searches on the way to BRC by police

[red arrow]

do they regularly occur?

what grounds would the police have to search a car?

do they have sniffier dogs with them generally?

not sure if its worth bringing a bag of weed to the festival, dont want to travel so far to get in any trouble with the law

[AntiM]

It can and does happen, but usually when you're pulled over for something else.

But that doesn't stop folks. Use your best sound judgement.

Also, don't think law enforcement doesn't read the board here. They do.

[Eric]

not sure if its worth bringing a bag of weed to the festival

Federal & state laws still apply in BRC. If you're bringing in very small quantities for personal use and only smoke it completely out of the public eye (ie: in a closed vehicle, in a closed tent...) should you even consider it.

Bringing a large quantity is just asking to spend time in lockup. Seriously.

Nevada pot laws:
http://norml.org/index.cfm?wtm_view=&Group_ID=4550

[lucky420]

Don't get stopped in the first place. Drive the speed limit, make sure tail lights & blinkers work, make sure your load is safe and secure...

[phil]

I read somewhere that the tribal police will say that your refusal to pull over immediately is cause to search because you were hiding contraband. The problem is, people drive along the 2 lane blacktop till there's a safe place to pull over, then get hit with a search over their objections.

Lucky 240 has the right answer. Drive the speed limit at all times, make sure your vehicle passes inspection, etc.

I'm sure it's false, but I keep hearing all the tribes pretty much make their annual budgets from traffic tickets on the way to and from BRC.

[Hoolie]

I would never consent to a search on principle, even if I had nothing to hide. First of all, we are entitled to protections from unreasonable searches, affirmed by the fourth amendment of the Constitution. A police officer cannot search your vehicle without your consent, a warrant, or probable cause. (I don't know about tribal law.) Secondly, given the choice, why would I allow a stranger to search through my car, whether s/he was wearing a uniform or not? That's just a bizarre notion to me.

As others have said, obey all traffic laws when driving to and from the event. Even a simple citation for a moving violation can put a damper on your fun, not to mention cost you a lot of money.

[dragonpilot]

And be sure to emblazon your cars, trucks, trailers, and RVs with all kinds of Burning Man decorations, designs, artwork and slogans...anything to keep a low profile.

"BLACK ROCK CITY OR BUST" is a popular one....in blue painters tape. It's like camouflage...no one will take the slightest notice.

[phil]

> A police officer cannot search your vehicle without your consent, a
> warrant, or probable cause. (I don't know about tribal law.)

Again, I'm reporting something I read somewhere about being pulled over by tribal police. The person said they had the flashing lights behind them and drove to a safe place to pull off. The tribal cop said that not pulling over immediately meant they were hiding something and therefore the cop had probable cause.

Another thing: cops _can_ search your car without probable cause. Then either the evidence is not admitted and the case goes away after you've been charged with possession, or the cop lies about the search and gives some reason the judge finds to be probable cause.

Decades ago one dark Friday night, one of my friends was coming back to Philly from law school in Mass, when a cop pulled him over on the Jersey turnpike. The cop got him for speeding and asked to search his car. My friend the law student declined. So the cop radioed in a request for a search warrant, and they sat there waiting for someone to wake up a judge, get the warrant signed, then delivered out to them on the turnpike. He said it wasn't worth it. shrug - to each his own.

[geospyder]

Also, don't think law enforcement doesn't read the board here. They do.

We do not!

[gyre]

I had my home searched by the police.
Then they asked for permission.
This is typical.


I have waited with a locked car and the highway patrol for a search warrant to arrive.
I had locked the car as I got out.

It is not casual diplomacy though.

I was as congenial as possible.
We talked cars and I ended up showing him the engine and suspension, but not the interior.
I was released with no search and a warning.

I am unable to think of any reason to allow a search without cause, whether you are hiding anything or not.

Phil, can you think of any?

[gyre]

Also, the laws on searches may be in play now, due to recent rulings.

