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I was reading on here somewhere that the police in TN are targeting Bonnaroo Festival Goers. I would like to offer my thoughts on this but if the mods think I should not please remove this thread. 1.The absolute surefire way to avoid being arrested is: DON'T DO ANYTHING ILLEGAL! 2.Your vehicle should be in safe working order:License plate displayed properly and up to date(make sure it is the license for your car,don't borrow from another car) All lights in working order,windows clean, minimal tinting,keep dashboard and rear window deck clear of obstructions,No cracks on windows, no broken tailight covers,no red or clear tape covering broken tailights. 3.Obey all traffic laws(speed limits,signal lane change,avoid tailgating or slipstreaming, avoid raging at other motorists,if you give that old fart the finger he has a cell phone..... ) 4.Most highway cops are trained in NO NO WORD!!! Interdiction. They are looking for a way to morph a boring traffic stop into the biggest NO NO WORD!!! bust of the century.(the most popular method they are using to get into your car is "PLAIN SMELL":"As I was approaching the Subarau filled with smelly dreadlock laden hippies I smell the distinctive odor of RAW ...." Get it? Not burnt but raw....As if someone has a 50 lb bale they are bringing to the festival. Your mv will be "detained" and the cop will ask if you have any NO NO WORD!!! or weapons in your vehicle. your answer to this question will determine the next question. No? then you won't my if I search your vehicle, will you?(In Indiana you do not have to consent to search but if the cop sees or smells something illegal he will detain your vehicle and its occupants untils the NO NO WORD!!! sniffing rhino is brought to the scene.) 5.Be cooperative and friendly without sarcasm and you have a better chance of getting a ticket or a warning and nothing else.The side of the highway is no place to get into a legal debate with a police officer.Provide personal ID and car registration. Don't make any furtive gestures like you are hiding something. 6. the trooper should walk back to his vehicle run records checks on all occupants and then return with all ID materials and ticket or warnings."thank you sir, am I free to go?" Remember many troopers have remote transmitters on and this conversation is being recorded.If he says yes then safely and legally return to the highway. If he says no then politely ask why. (probably bringing the dope dog and there is really nothing you can do)However, since you are not free to leave, the level of invasion of your 4th amendment rights has increased and there may be more argue about in court.(don't do any thing illegal in car and no Problem)
&. Make sure all occupants of your vehicle have no unresolved court issues(no active arrest warrants for failing to appear in court,no fugitive warrants etc.)It is also a good idea for everyone to have legal ID and at least one other licensed driver in the car). also, keep up to date car insurance with proof in the car. These are just my thoughts on the subject. I am not anti police or anti hippy. Keep it safe.
Post by onecrazylove on May 3, 2009 9:31:16 GMT -5
I think people are making this into much of a fuss. If you get pulled over it is probably 99% your fault. They may be keeping an extra eye out on the cars that are decked out Bonnaroo, but if you get get pulled over it is more than likely because you were breaking the law. My cousin is a Tennessee state trooper and we were talking about Bonnaroo last year at the family reunion and said the were mainly looking for safety precautions instead of the illegal substances. So with all that said, just obey the traffic laws and you should be fine.
I think people are making this into much of a fuss. If you get pulled over it is probably 99% your fault.
Not true. A friend of mine coming from Georgia was arrested when coming 2 years ago. They weren't pulled over technically.......state troopers had a roadblock set up and were checking for people going to Bonnaroo. my friend ended up in a jail cell with a ton of other people going to Roo.
why was my friend arrested? cuz he was with his brother who was over 21.....and there was a case of beer in the back seat. My friend was under 21. They weren't drinking and weren't causing a problem. Weren't even pulled over......just got lucky and went the wrong way.
Be careful.....you can avoid trouble........just don't be stupid
Post by dreamingtree on May 3, 2009 9:40:09 GMT -5
Many good points. This will be my 4th year, car full of people, plenty of "hippy" stickers on the bumper of my SUV and I have not been pulled over. But I follow all the rules, am don't have anything illegal, and try not to screw up
why was my friend arrested? cuz he was with his brother who was over 21.....and there was a case of beer in the back seat. My friend was under 21. They weren't drinking and weren't causing a problem. Weren't even pulled over......just got lucky and went the wrong way.
Any idea what he was charged with? Shouldn't be MIP if the 21-yr-old was in the car (unless there was an empty in the car).
I've always driven on I-40 and I-24 to go to Bonnaroo (have been coming from Memphis in the past). We got pulled over once in 05 coming back into Memphis by the NO NO WORD!!! Task Force, which is almost always posted up at exit 24. We were in an RV. My friend Jeff, who was driving, had taken precautionary measures. He showered that morning and had put on a collared shirt. Everyone in the RV was buckled and there was nothing illegal in the vehicle. He let us go without any incident or hassle.
why was my friend arrested? cuz he was with his brother who was over 21.....and there was a case of beer in the back seat. My friend was under 21. They weren't drinking and weren't causing a problem. Weren't even pulled over......just got lucky and went the wrong way.
