| Or so some police seem to think, anyway. There is an | | | | you that you have to remove your bumper sticker, or |
| emerging trend of cops pulling people over based | | | | they're going to arrest you.. that's just crossing the line. |
| solely on the types of bumper stickers or political signs | | | | And then there was Denise Grie a couple of years |
| they have on their vehicle. Now you, too, can be | | | | back, who was fined $100 for having a bumper sticker |
| deemed a filthy, no-good common criminal for | | | | that said "BUSHIT". Only kinda clever, in my humble |
| expressing your particular political alignment on your | | | | opinion.. but whether you think it's funny or off-putting, |
| own car. Here are some prime examples of what I'm | | | | it's still certainly not a ticketable offense. When asked |
| getting at: | | | | about the possibility of the issue being fueled by the |
| There was Chip Harrison in Oklahoma City who was | | | | officer's political party preference, Grie said, "It's not just |
| was pulled over by police for displaying an anti-Obama | | | | a Democrat/Republican issue," she says. "Y'all need to |
| sign on his car. As if that was not enough insult to the | | | | get beyond that. It's my right to speak, and yours." |
| man's civil rights by itself, Chip's home was later visited | | | | Well-said. |
| by the secret service - they asked questions for half | | | | So you can start to see how these kind of things tend |
| an hour trying to figure out if the guy was a terrorist. | | | | to pile up.. something to think about if you happen to be |
| The "men in black" then snooped around Chip's house | | | | one of the lucky few thus far to have a |
| for a while, invading the homeowner's right to privacy... | | | | "TheMidnightOwl.com" bumper sticker (here's fair |
| all for an anti-Obama sign. | | | | warning: you just might be pulled over one day.) They |
| And then there were Rick & Ingrid, the two friends | | | | might even call you a bumper sticker terrorist! And |
| who were pulled over by Las Vegas police for what | | | | now with The Patriot Act, and the writ of habeas |
| had seemed to them no reason. The officers had | | | | corpus having been rescinded (thanks Bush regime), |
| asked the couple for ID, and asked if they'd ever been | | | | the U.S. government can now legally hold you prisoner |
| arrested. After their information was recorded, the | | | | if they decide to label you a terrorist - that means no |
| cops proceeded to search the car - something they | | | | chance of parole, no phone call, no other rights, and all |
| are not legally allowed to do unless they have | | | | with no official charges made, other than the "we're |
| reasonable suspicion that a crime is actively taking | | | | protecting the public from the terrorists, so we can do |
| place. But what was the reason cited by the police for | | | | whatever we want" nonsense. The laws that give the |
| searching the car? You guessed it, it was because | | | | government this power are on the books as I write |
| they had Ron Paul and Infowars bumper stickers on | | | | this, for those that aren't yet aware. To most, it'd be |
| the back of their car. | | | | quite a stretch for the police to actually try to lock |
| And then there was Sgt. Michael Karasek, Denver | | | | someone up indefinitely for just a sticker, just the |
| police officer who threatened to arrest Shasta Bates | | | | knowledge that they can legally do that really doesn't |
| because she had a bumper sticker that said "F*** | | | | sit well with me. It's something to be aware of, for |
| Bush" on her truck. The fact is, it's her Constitutional | | | | what it's worth. |
| right to say whatever she wants. When a cop tells | | | | |