When police stop vehicles for purported driving rules infractions, police will often take advantage of the situation to inquire about other matters in a “fishing expedition” to establish suspicion of unrelated lawbreaking. They also may ask drivers for permission to search the stopped vehicles. This can end up badly for drivers and other vehicle occupants, especially those who do not adhere to the basic self-protections rules of saying as little as possible to cops and refusing permission for searches.
Some good news came this month for drivers and passengers in Oregon. In its decision for the case Oregon v. Arreola-Botello, the Oregon Supreme Court placed restraints on cops taking such actions during traffic stops, stating that “an officer is limited to investigatory inquiries that are reasonably related to the purpose of the traffic stop or that have an independent constitutional justification.” On Monday at Reason, Jacob Sullum provided some details regarding the case and discussed implications of the court’s decision. Read his article here.
Before you encounter a nosey cop on the road or elsewhere, it may be helpful to explore the value of not talking to police and not giving them permission to search your vehicle or other property. This lecture by Regent University School of Law Professor James Duane Is a good place to start that exploration:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE&w=440&h=248]
The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity is a project of Dr. Paul’s Foundation for Rational Economics and Education (F.R.E.E.), founded in the 1970s as an educational organization. The Institute continues and expands Dr. Paul’s lifetime of public advocacy for a peaceful foreign policy and the protection of civil liberties at home. Visit http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org