What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia
So I was driving to a local bar and as I was driving down the road I noticed a cop was fallowing me, but he never pulled me over. I also had a friend with me.
I finally get to the bar establishment and park. He then pulls up besides me and asks me if I knew a person with my same last name as me but different first name. I get out of my car, close my car up, and roll up my windows and lock my door.
I get out and show him my ID. I wasn't the person they were looking for, and I had no idea who the person was they were looking for. They asked if they could search me, and I said no.
My friend apparently at this time was getting hassled by the other cop, because he had .1 grams of marijuana - basically half a bowl on him. I had a bowl on me but I didn't let the cop search me. He apparently let the cop search him.
So they put my friend in the back of the cop car, and tell me they are going to get the dog and if the dog reacts they are going to seize my car. I told them they still couldn't search, and started walking away. They were trying to get me to stay, but I told him I was leaving if they couldn't detain me, and I left.
I get in the bar, and gave my bowl to a friend so I wouldn't get charged with it in case they were screwing with my car, and about 5 minutes later, one of the cops enters the bar and tells me to come out with him.
When I get outside, they take my keys from me, and search my car. I told them, this seems like a shaky search and seizer but that did not deter them.
They found 4.2 grams of marijuana in a mason jar, and detain me. After sitting in a cop car for about 30 minutes, they let me out, and give me a citation for court, and I was free to leave. They took my marijuana, and all the money in my wallet - I had about $200+. They never even gave me a note for how much cash they took.
I was charged with possession with the intent to distribute.
I was charged with section code - 18.2 - 248.1
I am really upset about this, because I try and be very careful, and I refused a search. I was even able to leave the parking lot - it is privet parking by the way - and I still get a charge.
This in my mind is a slap in the face to the 4th amendment. If officers can do this, why can't they just walk a dog around every car in a bar parking lot, and hassle anyone the dog barks at. This in my mind is unjust and unfair punishment.
If any one has any advice on what I should do now, I would greatly appreciate it.
PS - this is my first offense, and I have a relatively clean record.
So I was driving to a local bar and as I was driving down the road I noticed a cop was fallowing me, but he never pulled me over. I also had a friend with me.
I finally get to the bar establishment and park. He then pulls up besides me and asks me if I knew a person with my same last name as me but different first name. I get out of my car, close my car up, and roll up my windows and lock my door.
I get out and show him my ID. I wasn't the person they were looking for, and I had no idea who the person was they were looking for. They asked if they could search me, and I said no.
My friend apparently at this time was getting hassled by the other cop, because he had .1 grams of marijuana - basically half a bowl on him. I had a bowl on me but I didn't let the cop search me. He apparently let the cop search him.
So they put my friend in the back of the cop car, and tell me they are going to get the dog and if the dog reacts they are going to seize my car. I told them they still couldn't search, and started walking away. They were trying to get me to stay, but I told him I was leaving if they couldn't detain me, and I left.
I get in the bar, and gave my bowl to a friend so I wouldn't get charged with it in case they were screwing with my car, and about 5 minutes later, one of the cops enters the bar and tells me to come out with him.
When I get outside, they take my keys from me, and search my car. I told them, this seems like a shaky search and seizer but that did not deter them.
They found 4.2 grams of marijuana in a mason jar, and detain me. After sitting in a cop car for about 30 minutes, they let me out, and give me a citation for court, and I was free to leave. They took my marijuana, and all the money in my wallet - I had about $200+. They never even gave me a note for how much cash they took.
I was charged with possession with the intent to distribute.
I was charged with section code - 18.2 - 248.1
I am really upset about this, because I try and be very careful, and I refused a search. I was even able to leave the parking lot - it is privet parking by the way - and I still get a charge.
This in my mind is a slap in the face to the 4th amendment. If officers can do this, why can't they just walk a dog around every car in a bar parking lot, and hassle anyone the dog barks at. This in my mind is unjust and unfair punishment.
If any one has any advice on what I should do now, I would greatly appreciate it.
PS - this is my first offense, and I have a relatively clean record.