Re: How much is that doggie sniffing my car...

[Kenneth Gallant <gallantk@uidaho.edu>]

I would be interested in determining the pattern of cars that are
approached, at times when the police officers do not know that they are
being watched.  It would be interesting to see if older cars or sites at
which a high percentage of those present are often of Hispanic origin and
not well off.  Based on my (little) knowledge of the politics of the area,
I wonder whether this campaign is being targeted  at poor Hispanic people.
Or the non-wealthy in general.

I do not recommend keeping any "smell alike" substance in your trunk.  If
this search program is legal (as I hope it is not but fear that it is), a
hit on the smell alike substance will not vitiate the legality of the
search.  And it will mark you as someone the cops want to continue to take
a look at. 

Kenneth S. Gallant
Professor of Law
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho 83844-2322 USA
208-885-6541 (phone)
208-885-4628 (fax)
gallantk@uidaho.edu

On Wed, 18 Nov 1998 Erikus4@aol.com wrote:

>  >    Under the plan, the drug dogs would be able to search anywhere
>  >the general public is allowed to go. They wouldn't be able to
>  >search private property.
> 
> Well, thank goodness for that.  Only a semi-police state.
> 
> The obvious answer is to find a legal substance that the dogs will hit on, and
> tell everyone to keep a small quantity in their trunk.  Anyone know of such a
> substance?
> 
> And please note that I'm not defending drug users or dealers.  I just hate
> excessive police tactics that go against everything American.
> 
> E. O'Daniel
>