Just like LE need to be trained on using their weapons in high stress and surprising situations, so should we be trained in wielding our rights under stress and when we least expect it.
Here's what I realized from numerous traffic stops and encounters w/ police:
1) You'll never expect a stop. There are times when we would hot box a car smoking 2-3 joints non-stop on the highway passing by a lot of cop cars expecting to get stopped ("smoking the evidence!") and we never did. Cops just whizz by.. other times we're perfectly following the law, not even a dent on the car, nobody is smoking, no loud music, and we'd get stopped. It depends on location as well, but when it happens you only have about 10 seconds to react.
2) Cops will always try to sneak up on you, especially when you're not driving but are sitting in your vehicle idle or loitering outside. I've never seen a cop until he was a few feet from me. The best place to smoke outside is a big open field where you can see all around you.
As for driving, I'll usually hear the "woo woooo" siren noise, followed by doors closing in unison and seeing "cop legs" walking towards me in the mirror. Shuffling or making "furtive" movements will only hasten the cops and make them suspicious. I don't suggest "eat it if they stop us" as a plan. Drugs should be hidden well before you begin the trip.
3) Eating bud is harder than it looks. It doesn't go down easy, and your breath will REEK of Cannabis; Probably enough to serve as probable cause to search you or the vehicle.
4) No matter how hard you try, it's impossible to get stopped smoking rolled tobacco. I walk around in NYC rolling tobacco and smoking it in public like a joint intentionally, so I can get stopped and make the cop feel dumb, but other than weird looks I get from people, I don't get stopped. It's probably just luck or the lack of a smell.
Carrying rolling tobacco (even if you don't smoke) while you smoke water cured bud would likely be enough to convince a cop you're just smoking tobacco.
5) Sometimes the cop wouldn't want to bust you necessarily, but may feel a duty to. If you're walking outside drinking beer in public, the cop kinda has to do something to make a point. Put that beer in a paper bag and the cop can look the other way. I noticed the same thing with weed, with some cops asking "are you sure there's bud in here? this isn't tobacco?" etc.. probably because they don't want to deal with the paperwork. This may not be the case in your area but my point is to stay cordial and NEVER admit to any wrongdoing, ever. Whether you have 1g or 1 kilo is the same to them. Don't plead your case to them.
Once a cop kept asking if it was bud in the joint and my friend kept insisting that YES IT WAS. So what could the cop do? He took us all in..
The cops will not and cannot help you. Don't admit to shit!
NO it's not reefer. NO I don't have any drugs or weapons on me. NO you can't search me. Am I being detained? Can I go now?
6) I get stopped often if I grow a beard. I get stopped more if I'm driving with blacks, hispanics, desi (browns) and less with oriental asians and blondes.
7) At the cop station they make you take off your shoes and socks. The only place suitable for hiding small amounts of drugs on you in the police station is on or behind your knees and in your crotch (maybe in your boobs if you're a chick?) Those don't get searched, at least not for non-felony charges where I am. You CAN put drugs in your shoes but they will take a peak inside and hit the shoes together, so if the drugs aren't fastened securely they will drop.
8) Realize that if a cop wants to, he can charge you with A LOT more than just smoking in public (or whatever you're doing.) Endangering children, etcetc. Keep this in mind. It is a good reason to stay cordial.
9) Handcuffs hurt because you're probably leaning back on them. Sit straight and lean to the side or forward.
If you're black you'll probably get handcuffs + ankle cuffs
Here's what I realized from numerous traffic stops and encounters w/ police:
1) You'll never expect a stop. There are times when we would hot box a car smoking 2-3 joints non-stop on the highway passing by a lot of cop cars expecting to get stopped ("smoking the evidence!") and we never did. Cops just whizz by.. other times we're perfectly following the law, not even a dent on the car, nobody is smoking, no loud music, and we'd get stopped. It depends on location as well, but when it happens you only have about 10 seconds to react.
2) Cops will always try to sneak up on you, especially when you're not driving but are sitting in your vehicle idle or loitering outside. I've never seen a cop until he was a few feet from me. The best place to smoke outside is a big open field where you can see all around you.
As for driving, I'll usually hear the "woo woooo" siren noise, followed by doors closing in unison and seeing "cop legs" walking towards me in the mirror. Shuffling or making "furtive" movements will only hasten the cops and make them suspicious. I don't suggest "eat it if they stop us" as a plan. Drugs should be hidden well before you begin the trip.
3) Eating bud is harder than it looks. It doesn't go down easy, and your breath will REEK of Cannabis; Probably enough to serve as probable cause to search you or the vehicle.
4) No matter how hard you try, it's impossible to get stopped smoking rolled tobacco. I walk around in NYC rolling tobacco and smoking it in public like a joint intentionally, so I can get stopped and make the cop feel dumb, but other than weird looks I get from people, I don't get stopped. It's probably just luck or the lack of a smell.
Carrying rolling tobacco (even if you don't smoke) while you smoke water cured bud would likely be enough to convince a cop you're just smoking tobacco.
5) Sometimes the cop wouldn't want to bust you necessarily, but may feel a duty to. If you're walking outside drinking beer in public, the cop kinda has to do something to make a point. Put that beer in a paper bag and the cop can look the other way. I noticed the same thing with weed, with some cops asking "are you sure there's bud in here? this isn't tobacco?" etc.. probably because they don't want to deal with the paperwork. This may not be the case in your area but my point is to stay cordial and NEVER admit to any wrongdoing, ever. Whether you have 1g or 1 kilo is the same to them. Don't plead your case to them.
Once a cop kept asking if it was bud in the joint and my friend kept insisting that YES IT WAS. So what could the cop do? He took us all in..
The cops will not and cannot help you. Don't admit to shit!
NO it's not reefer. NO I don't have any drugs or weapons on me. NO you can't search me. Am I being detained? Can I go now?
6) I get stopped often if I grow a beard. I get stopped more if I'm driving with blacks, hispanics, desi (browns) and less with oriental asians and blondes.
7) At the cop station they make you take off your shoes and socks. The only place suitable for hiding small amounts of drugs on you in the police station is on or behind your knees and in your crotch (maybe in your boobs if you're a chick?) Those don't get searched, at least not for non-felony charges where I am. You CAN put drugs in your shoes but they will take a peak inside and hit the shoes together, so if the drugs aren't fastened securely they will drop.
8) Realize that if a cop wants to, he can charge you with A LOT more than just smoking in public (or whatever you're doing.) Endangering children, etcetc. Keep this in mind. It is a good reason to stay cordial.
9) Handcuffs hurt because you're probably leaning back on them. Sit straight and lean to the side or forward.
If you're black you'll probably get handcuffs + ankle cuffs