Any idea what he was charged with? Shouldn't be MIP if the 21-yr-old was in the car (unless there was an empty in the car).
yeah, what was the violation? Also, what happened to general thought #7?
yes but don't argue with a cop about them. you will not win next to a highway. Argue for your rights in court. No matter what you were doing that was or was not illegal or what you have in the car that is or is not illegal, be polite and I would usually consent to a search.
Even though I am a big BIG fan of the fourth amendment, a refusal to let them search tells the cop you have something to hide. And they will than go through a list of loopholes and do a very thorough search anyway. Or you can consent and they will do a quick check and you can be on your way.
Any idea what he was charged with? Shouldn't be MIP if the 21-yr-old was in the car (unless there was an empty in the car).
yeah, what was the violation? Also, what happened to general thought #7?
Im sure it was MIP. The driver is in charge of the vehicle and legally he is in charge of whatever is in the car. So if you have alcohol its better to have people 21+ drive.
Often the key is respect, unless the cop is an ass you will get exactly as much respect as you give.
Im sure it was MIP. The driver is in charge of the vehicle and legally he is in charge of whatever is in the car.
I'm pretty sure that's not the law. If a 21-yr-old is in the car and claims the alcohol, then it doesn't matter who is driving (unless there are empties or open containers in the car).
edit: of course, that wouldn't necessarily stop a cop from putting you in a holding cell, but the charge would be easy enough to contest. That's why I'm curious about what he was charged with.
while i agree that not consenting to a search puts a huge 'guilty' sign on you, if you have something with you that can possibly cause serious trouble this is a good sheet about your rights, etc: www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/rap420.html
Last Edit: May 3, 2009 22:54:51 GMT -5 by gia? - Back to Top
Im sure it was MIP. The driver is in charge of the vehicle and legally he is in charge of whatever is in the car.
I'm pretty sure that's not the law. If a 21-yr-old is in the car and claims the alcohol, then it doesn't matter who is driving (unless there are empties or open containers in the car).
edit: of course, that wouldn't necessarily stop a cop from putting you in a holding cell, but the charge would be easy enough to contest. That's why I'm curious about what he was charged with.
I guess it may be different in TN but that is the law in AZ. It is not often enforced but they can charge you that way if they want especially if the owner of the car is the one under 21.
While I wouldn't advise doing it on the week of Bonnaroo. It should be noted that in TN the passengers are all allowed to have open containers in the car. It's one of my favorite laws and makes partying in Nashville a lot easier.
Post by nitetimeritetime on May 3, 2009 23:23:25 GMT -5
Some states do specify that the 21-year-old in the car must be the parent or guardian of the underage person driving the car. I didn't think that was the case in TN or GA.
I'd like to know the whole story behind this one. Was it MIP, and was the 21-year-old charged with anything?
Post by autumnsredtears on May 4, 2009 0:55:03 GMT -5
You people don't get it. Sure. A cop does an illegal search and finds that pound under your seat, who gives about your "rights" you have nothing but evidence against you at that point. Fly under the radar. No need to over analyze anything. Look clean, talk clean, have respect and manners, and don't smell like patchouli!
^ Best advice possible. I don't think anyone is just going to get pulled over for no reason. There are WAY too many cars headed to the Farm at the same time, and someone is bound to be doing something stupid. Just don't be that someone.
I think people are making this into much of a fuss. If you get pulled over it is probably 99% your fault.
Not true. A friend of mine coming from Georgia was arrested when coming 2 years ago. They weren't pulled over technically.......state troopers had a roadblock set up and were checking for people going to Bonnaroo. my friend ended up in a jail cell with a ton of other people going to Roo.
why was my friend arrested? cuz he was with his brother who was over 21.....and there was a case of beer in the back seat. My friend was under 21. They weren't drinking and weren't causing a problem. Weren't even pulled over......just got lucky and went the wrong way.
Be careful.....you can avoid trouble........just don't be stupid
I'd have to disagree - this was partially their fault. If they had the booze in the trunk, it's likely there would be no story to report other than "yeah, we got hassled at some lame checkpoint"
they werent doing anything technically illegal, but i'd think that the booze by the underage person would raise suspicion in the eyes of the officer. so would having random lighters around your car with blackened ends, baggies, papers, etc etc. hell, i'd suggest you clean your car before you go. vacuum, wipe down the dust. wear a polo shirt. shave. empty that ashtray! if its not locked in your trunk or glovebox, they can peek around.
In Indiana it is illegal for a minor to operate a motor vehicle with alcoholic beverages contained there in even if another occupant is 21 or older.It is also illegal to be an occupant in the vehicle if a minor. It's stupid,I know, but still illegal.
I always love all the posts about knowing your rights, the cops can't do this or that, etc., etc. Let me tell you,after sitting through possession hearings on a daily basis for the last 8 years, if the cops want in your car, they will get in your car. One way or another.
As some of the posters have said, the side of a highway is not the place to argue the constitution. If you get busted, try to remember everything that goes down. Witnesses are nice if your companions will stand up for you, and get yourself a good lawyer.
and P.S.: Just don't do anything illegal. It's Bonnaroo. Plenty of other folks will take care of that for you.