cops a knocking at my door

[bloompyle]

^ By consent to a search your car, do you mean trunk? As I understand it they can freely search everything except the trunk on any routine stop as it falls under a terry stop.

While they are suppose to have reasonable suspicion for a terry stop just denying a search is suspicious to cops & judges like to give them too much leeway.

I think it does produce suspicion, but if you're on your way to work, or a meeting, or an appointment for somewhere, or just don't like to be hassled for virtually no reason, then I see no need to put yourself through a 10-20min search (or however long it takes) just to prove to some cop that can't do anything to you anyway, that there's still nothing they can do. Ya know? Just wasting your time, and their's, for pure loss and no gain. Just silly, and then you're late for work, or your appointment, and you have to say a cop was searching your vehicle which IMMEDIATELY puts you in an interesting situation with all parties involved, and it's just pointless. So, if you decline the search, at least say that you're on your way to work and you'd rather not be late. Simple, and if the cop's a sane person he or she would understand.

nah iv only been here 6 months. and i think the land lord is getting frustrated with the ammount of times i call him about this problem. and the owner of the property is greek. so u know what that means. lol. i could try and get a hold of the owner and with me being greek aswell it may work to my advantage. as greeks in australia will generally do anything for money, to protect money or do a favour for a fellow greek.

During my graduation cruise, I met a guy who was Greek, he was like 24 I think. Nicest guy on the planet. I actually learned from him, and he's made quite the lasting impression, he said all Greeks are nice and like that, I was stunned by this guy. I'm generally pretty nice, and anyone who knows me will agree, I also (more recently in the last couple years) rarely get angry. However this guy....you can't describe his kindness in words, meeting him honestly changed my life.

More on topic, I really hope that this works out for you, that truly is shitty what your neighbor is doing, good luck in the legal battle!

 

[sinner]

thanks. yeah i know its harsh. they went through all my stuff. but lucky i know how to hide things in plain sight. he picked up the laser and sai whats this. i had removed the tailcap and the lens by then. so i told him it was a led torch i was making. he put it down and kept on searching. i know im probably gonna get flak for this but im wondering what a suitable form of detering the guy who reported me could be...
a flaming bag of dog shit on his doorstep maybe?

Cops have search warrant for your lasers and they dont effin know what emits light in these!! A LASER DIODE damnit!! DOUBLE SAVE!!

 

[acraze]

wow. maybe you could find a lawyer that is enthusiastic about laser? man that makes me angry at the system.

 

[InfinitusEquitas]

I think it does produce suspicion

Depends on the presentation. There is rarely if ever a good reason for a cop to just search your car during a routine traffic stop.

Stay inside the car, provide any documents requested and answer any questions.

Turn off the car.

Move slowly and narrate any movement... for example "I need to get my license from my wallet, in my inside left jacket pocket" before reaching into your jacket.

At night, when you're pulled over turn on the dome light/interior light in the car so the cop can clearly see.

Wait for the cop to come up to the car and roll the window down, they don't always come up on the driver side.

If you're asked to step out, do so, but lock the car. If the cop comments, simply state " I don't have anything to hide, but I do not consent to a search."

If you are alone and your car is very clean and very empty, you can consent to a search, but otherwise, I wouldn't.

If you have anything that's found by the search that can be considered suspicious (oh no, you have tools in your car, are you planning to rob someone!?) it can be used against you. Also if anything is damaged in the course of the search, if you consented, you have no recourse. If you will be able to at least file a complaint.

 

[Tech_Junkie]

DNA swab?? LMAO They are screwing with you. Probably trying to scare the crap out of you so you dont do it again.

DNA tests are big money, and only used in capital crimes. They would not order a DNA test for some <2mW lasers. What would it prove, you touched it? LOL. You gave them the lasers, and they have finger prints if any reasonable doubt popped up.

At the end of it all you'll get some BS fine.

That is if this is all true. I'm still having a hard time believing it. But thats just me.

