Shaundaddy

I'm rather new to the boards, but i have spent many hours reading posts in almost all of the forums. This is not a question, but more an opinion that may help spark a reasonable discussion.

Now, I know that police can search your person or Vehicle if they have probable cause, and most do so in a just and fair manor, but if i was ever asked to consent to a search, i dont believe i would, even if i knew that they would find nothing incriminating of any kind on me.

Nightshift, and K9Copper, I honestly have to say i have a very large amount of respect for both of you, and from what i have read, You seem to be a very reasonable and intelligent officers and i hope you dont take offense to this. It is not a stab at cops, only some of the Policies that you follow. I can honestly say that i dont find probable cause reason enough to search a person for Marijuana or Paraphenilia. Honestly, i believe that the only probable cause grounds that should be used to invoke a search of a person or vehicle should only be if they Violate the rights of another person, or seem as though they will cause physical harm to themselves or another person, such as an unliscensed weapon. Marijuana, quite frankly is as harmless as Cigarettes, if not more so. Marijuana does NOT cause people to do others harm and it does NOT do the user harm in any way other than those also associated with Tobacco. Police officers are supposed to there to Protect, and Serve the public, Not to violate our personal space JUST to make sure we arent breaking a VERY unreasonable law.

The simple fact that its illegal should not be grounds to violate someone's personal rights, especially by insisting that they consent to a search, with the hopes that they will incriminate themselves. I agree that cooperation is probably the most reasonable choice, as it will make a situation easier, but i would find it hard to have respect for myself if i consented to such a violation of personal space and rights.

Basically, I think that what everyone does on their own time is their business, unless it causes them physical harm, or another.

These policies are put into place by other people, not some divine being, So is there anything we can do to change these policies?
I'm not insisting that marijuana be legalized. Though that would be great, this country is FAR off from that. But perhaps the policies can be changed to exepmt Marijuana from the probable cause search policy, seeing as how it is not nessesary and would cut down on the VAST amount of good people crouding our prisons.

Anyone else have anything to add/contradict?

BTW...i have a quote that a few from this board may appreciate. It is from a 311 Song called "Off Beat Bare @ss"