Traffic Stop or Sneaky Stop

[WATCHINGUS24/7]

What is the name of your state? Utah
Was on my way to pick up my girlfriend from work right around the corner from where I live. Saw a cop sitting in his car on the corner where I was to turn. As soon as I turned the corner, the cop was on me and I pulled over right in front of my girlfriends work. The officer got out of his car and yelled my name and I acknowledged. He got to my car and instructed me to get out, immediately putting the cuffs on and putting me in the back of the car. He said that I was driving on a suspended license, and not more than 45 seconds later, two undercovers, and a K-9 unit showed up. All this for a suspended license? The undercovers found a bag of Methamphetamine, a pipe, and some scales in my car. They told the person with me that they pulled me over cause they saw me do a drug deal and hour earlier which is impossible cause I was at home with that person and before that I was in another town. So did they or didn't they have grounds to go way overboard. So I went to jail and got bailed out only to be pulled over again two weeks later, and once again it was the exact same cop who pulled me over, and said that I was under arrest for a warrant. My girlfriend was with me and they searched the passenger seat where she was sitting and found a scale and monies in a black purse. They searched her pockets, shirt and made her lift her shirt to expose where drugs might be. She felt so embarassed. They didn't make me lift my shirt. They just kept drilling her on drugs and that she hid them somewhere. My girl isn't into that stuff. She's a clean cut girl. They kept threatening her about going to jail due to the paraphernelia under her seat. She was so devastated cause the same undercover said that I was going back to jail on a warrant cause they forgot to file a paraphernelia charge. She just bailed me out of jail on charges of possession, paraphernelia, and traffic violation. after searching the car twice and finding nothing else, they called in the K-9 dog and his trainer and found nothing by walking around the car and jumping in the trunk. The very same law officials seemed desperated to fine some sort of drug so they had a little talk behind the back of my car and decided to let the dog inside. Once again the dog found nothing and ruined all of my leather seats. They let my girlfriend go with the car after she said she'd strip down to nothing if she needed to prove she wasn't hiding anything. Finally they let her go and I think it was because they felt bad they ruined our seats and humiliated her. The undercover is the one who put out the warrant for my arrest because he didn't believe I would show up for court. They funny thing is, is that I bailed out that night. I know they are just fishing, but they are still seriously harassing me. Both times I was pulled over, they didn't tell me what for and hand cuffed me right off the bar. I don't feel that if they were doing a routine traffic stop the first time, the undercovers and k-9 unit would have been right on site. The second time the undercover was following us with the cop out of sight behind him then popping out on the side with lights flashing. The second incident, the cop told me he pulled me over for a traffic violation. I don't know who said I was a drug lord but I just use personally. Now they are all on my block and not very good in dusguise.

[seniorjudge]

And what is your legal question for us?

[WATCHINGUS24/7]

Is All Of This Legal And Would A Lawyer Be Beneficial In Your Opinion.

Thanks For Your Help

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by WATCHINGUS24/7

Is All Of This Legal And Would A Lawyer Be Beneficial In Your Opinion.

Thanks For Your Help

Yes, it's legal and yes, a criminal defense attorney would probably be a good person to consult to formulate a defense for your crimes.

[seniorjudge]

Originally Posted by Zigner

Yes, it's legal and yes, a criminal defense attorney would probably be a good person to consult to formulate a defense for your crimes.

I agree on both counts.

[Zigner]

I forgot to mention one more thing. If you really care about your GF, then I'd suggest you break up with her to avoid having such a "clean cut" young lady exposed to your lifestyle.

[WATCHINGUS24/7]

So A Routine Traffic Stop Always Warrants An Undercover And A Drug Dog. Why Would I Be Able To Bail Out Of Jail On The Warrant That Put Me Back In For Fear That I Would Run. My Court Date Was Way After That.

[WATCHINGUS24/7]

Lawyer Being Beneficial Meaning Should I Even Bother With One Or Just Take The Bargain.

[Zigner]

You were driving on a suspended license. The search was incidental.
I suggest you talk to your defense attorney before you open your mouth any more...

[WATCHINGUS24/7]

Thanks Zigner, You Have Made Free Advice Just A Wonderful Experience. Sight Said Free Advice, And Thought I'd Try. Sounds Like You Need To Get Out Of The Advice Giving Business. Sure You're Not A Cop.

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by WATCHINGUS24/7

Thanks Zigner, You Have Made Free Advice Just A Wonderful Experience. Sight Said Free Advice, And Thought I'd Try. Sounds Like You Need To Get Out Of The Advice Giving Business. Sure You're Not A Cop.

Glad I could be of service. I'm sorry you didn't get the advice you were looking for, but you DID get legally accurate advice!

[CdwJava]

Zigner's not a cop, but I am.

Originally Posted by WATCHINGUS24/7

The officer got out of his car and yelled my name and I acknowledged. He got to my car and instructed me to get out, immediately putting the cuffs on and putting me in the back of the car. He said that I was driving on a suspended license,

Was he right?

If you were driving on a suspended license, I strongly suspect the vehicle was subject to impound - thus, it was subject to an inventory of the contents (i.e. - a search).

The undercovers found a bag of Methamphetamine, a pipe, and some scales in my car.

Don't you just hate it when the cops catch you with your stash and paraphernalia!?

So did they or didn't they have grounds to go way overboard.

Yep. You were suspended - that gave them good cause to effect the stop and seize the car. Since the detectives and the dog was right there, there was no unnecessary delay.

All sounds well and good ... and lawful.

So I went to jail and got bailed out only to be pulled over again two weeks later, and once again it was the exact same cop who pulled me over, and said that I was under arrest for a warrant.

Well, if you had a warrant, that, too, was lawful.

Had you cleared up the license issue? Or could that have been yet another reason?

My girl isn't into that stuff. She's a clean cut girl.

Why's she kicking it with you then? Does she like the bad boy attitude?

They kept threatening her about going to jail due to the paraphernelia under her seat.

That was a very real possibility.

Once again the dog found nothing and ruined all of my leather seats.

If there was damage, then you may submit a claim to the agency for the cost to repair of the damages.

I know they are just fishing, but they are still seriously harassing me.

If you clear the warrants, and make sure you are driving on a valid license, that might help.

I don't feel that if they were doing a routine traffic stop the first time, the undercovers and k-9 unit would have been right on site.

The underlying reason for the stop is irrelevant as long as there was good cause to make the stop. A suspended license and an arrest warrant are both good reasons for the stop.

- Carl