That's a good question. What if it had been a marijuana leaf? Does that give the police authority to stop you? My guess is that the answer has to be "No," based on free expression, but apparently the cop felt entirely comfortable doing it.
No, content of a bumper sticker is not going to give them probable cause to stop a car, unless (fantasizing, here,) they had prior knowledge that the courier would be driving a car with a specific decal on it, the decal being intended as an identifying mark for other members in the conspiracy.
...And there would be an inch-thick file and a search warrant in that particular fantasy scenario.
That's a good question. What if it had been a marijuana leaf? Does that give the police authority to stop you? My guess is that the answer has to be "No," based on free expression, but apparently the cop felt entirely comfortable doing it.
ReplyDeletePeople do all sorts of things they're not supposed to all the time.
ReplyDeleteRules don't prevent that. They never have and never will. They can discourage it (and the fact that this is "news" suggests they do in fact do that).
...but not keep rulebreaking from occurring :p
ReplyDeleteNo, content of a bumper sticker is not going to give them probable cause to stop a car, unless (fantasizing, here,) they had prior knowledge that the courier would be driving a car with a specific decal on it, the decal being intended as an identifying mark for other members in the conspiracy.
ReplyDelete...And there would be an inch-thick file and a search warrant in that particular fantasy scenario.
Valerie