|
Unfortunately there are cops out there that think they are God because they have a badge and a gun. Technically, they are not supposed to do a search with out having good reason behind it. Was crime in the area high, did someone report you lurking in the area...those are some reasons that would make it necessary to do a search. As for the knife taped to your console, you would have to research your state's laws on concealed weapons. If the cop had suspicions because you looped around a house, and you told your story (don't wanna talk n drive) then unless you or your friend were twithing funny, then he should have just said "Well your tags are bad, do you have registration....." and focussed on that, dealt with that issue and let you off. Technically they should not do a search without a warrant or without a "justifiable cause"...meaning unless they saw you throw a suspicious looking baggie out of the window there really was no need for the search. If you feel that the cop was way out of line, you should report it to his superiors (if you got a name or badge number). Also you could probably research the criminal and traffic laws at nearby university's law library. Or call an attorney who is willing to give a few words of advice over the phone and ask him what your rights and the officer's rights were as far as a search goes.
I had my car searched once by police, I was in an area outside city limits and late at night. Long story short...the direction I was driving was going towards a location where illegal drags are held (i did not know that at the time) and since my car is lowered and all that crap they had reason to believe I was heading there. Also the area I was going thru is a prime location for criminal activity, so the cop and his back up buddy asked nicely to search my car, and having nothing to hide, I let them. They saw my stereo system and wanted to hear it. My fiance, who also installed it, was with me and then he and the cops chatted for an hour. In the end being nice paid off. And it probably made their night and maybe they now they realize that not all people with fixed cars are jerks or have bad intentions.
|