TexasCHLforum.com

b322da wrote:

Cedar Park Dad wrote:Don't disagree.

I should hope not. I was quoting you, Dad.

Jim

JSThane wrote:As a teenager, I had the local-to-me-then cops stop me and demand I "consent to search." They quite literally told me if I didn't sign it, I wasn't going anywhere unless it was to the station. My crime? Taking a back road to avoid traffic because I was tired and didn't want to endanger anyone (to be fair, I was a bit over the lines, I was so tired; the initial officer stopped on suspicion of DWI). I finally gave in (not knowing any better) and signed the consent form, but told the cop, "Once you find nothing, I want you to tell me what you're looking for." As expected, they found nothing. The very sheepish (and probably scared I'd complain) officer then told me he saw coffee filters in the back seat and thought I was smuggling a meth lab. He totally missed the coffee pot and grounds right next to the filters in the box; I was coming home from a semester at college. Knowing what I know now, there's no way the cops then could have made anything stick, for there was nothing there TO stick. Their threats were empty; they were looking for an "easy bust."

As a law enforcement officer now, I say this: If you've done nothing wrong, DO NOT CONSENT. If you have, and you consent to search, you've just made my job easier. But little things like Constitutional rights aren't there to make my job easier; they're there to keep people from being railroaded like I very nearly was. If I don't catch someone this time around, I'll have another chance. Criminals are dumb. I'll see them again.

C-dub wrote:Searching my vehicle will do absolutely nothing to catch any criminals. I have also never been asked for consent to be searched and it has been almost two decades since my last speeding ticket. I stop at all stop signs and don't slow roll through right turns on red lights. Other than my truck being practically one of a kind and easily recognizable, I doubt the police are even aware of my existence.

I don't look as cheerful as TAM, but I try not to give anyone a reason to stop me. However, the main reason for my driving habits are to teach my daughter how it should be done. She will be driving in a few short years and needs a good foundation for reference. We're all aware that our kids watch everything we do and will throw it back at us at the least expected time.

jmra wrote:

Texas_Blaze wrote:I bought a used truck once and a few months later found a joint in between the driver seat and center console when cleaning it. I bought it at a dealership in Dallas in 2003. I will not consent to searches.

When I was in the military we were strongly urged to bring any used vehicle we purchased by security so they could let the dogs do a run through. That advice saved a number of service men a lot of head ache.