Texas Cops + Drew Danburry = Interesting Story

[Russ Hockenbury]

Drew Danburry (http://www.myspace.com/drewdanburry) recently updated his blog (http://drewdanburry.blogspot.com/) to include the story of how he spent Independence Day in Garza County Jail.

[thewebguy]

The last thing I want is for anyone to simplify this situation and pull some sort of concrete message from this story.

except that there is a simplified, concrete message:

never consent to a search of your car. if a cop asks your permission, he probably has no reasonable cause.

[Russ Hockenbury]

except that there is a simplified, concrete message:

never consent to a search of your car. if a cop asks your permission, he probably has no reasonable cause.

Ha, I think the cop took one look at them and THOUGHT he had reasonable cause.

[Mitch]

Haha that's a crazy story.

[summer skin]

the picture at the bottom of his blog is money...

[Low Level Owl]

that story brings back bad memories. i hate west texas sooo much. the cops out there are brutal. I got pulled over for going the speed limit on my way to lubbock (which is a complete shit hole by the way). when i asked to see the radar, the cop said the radar was in his mind or some shit like that. so he wrote my a ticket and i'm still trying to fight it. I believe it was in sweetwater texas, home of the rattle snake round up.
if you look like you dont belong out there, they will get you.

[dashin]

that story brings back bad memories. i hate west texas sooo much. the cops out there are brutal. I got pulled over for going the speed limit on my way to lubbock (which is a complete shit hole by the way). when i asked to see the radar, the cop said the radar was in his mind or some shit like that. so he wrote my a ticket and i'm still trying to fight it. I believe it was in sweetwater texas, home of the rattle snake round up.
if you look like you dont belong out there, they will get you.

'get you' as in pull you over maybe. Just watch what the heck you say (you would be surpised on what you can say to convict you)

Dont talk back and don't piss them off by demanding to see the radar gun.

It is the officers duty to prove you Guilty. If he fails to prove your guilt the case will be dismissed. If you did nothing wrong as you say you did, you should be just fine.

If the officer says the rader "was in his mind" don't say anything and just wait for the court date.

From what i've read, the officer has to use the radar/laser reading as evidence, he has to establish a few things Jurisdiction Certification, up to date, accurate, traffic and engineering survey, radar/laser properly calibrated, tuning forks calibrated (with radar), FCC license, radar/laser unit appears on that FCC license

If the officer does have a radar reading and attempts to use the radar reading before establishing those things above, politely interrupt and say "objection your honor, inadmissible evidence."

Then tell the judge why. If the officer fails to prove your guilt at the end of his testimony don't question him, move to have the case dismissed. And explain what he failed to prove.

[Russ Hockenbury]

'get you' as in pull you over maybe. Just watch what the heck you say (you would be surpised on what you can say to convict you)

Dont talk back and don't piss them off by demanding to see the radar gun.

It is the officers duty to prove you Guilty. If he fails to prove your guilt the case will be dismissed. If you did nothing wrong as you say you did, you should be just fine.

If the officer says the rader "was in his mind" don't say anything and just wait for the court date.

From what i've read, the officer has to use the radar/laser reading as evidence, he has to establish a few things Jurisdiction Certification, up to date, accurate, traffic and engineering survey, radar/laser properly calibrated, tuning forks calibrated (with radar), FCC license, radar/laser unit appears on that FCC license

If the officer does have a radar reading and attempts to use the radar reading before establishing those things above, politely interrupt and say "objection your honor, inadmissible evidence."

Then tell the judge why. If the officer fails to prove your guilt at the end of his testimony don't question him, move to have the case dismissed. And explain what he failed to prove.

I know quite a few people that have gotten out of speeding tickets by pleading not guilty because of faulty equipment.

[xPaulWallx]

the idiots didnt know they had weed in the car? thats just dumb and not smart at all.

[Joanna187]

the idiots didnt know they had weed in the car? thats just dumb and not smart at all.Well, where else are they supposed to keep it anyway?

That's a really great story to tell by the way.

[Chris Fallon]

That last pic is priceless.

It all made for a good story though.

[drewdanburry]

i'm glad you guys liked the story. ap.net kind of wierds me out in a way. like being unavoidably on a pedestal or a stage, but without a guitar or anything to say. and all you can do is listen to all the different viewpoints people have of you. despite the fact that none of them have very little to go on. and rarely the real thing. either way, i hope i see some of you guys down the road. drew

[jynxedheart]

Well, where else are they supposed to keep it anyway?

smoke it?

[livelovecrydie]

Haha that's a crazy story.


was it?

just sounded like some guy bitching about police doing their job.

[kissbangkill]

that story brings back bad memories. i hate west texas sooo much. the cops out there are brutal. I got pulled over for going the speed limit on my way to lubbock (which is a complete shit hole by the way). when i asked to see the radar, the cop said the radar was in his mind or some shit like that. so he wrote my a ticket and i'm still trying to fight it. I believe it was in sweetwater texas, home of the rattle snake round up.
if you look like you dont belong out there, they will get you.

you're a complete shit hole. lubbock = life.

[splitsecond]

except that there is a simplified, concrete message:

never consent to a search of your car. if a cop asks your permission, he probably has no reasonable cause.

It blows my mind how many people actually consent to a search when the cop asks. I have done it once, but obviously knowing I had nothing to hide.

I worked last year in the county attorney's office in Arizona, doing civil forfeitures. When people got busted running drugs and drug money up and down the interstate, we got the civil end of the case. It baffles me how many times guys with duffle bags of pot or money will consent to a search of the vehicle.

Of course, the copse could be lying too. Lets see cops word against the word of a guy carrying a duffel bag of drugs... who is the jury gonna believe?

[_all_star_me_]

it seems like everyone gets stopped in post. their two cops there seem way too busy for a town like that.

[weworemasks]

you're a complete shit hole. lubbock = life.
hahahahaha shut up boston. you're a traitor!!!

[hometownzero]

They have to have a warrant to search your car, so you can always tell them no. If they say "tough shit, we're gonna search your car" ask to see a warrant. Know your rights.

Oh, and smal towns in Texas are always bad news as far as getting stopped goes... especially Post, Sweetwater, and Magnolia. Those are the three I hear about most.