It’s not every cop and I don’t think he was implying that. But it also isn’t every cop who would make up a bullshit line about my license plate being obscured by my plate surround and then spend 15 minutes questioning me trying to find justification for a search. I think most cops try to do the right thing, but there are some who will make up shit and break the rules.Yes, because every cop out there "knows" they can get away with targeting people based on race...
I’ve been stopped on a number of occasions, almost always justifiably and most often the cop cut me a break (probably because I didn’t behave like a Richard). This was only the second time in 40+ years of driving that I’ve been stopped when I did nothing wrong. The first time was in NY State when a trooper going the other way pulled a u-turn and stopped me. He walked up to my window, checked my inspection sticker, and said “sorry, I thought your inspection sticker was expired” and let me go without checking my drivers license or registration — he had clearly made a mistake and had no justification for the stop so he ended it Immediately.
In this case, though, it was clearly a pretext stop. He was absolutely abusing his authority, which makes it stand out so much. I suspect the trooper would not have been as polite if I was young and a minority. I realize that I have no proof of that. But when you think that the trooper spent 15 minutes on the side of the road even though I did not fit any profile, think about what he would be willing to do if you did fit the profile.
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