooter]

Silverlance,
Don't go to court! Mail your ticket back in with the bail and ask for the paperwork for a "trial by declaration". Get on the net and do some surfing on the subject, last ticket I got I beat using this. It's perfectly legal to do, read the back of your ticket.

When you win you'll get your bail amount mailed back to you.

 

[g5reality]

Silverlance

I was wrong they can

 

[Librarian]

Hmm.

Check this thread at Calguns. See especially post 15, where the writer says officers in his agency have that ability.

He-said, he-said?

 

[torpid]

Listening to the police radio in my town, I've heard this happen before. They actually only need your license plate number.

What happens, is they'll run a registration check on a gun owner by radioing in the license plate number, and it's usually "Returns (registration status-current/expired) for a (vehicle description) to so and so at such and such address, be advised, a (gun model) is registered to subject."

I wasn't aware of this the first time I heard it on the scanner, and it was pretty shocking to me. Just another example of what Californians have to put up with.

From what I've heard, C.W.'s info is indeed correct (at least for this county).

 

[g5reality]

I WAS WRONG

Yes I apologize, I was wrong...police can find out if there is a hand gun registered to you. I sat in my friends Police car and saw exactly how to do it.

Live & learn

 

[gbp]

Affirmitive on their ability

I too have been pulled over (for speeding) and they requested to search my vehicle which I granted. One kept track of me on the sidewalk and the other spent the better part of 45 minutes going through everything in my vehicle. I finally asked the one next to me just exactly what they expected to find and he said that when they ran my plates, connected my name it showed that I was a registered gun owner and they were trying to see if I had any in the vehicle.

So the way to avoid this is to not register your guns, then they will probably not search your vehicle. Only makes sence that they would search the vehicles of "law abiding citizens" and allow criminals to wander around with loaded weapons in the car.

 

[langenc]

Dont they realize that you have undfergone a FBI check and are NOT a criminal. How in the world did 4 cars get there in less than 5 min or here in less than 20-usually only have 2 in the county.

 

[jnojr]

I too have been pulled over (for speeding) and they requested to search my vehicle which I granted.

Why?

So the way to avoid this is to not register your guns, then they will probably not search your vehicle.

Not an option in CA. I can't think of anywhere that has a voluntary registration law... if there's registration, you gotta sign up.

The way to avoid this is don't get pulled over, don't consent to a search, and don't interact with police officers any more than you absolutely have to. Just remember these two phrases:

"Officer, am I free to go now?"

And:

"I need to speak with my attorney."

 

[crazed_ss]

Well, there's this form... http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/volreg.pdf

I've never known one person to fill it out.

 

[Speer]

So the way to avoid this is to not register your guns..

The way to avoid it is by refusing to consent to a search.

 

[silverlance]

well.. ok... but..

Has anyone ever refused a search by a cop?

No, I didn't think so. It sounds very noble and dignified to say that one will here on THR, but IRL when you know that there is nothing in your car and if you jsut let him search it he will go his merry way in 5 mins... versus a possible 3 hour detainment...

you see what I mean?

hard choices.

 

[Bullet]

Birukun

I watched the link you provided.
How to Avoid being Arrested by the Cops. A citizen’s guide to surviving police encounters.

I believe it should have read - If you’re doing something illegal or are a criminal here’s how to use your rights to avoid arrest.

I see they have the ACLU guy saying - to exercise your rights you become a better citizen. (What a crock of BS). All they are trying to do is get criminals off.

I believe the police work for me (the public), trying to catch criminals. I’d exercise my rights by letting the police search my car if they want, since I’m not doing anything wrong.

 

[Derby FALs]

I believe the police work for me (the public), trying to catch criminals. I’d exercise my rights by letting the police search my car if they want, since I’m not doing anything wrong.

What's your address and phone number. We'll have them call you if they want to search someone's vehicle. Your sure they haven't come up with any new laws that you're not aware of, aren't you?

 

[Birukun]

The Video

Bullet-
Like I said in my first post, I don't agree with everything in the video but thought that it has some value.

As to sitting on the side of the road while they search your car without your consent and weak probable cause, it is just one of those things you may have to do when you are in the right. No one said it is always easy. I know, we are all supposed to give everything up when we get pulled over for speeding or that broken taillight.

Bill in SD

P.S. Today is Thursday

 

[Bullet]

Birukun

I appreciated your link. It did show what your rights are. I think it would have been better if everyone the cops tried to search weren’t breaking laws and it could have shown what happens when you consent to a search and aren’t breaking any laws.

I’ve been stopped by the police. They searched my car with my consent and then let me go on my way, (no big deal). I thought they were just doing their job. I cooperated like I believe most honest citizens do. And by the way I had a rifle in the trunk, which the cops saw (no big deal no laws broken).

P.S. Today is Thursday

Thanks I thought it was Tuesday.

