Brainrape

A couple questions for LEO's if you don't mind...

No.1- A friend of mine was transporting pot in his car and he decided to put it in a padded certified envolope that he would reseal, it looked perfectly unopened, and his reasoning was that if he got pulled over, and if they decided to search, that they could not open his mail inside the car, that would be breaking the law unless they got a special warrant or something, is this true?

No.2- Whose the police for the police? What body governs our police system?

Any answers, espically an answer to number 1 would be very greatly aprreciated. thanks...

Niteshift

Generally speaking, I can search anything in the car. An envelope is not mail until it is deposited in the mail system.

If there were any doubt, based on the circumstances surrounding it, the envelope would be impounded and a warrant obtained. If contraband were found inside, an arrest warrant would be issued.

Tell your friend nice try, but no cookie

Who polices us? Everyone. Most immediately, supervisors do. Then Internal Affairs and the administration. Above them, in some locations, are citizen review committees or police commissions.

In directly, the courts police us. They tell us what we can and cannot do. Also, case law does. The legislative bodies do by passing or repealing laws.

Lastly, the public does. Through the media and through their elected representatives, they can have influence over what we do and how we do it. Not usually so much on the mechanics part of it (how I handcuff or when I can draw my gun), but in the focus of the agency.