NORML Freedom Card, Know and Understand Your Rights

[Tokey The Bear]

I know that a K-9 would give them reason to search the car. I police officer would need to have some sort of proof that you are hiding an illegal substance. Usally tied into his senses(seeing and smelling and such). An officer suspecting that you are hiding anything isn't enough reason, therefore they are unable to legally search your person if you just give them this card.

And I agree that giving this card will spark a flame under the officer and get him rather angry. But if you're hiding something why just sit there? Atleast this card tells the officer, "hey, I know my rights. Don't treat me like a stupid criminal. You are unable to take advantage of me."

[Visine!]

Originally Posted by stbernard808

cops cannot search anything that is locked in your posession without a warrent.
this includes your trunk and your glove compartment.

Does this include if a K-9 unit is called in and they "find" something, does that give them authority to search a trunk, or do they still need a warrant from a judge or some such?

[thegreenfairy]

this all sucks for me - i got my car from my parents and it constantly reeks of weed - that's just the way the car smells. that means a k-9 would smell it all over. the formaldahyde in the seats absorbed the smell - that means - i think - they could shred my entire car - find nothing - and never compensate me.

[suspect72]

I think the whole point of this card is to know what rights to invoke if and when the situation calls for it. Don't break it out if you're getting cited for a broken taillight. Save it for when the cop asks why your eyes are so red! Also, I wouldn't be expecting that invoking your rights will be a get-out-of-jail-free card; it's just supposed to make the cops and the courts play it by the book.

[KanMan]

Norml Canada member card...

[mobrules]

Thank your for the Card.

As a cop my older brother would gladly, happily and smugly tell you that 99% of the people he arrests simply do not know their rights. Period. From my brother's view, when he pulls you over for anything you are essentiall his "bitch"... and I'm quoting him directly. He knows that you DON'T know your rights and as far as he's concerned that gives him Carte Blanche to fuck with you.

This card would stop a cop like my brother cold in his tracks. Th truth is he's a cop and as such, he really doesn't know what people's rights are any more than you or I. He's so used to being allowed to what he pleases during an arrest that would essentially put him on his best behaviour. I have no doubt he would need to continually reference this card during the arrest just to make sure he's doing everything correctly.

[toysruskidd]

you would be better of to try and remember the most of what the card says. If you can say it w/o a card it would make you seem more educated about your rights and would in most cases turn the cop away. if you hand him some little card, he's gonna think your some retarded stoner who has no idea what's up and will probably continue to question you or try and trick you into saying stuff...or it'll just piss him off.

[Bigbudblazer]

I have a feeling if I was asked about marijuana possession or use when pulled over and I whipped out this card and handed it to them..they would laugh in my face and tell me to get out of the car.

I don't understand why people think if you have this card, they won't search your car or hassle you. This card would be basically a confession to having illegal paraphernelia or marijuana in the car with you, Why else would you go silent and just hand them this ? This seems to me to be a dead on give away.

Like others have said the best thing to do is stay calm and be polite. Don't have a chip on your shoulder when you talk to him and also take simple precautions, I mean how hard is it to have an extra bottle of cologne in the car and a bottle of eyedrops. Put in eyedrops and spray a little cologne on you and there is no reason to want to search your car. But when it comes down to it, a policeman will do exactely what he wants and you won't say shit about it. If you do, you'll get beaten with a nightstick or tazed.

[Dune Trader]

I'll be printing this out more for memorization purposes than to actually carry it. In the same topic of how to deal with cops, I have been seriously considering adding a hidden camera to my car. I've experienced, and heard too many stories where cops take advantage of people and step over the line just because they know it will be your word against his if it goes to court.

Also found this video to be informative...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA

[keZ420]

Originally Posted by Bigbudblazer

I have a feeling if I was asked about marijuana possession or use when pulled over and I whipped out this card and handed it to them..they would laugh in my face and tell me to get out of the car.

I don't understand why people think if you have this card, they won't search your car or hassle you. This card would be basically a confession to having illegal paraphernelia or marijuana in the car with you, Why else would you go silent and just hand them this ? This seems to me to be a dead on give away.

Like others have said the best thing to do is stay calm and be polite. Don't have a chip on your shoulder when you talk to him and also take simple precautions, I mean how hard is it to have an extra bottle of cologne in the car and a bottle of eyedrops. Put in eyedrops and spray a little cologne on you and there is no reason to want to search your car. But when it comes down to it, a policeman will do exactely what he wants and you won't say shit about it. If you do, you'll get beaten with a nightstick or tazed.

It is true that it might make them a little suspicious, but the way the law works if they are just basing it off the assumption of being handed that card that you have illegal substance/paraphernalia in the car and in turn proceed to search your car that is a huge standard for throwing out your case. (Which in that case the card really did it's trick) Basically the card is being used so you don't self-incriminate yourself and gives your lawyer more grounds to get your case thrown out if you happen to get caught and have to go to court. It's not an admission of guilt or anything by any means. It's just a card stating your constitutional rights.

[Down-low]

Originally Posted by motion

There is such a big grey area here. No where does it state how to avoid a K9-unit. I've heard of people doing exactly what is stated here (stated rights verbally). 2/3 of the cases had the K9 called and busted them, the 3rd threatened to bring a K9 and he buckeled under the pressure. Anyone want to fill in the grey area?

If you can tell a cop they're wrong in the right situation with the right cop and they give in... well you know. Say make up that situation in your mind with the false alert, and you say, HEY I SAW THAT ON TV, YOU MADE THAT DOG FALSE ALERT!!, and you have witnesses and the cop is the kind of person that won't just forcibly arrest you with facts in front of them... then you win i guess

I would tell you about never-get-busted, but the real key to that is prevention, like not having large stinky bags of cannabis in your vehicle with you and your friends driving around. Hiding small amounts of cannabis and being ready to eat it before the cop comes makes it really hard for the cop to get you for anything... but that doesn't help you once you find yourself in a no win situation... can't dodge bullets but you can try to dodge gunfights.

If they are adrehnaline addicted ego-maniacs they will like throw that card away, and butt rape you anyways.

Some cops let you talk and some cops just walk up and impose their will upon you..?


The kind of cops that walk/roll around trying to bust kids have been, in my experience, much more gullable. I've seen adults try to use unfair tricks to get kids to admit to things. yeah you have no rights at "school". Another grey area is the rights of the parents being asserted for the child while at or on the way to or from school. Or rather the childs rights while at school is the grey area until the parent speaks up for the child, teachers can have their effect within their environment, same with administration. For example if the teachers didn't bust you even when they knew. Usually even if the teacher smokes he/she will have to bust the kid.

[amsterdamage]

thanks for bumping that up, man!
..but you're responding to a comment that's two years old!!

[Down-low]

Originally Posted by amsterdamage

thanks for bumping that up, man!
..but you're responding to a comment that's two years old!!

If you didn't tell me, i would honestly probably never have noticed that truth. In fact i still havn't looked to see if that's true.

Making hash on the stove!! woohooo

[TegSweg93]

Originally Posted by Dune Trader

I'll be printing this out more for memorization purposes than to actually carry it. In the same topic of how to deal with cops, I have been seriously considering adding a hidden camera to my car. I've experienced, and heard too many stories where cops take advantage of people and step over the line just because they know it will be your word against his if it goes to court.

Also found this video to be informative...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA

ha i wasnt expecting to see that whole video . but it was really good info

[shaggyflasko]

My legal strategy nowadays is just to avoid the pigs altogether. Honestly, I believe you only have the rights that could get you on the news.