written consent for searches

[loyalsister]

Last edited Sun Aug 21, 2016, 04:50 AM - Edit history (1)

Columbia police might soon need written consent to search cars

COLUMBIA - A new method for searching pulled over cars might soon be in use around Columbia.

The Columbia Police Department might soon pass a policy requiring officers to get written consent from the person they pull over before searching their car.
http://www1.komu.com/news/columbia-police-might-soon-need-written-consent-to-search-cars

I think it could be a real step forward if it really has teeth. As in both parties sign the conscent form and both get a copy. It could be a start to holding cops accountable.

[safeinOhio]

1. Seems all those right wing strict Constitutional

fans would be all for this.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

2. Or it could serve as a pretext for unduly holding people at a stop.

Refuse to sign? Wait here until the K9 unit arrives (after they finish their lunch, of course) and if that K9 doesn't find anything a second will have to be called in just to double check after the first one already took an hour to walk around your car.

Sorry you missed your job interview.

[loyalsister]

3. Or, sorry we held you up until the polls closed

Those are really good points. It's so out of control that solutions that have real teeth are really hard to find. It's eventually going to take a major shift in police culture. The big challenge is holding them accountable when they have so much public support for their authoritarian behavior.