 

[strik3]

from what the cop said. it was to add my dna to a database. and aparently 90% of crimes are now reason to add your dna to the database. they also said if i refused they have permision to use as much forces as necesary to obtain such sample. which i feel is wrong. i have never ever been in trouble with the police before, worst i have had is one speeding ticket. in the whole 10 years of my driving.

i have already packed them up and they are now safely at another persons house. and i think from now on i will switch my focus from pointers to lab/projectors. at least that way they cant do anything.

also the next door neighbour has moved out. but the day that he did i came home to find a broken window. ( very suspicious)

also here is the seizure form as proof that this is all real.
my personal info has been edited out except for my name.

 

[InfinitusEquitas]

I don't know about Australia, but that just wouldn't be the case in the US. You would need to be under arrest first, or they would need to have a warrant.

If you were actually arrested it would be a different story. In this case though it doesn't sound like they at any point actually arrested you, and I don't remember, but you were you ever even presented with a search warrant in the first place?

 

[strik3]

no i was never arrested and no a warrant was never presented.

 

[Sigurthr]

Down under they still think everyone there is a criminal from the damn colonial days. -_-

 

[Tech_Junkie]

no i was never arrested and no a warrant was never presented.

Thats what still does not make sense. I still think they are screwing with you to make sure you never do it again. Australia is not that uncivilized. They do have laws, and you do have rights. You were not arrested, so I dont see how they have the right to pull a DNA sample for a simple <2mW laser.

I also dont know why you would volunteered a search, and DNA test. If you've been driving for 10 years, then obviously you're an adult, not a kid. You should know better. Why give the cops the ammo to hang you?

I'm sorry, but I'm still not buying it. Either there is a lot more to the whole story, or its BS and you're pulling a huge troll. Because none of it adds up, or makes sense.

 

[InfinitusEquitas]

Which means they basically trampled all over your rights imo

With no arrest, no warrant, and without you actively in the process of committing a crime (exigent circumstances) there is absolutely no legal standing for them to have searched your apartment in the first place.

Without the initial search they wouldn't of even had the little lasers:banghead:

This thread is a prime example of why I don't like cops... instead of to serve and protect they should really go with to intimidate and punish.

 

[Sigurthr]

Not everyone distrusts the police you know, TJ. My mother in law would consent to a strip search, dna sample, prints, and confiscation of all her bedding if a cop knocked on the door and said "we suspect you may have removed your mattress label". People genuinely fear and trust the police to such an extent that they can get away with murder, literally.

 

[Tech_Junkie]

Its not that I distrust the police. But its not really intelligent to help an entity that doesn't have your best interest in heart, and is looking to incarcerate you.

Its like someone pointing an empty gun at your head, and you hand them the bullets to use to kill you.

 

[Sigurthr]

Aye, I understand and feel the same way, but a lot of people, especially those who live in the country/rural areas, do not. They think police do no wrong and are only there to protect and serve. They protect and serve alright, but not us, they protect their paycheck and serve their own egos and desires.

*There are good, honest, and trustworthy police out there, not all cops are bad. But like any other slice of the human race there will be an overwhelming percentage that are dishonest, cruel, self righteous, and crooked.

 

[TheReddish]

holy crap I have always wanted to go to Australia, but I am glad I live in the US, cops in my area love my lasers haha, even had one try to get me to make a 445nm for his pistol, I was the one that had to tell him its not safe. We don't need laser law, it should be treated like baseball bat, fine unless you hit someone with it. I make friends with all my neighbors, just in case. Hope your issue works out, and to be honest I don't mistrust most cops but they are not searching crap without a warrant, I love my rights and my privacy. I also smoke could be a reason on my stance on the warrant issue, but I defended my country and I defend my rights.

 

[MrSpanky]

I was caught by police the other day using my 1w 445nm in a public place, not dangerously or irresponsibly (kinda) but my friend needed a lighter and I had my laser handy. Low and behold as soon as I fire it up an unmarked car pulls up and asks me to hand it over. To my surprise he asked me what diode I chose... Then we got into a breif (rather nervous) discution about homemade lasers. It is completely illegal to own one in the UK I might ad.
Guess I was just lucky he was into lasers :S