Pubdate: Tue, 29 Jan 2002
Source: Tuscaloosa News, The (AL)
Copyright: 2002 The Tuscaloosa News
Contact:  http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1665
Author: Dave Michon

TRAFFIC STOPS ERODE AT THE CONSTITUTION

Dear Editor: The Tuscaloosa County traffic stop that yielded a $ 2.7 
million windfall for police should remind us that these officers stopping 
us for all these petty reasons are really in the game for pennies from Drug 
War heaven.

Trouble is, they have to stop tens of thousands of law-abiding citizens to 
hit the jackpot. They are called "Terri Stops" and the idea is to stop you 
for any reason if you or your car fits a certain profile and then "ask" you 
if it's OK to search your car. It is a legal fiction tearing at yet another 
corner of the Constitution. Why do we let them keep on doing it?

Dave Michon

Eau Claire, WI
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