Stop Giving Up Your Rights at Traffic Stops

Liberty County Georgia deputies search a bag they suspect as contraband belonging to a college student and discover, low and behold, inside is of all things, a book.

The situation in Liberty County Georgia last month where the Delaware State women’s lacrosse team bus was stopped and searched is just the latest example of an American law enforcement agency wasting time and pissing off citizens. For 22 minutes the passengers and driver of the bus were detained while a drug-sniffing dog and at least three deputies searched personal items of passengers only to come up with a suspicious package that contained, a book. All of this because the driver was allegedly driving in the wrong lane.

Great job fellas I’m sure the taxpayers of Liberty County are thrilled with your work seeing that Georgia is hellbent on limiting textbooks in classrooms, this just fits the state’s agenda. While video of the interaction and the b.s. statement released by Sherriff William N. Bowman, who is African American himself, contradicted Bowman’s statement, one thing is for sure, Americans must learn and practice their constitutional rights more.

I operate by a simple principle when I’m interacting with law enforcement that I did not call for assistance; they are not trying to help me. They can only cause you harm, so you must defend yourself and that starts by knowing your constitutional rights and standing up for yourself, regardless of you race, age or sex.

The only reason the police are there in a traffic stop is to gather evidence against you. You didn’t call them for help, so it does you no good whatsoever to engage with them. Provide your driver’s license, registration, proof of insurance, and if you are carrying your weapon, comply with the duty to inform law in states where it is required. Cops in these situations take either a friendly or authoritarian tone with the sole purpose of cajoling or intimidating you into giving up your right to not self- incriminate. Traffic stops are mainly an excuse for money grabs for your local government. Look at how much money Chicago is making off of red light and speed enforcement cameras. You are already taxed enough, no need to add to the local government coffers. Take the citation if they issue one and go to court if you choose, but do not talk to cops or give them consent to search your vehicle.

Had the bus driver for the lacrosse team done this, this entire incident could have possibly been avoided. Although I must admit, I have yet to see a video released of the driver giving his consent to the search. Only one body cam video has been released, so perhaps he gave his consent to one of the other deputies on the scene. Regardless, there were several mistakes made by the driver, starting with him allowing the deputy on the bus to begin with to talk to the team. He had stepped off the bus to speak with the deputy and provide his license, so there was no reason for the deputy to go on the bus.

Secondly, at some point he gave permission for the K-9 unit to do a search or the deputies illegally used the K-9 to search the outside of the vehicle.

·         Rodriguez v. United States: Unless police have “reasonable suspicion” of a crime, it is an unconstitutional seizure for them to extend a legal traffic stop in order to conduct a dog sniff. Dog sniffs at a traffic stop are considered “searches” within the Fourth Amendment that require probable cause, and police cannot use a drug dog to obtain that probable cause unless they already have reasonable suspicion. Police authority for holding up your vehicle ends once their tasks tied to the traffic violation (i.e., writing your ticket) are or reasonably should have been finished, according to the law firm Arnold & Smith.

The bus driver opened the cargo bay, either on his own or after the deputies asked him if he would, which allowed the deputies to use the K-9 unit, who supposedly hit on a suspicious bag. The deputies search based on the dog hit revealed what appeared to be legal prescription medicine.

Sherriff Bowman stated that sometimes K-9 units pick up on a residue scent of something that was there previously. To me that’s even more of a reason to assert your 4th Amendment rights that protect you from unwanted searches.  

In the meantime, by allegedly giving his consent to search the cargo bay the deputies then went through the personal items of passengers. This could have been a disaster, but luckily there was nothing found and the group was free to go on their way.

The accusatory tone used by one of the deputies, who has yet to be identified, is what has upset so many. While sitting in his squad car, you can hear him telling another deputy, “It’s a bunch of dang school girls on the bus. Probably some weed.”

While I believe Vice President Harris should push for President Biden to ask for the Justice Department to look into the matter to see if any Civil Rights violations occurred, Americans must know their own rights and enforce them, especially when dealing with those who are charged with defending the constitution. Don’t give up your liberties in Liberty County Georgia.