I have a hard time trusting the police these days.
I was removed from my vehicle during a traffic stop by one of New Jersey's wonderful state police officers. The initial reason for the stop was sound, my taillights were not on ,I was unaware but was glad he stopped me to inform me of this issue. After he explained that and reviewed my documentation he noted that my insurance card was expired, also valid. He then asks me to step out of the car , to which I reply may I ask what for ? I was given nothing more than another step out of the car before my door was opened and I was removed and placed under arrest.
I asked what I was being arrested for and the officer replied for possession of a controlled dangerous substance. I asked him how he came to that conclusion as I am a non drinker and am certainly not a drug user. His reply was a sarcastic, I'm sure . I am then loaded into the back of a cruiser in handcuffs while he then searches my vehicle under the pretense of probable cause due to his perception of what he said was in plain sight. This takes approximately 20 minutes for him to complete his search, in addition to the ordeal of him removing the contents of my pockets onto the hood of my vehicle and promptly bagging them into evidence bags. After completion of his search for the drugs , he comes back looking rather gutted when he realizes his "evidence" , the drugs, was nothing more than rotted heater box sealing foam which had been blowing out of the vents for months.
I asked to see his controlled dangerous substance which he identified as Marijuana. He shows it to me and says what is this. My reply is that it was heater box foam.
He then issues me a paper warning ticket for the tail lamps , does not apologize for what I personally believe was an illegal search of my vehicle and a clear violation of my rights. The problem with reporting this sort of rights violation is that these particular cops are relentless once you call them out and I need to travel this road daily. Reporting the incident would only further the state funded tormenting offered at the hands of the sort of kids who constantly got screwed with in school and were just bright enough to make the grade and become the state's elite law enforcement agency. The sad fact is these people have the upper hand when it comes to breaking the law , they know when they're doing it and seemingly have no issue in doing so.
So you'll have to forgive my distrust of the police .