 

[Derby FALs]

They weren't doing their job. You hadn't given them any reason to search your vehicle or they wouldn't have asked for your consent.

 

[Bullet]

Derby FALs

I believe sometimes the cops are just fishing to see how you react or what they can find. I believe this is part of their job and probably leads to some criminals being arrested. Especially the criminals that don’t hide behind their rights.

 

[MudCamper]

I’d exercise my rights by letting the police search my car if they want, since I’m not doing anything wrong.

By doing that, you help erode the 4th Amendment. Don't do it. Along that logic, it's OK to pass "reasonalble" gun control too. No way.

http://www.flexyourrights.org/just_say_no_to_police_searches

 

[Bullet]

MudCamper

I’m not suggesting that the Constitution or any of its amendments be abolished. Nor due I think we need any more gun laws. I believe the citizen’s rights regarding searches should be in place to protect the citizens from the police demanding searches with no valid reason (even if criminals abuse these rights). My experiences with the police have mostly been positive. I believe the police are trying to do a good job. I believe the police see enough bad in our society and if I can be helpful to them I will. The police are not my enemy.

 

[macp]

The police in CA can't find out if you own firearms by running your license plate. They can, however, by running your license. The reason why LA's finest asked if the guy had a gun on board is because LAPD (and many other agencies) routinely ask that. What many officers will do is ask about guns, catching the driver off guard and if the person hesitates even for a second, they get the driver out and tear that car apart. Sometimes they ask permission, sometimes they don't. If they arrest you they will say in their report that you consented, whether you did or not. Most people are nervous and don't know that they can refuse.

A lot of non-CA people may find the original poster's incident surprising, but it's really not out of the ordinary. Growing up in southern CA it was very common to get pulled over by the LA County Sheriff for a minor traffic violation, and sat on the curb while your car was thoroughly searched, trunk and all. Then you got searched. Where are you going, where are you coming from. If you refused to sit on the curb you would be thrown on the damn curb.

LAPD has lowered their hiring standards going back 25 years and in the last 15 or so they've been hiring just about anybody. I know of people who flat out should never been hired, guys who kept getting turned down until LA hired them, sometimes applying even to LA a second time, and these cocky arrogant punks with badges are still out there...and those are the white guys. You should see the people hired through affirmative action including useless five-foot-tall females.

A friend on LAPD once heard his partner telling a prisoner who had boosted something from a clothing store "man, you should just grab an armful and rush the door like we used to do" or words to that effect.

One of the guys in the "Rampart scandal" had been detained and arrested five times for burglary and theft before he got hired. Another one couldn't get on anywhere because his background was so bad, but finally got on at LA. Just a bunch of goons with shaved heads.

There have been all kinds of gang bangers getting hired there--I could go on and on. I've heard old-timers, guys who retired 25 years ago, bitterly relate about how that department has changed.

A lot of cops think that everybody else shouldn't own firearms but these same guys are the ones who keep constantly spraying 15 rounds every time they get in a shooting...not only that but often they don't even hit the target.

 

[pacodelahoya]

Bullet

So by your reasoning, If I get stopped at a DWI checkpoint, and haven't been drinking but the police want to search my car and I refuse. Somehow I am now impeding the police in doing thier job while hiding behind my rights?

I wish I had some of y'alls faith in humanity.

 

[Bullet]

If you get stopped at a DWI checkpoint, and haven't been drinking but the police want to search your car and you refuse. I believe you would be with in your rights. You would not be impeding the police from doing their job because their job is to arrest criminals, which you’re not. You would only be hiding behind your rights if you were doing something illegal.

In the instance you listed I probably would tell the police that I know I could refuse to let them search my vehicle and that I’m not in possession of or doing anything illegal, but if you want to search my vechile you have my permission. I might also add that there are some honest citizens left in this country.

In my opinion any citizen has the choice to refuse a search or not. Both are with in your rights. Which you choose is up to you. Hypothetically I probably could come up with a time I might choose not to let the police search my car even if I’ve done nothing wrong and don’t have anything to hide. I just believe if you’ve nothing to hide granting the police permission to search is probably the better choice.

 

[macp]

Also, in CA the field sobriety test (FST) is voluntary, as is the little hand-held breathalyzer. Some cops may actually tell you the FST is voluntary but I would imagine most do not. If I ever have a beer or two and get pulled over for DUI I will respectfully decline to take either. Nothing good comes of it and is just more evidence against you.

Once you're hooked, the breathalyzer machine at the station is not voluntary. You could refuse but your license will be suspended.

 

[pacodelahoya]

Why would it be the better choice?

 

[Derby FALs]

My experiences with the police have mostly been positive. I believe the police are trying to do a good job. I believe the police see enough bad in our society and if I can be helpful to them I will. The police are not my enemy.

If you know you have nothing to hide and you now know they are just fishing, then you are holding them up from valuable police work. Quit wasting their time. Refuse and send them down the road to catch some real criminals.