when police have pulled me over just for walking to the store at 3am in the morning because im a night owl they treat me like a criminal they accuse me of being a drug addict when ive never done drugs they also ask to pat me down at times which i ussually refuse which makes them mad when your innocent you shouldnt be subjected to searches they also pull me over in pairs why dont they pull me over alone they are highly trained government officials im just a civilian.just because im white living in a black area these people think im out to buy or sell drugs correct me if im wrong but that is racial profiling any way im rambling ill end my rambling now
2007-01-18 18:21:41 · 7 answers · asked by wylted 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
It is probably a high crime area where you walk and all they need is reasonable suspicion to stop you. Once they stop you, they have every right to pat you down for officer safety. The fact that you walk around a high crime or an area where they sell drugs gives them enough reasonable suspicion to stop you, but if you are not doing anything wrong, just be cooperative and they will send you on your way
2007-01-18 18:34:18 · answer #1 · answered by PD 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why do they always pull you over in pairs??? Guess what, you're not the only person they contact in a shift. There are guys a whole lot badder than you out there, and quite often there's no time to wait for backup, so they work two-man cars for their own safety. They have every right to pat you down, it's an officer safety issue. If they ask to search your person though, go ahead and refuse! That's why we have the 4th Amendment! It doesn't sound at all like racial profiling. It sounds like profiling against guys walking alone in high crime areas at 3am. I hate to break it to you, but at 3am there are generally two kinds of people out walking around: Cops and Criminals. If you're not playing their game, get off the field.
2007-01-19 03:00:12 · answer #2 · answered by Max 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Just a couple of comments.
The police are legally allowed to pat you down to make sure you don't have a weapon...they have patted me down on a traffic stop and I a 53 year old white guy. I am surprised they allowed you to refuse as you don't have a choice...at least in every state I know of.
As to you comment that if you're innocent you shouldn't be subject to searches....I agree. But at 3am walking around...that is not typical for most people so they have to consider that possibility that there is a problem. I have been out walking around my neighborhood at 4am because I couldn't sleep and the police have stopped me. But I always carry my wallet and I show them that I live down the street and that's it. It happens.
Bottom line...they were doing their job and you went home safe.
Racial profiling because you are a white guy in a black area? No. They would have stopped you if you were black, Latino or Asian being out at 3am...99% of the time.
2007-01-19 03:05:45 · answer #3 · answered by iraq51 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am afraid you will not like my answer, but unfortunately in this day and age, police officers have to be suspicious of about everything and everyone. Based on what you said, and will assume nothing was left out, you as an American were doing nothing wrong, but you have to admit that if you were in their position you probably would feel the same way. Officers are trained to think this way.
2007-01-19 04:03:07 · answer #4 · answered by soccergirl47546 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yeah profiling sucks. I've gotten pulled over many times, I am usually innocent, lol.
2007-01-19 02:25:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
then dont walk at 3am......they always get suspicious bout ppl at that time
2007-01-19 08:03:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
they're just doing their job
2007-01-19 03:02:13 · answer #7 · answered by grace 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