Still no reason to allow a search.
If they have cause, they won't ask.

[oneeyeddick]

Drilling out a wax candle or something of the like and sealing the weed back inside it with melted wax makes it impervious to drug sniffing dogs.

You could also use a mason jar with a wax seal on top.

Or simply stick it up your ass, dogs won't smell it there either.

[gyre]

You don't have to have drugs for a dog to trigger.
It is a fake reason.

They may be useful for locating some things, while searching.

Almost all american money will trigger a dog.


A lot has been posted somewhere on dogs and the way they work, or not.

You can use search to instantaneously locate the Bar thread.

[phil]

> I am unable to think of any reason to allow a search without cause,
> whether you are hiding anything or not.
>
> Phil, can you think of any?

This issue is practical, not legal. My friend on the New Jersey Turnpike at dark-thirty on a Friday night said it wasn't worth it. If you're on the road from Empire to the middle of nowhere, sitting there making the cop call in for a warrant is a choice we get to make.

I've never been asked, and it I am, I'll say no, thanks and assume I'm on my way. If it gets to the point of sitting on the road waiting for a warrant, I'll reconsider - depends on the circumstances.

Generally, I see no reason ever to consent to a roadside search; but other factors may be present that makes it expedient. Louise and I don't use drugs, so there's nothing to find. But still I object to warrantless searches without probable cause, even traffic stops without probable cause ("am I being detained, officer?" stops, I call them) to look for illegal aliens or whatever the reason given. The problem is a practical one, though. Is it worth the aggravation to object.

[gyre]

Worth it to me, like voting.

It never occurred to me to permit a search.

[mdmf007]

I agree - I also would never permit a search. I have nothing to hide, but its also my right to not do so.

On the other hand an officer has the right to secure a warrant while "preserving" evidence. I.e. you sit on side of road away from your vehicle.

FOR MY convenience I would probably reconsider if it meant waiting on the side of the road for hours.

Under protest as well.

[geospyder]

FWIW - in Nevada LEO's can hold you up to 59 minutes before they either have to arrest you or let you go.

[trystanthegypsy]

Drilling out a wax candle or something of the like and sealing the weed back inside it with melted wax makes it impervious to drug sniffing dogs.

You could also use a mason jar with a wax seal on top.

Or simply stick it up your ass, dogs won't smell it there either.

I doubt this very much. Even the sticking it up your ass

Airtightness helps. But load late and don't leave it in your car... it takes time for the smell to seep out of the container.

Basically, drive really carefully, don't give them a reason to pull over! Be polite and don't give them a reason to search you in the first place.

[Lassen Forge]

I read somewhere that the tribal police will say that your refusal to pull over immediately is cause to search because you were hiding contraband. The problem is, people drive along the 2 lane blacktop till there's a safe place to pull over, then get hit with a search over their objections..

I was thinking on this - and yes, it has happened. Actually - if I were in the MMV and a T.P. Officer lit up on me, I would go over as far as I could, but staying on the blacktop, and stop. Right the fuck now. Even IF I'm halfway in the lane still.

If they want me to move over further, then I'd abide by the nice officer's instructions... and have them call the tow company to get me unstuck. NEVER argue with a cop. Unless he asks for a search, but even then it's no argument, it's a simple "No, I do not consent to a search". Nothing more, nothing less, so they have NOTHING to hang you with. ;)

BTW - the reason they have those slow limits thru parts of the res is it's a residential neighborhood (really) in a small town, and there are a lot of kids that live there, and mowing one down doing 65 thru Nixon would *really* frack up your burn. I do 20. Really. Because if *I* lived there, I'd damn well want others to watch for my young'uns. AND slow the frack down.

Trails...

[dragonpilot]

I read somewhere that the tribal police will say that your refusal to pull over immediately is cause to search because you were hiding contraband. The problem is, people drive along the 2 lane blacktop till there's a safe place to pull over, then get hit with a search over their objections..

I was thinking on this - and yes, it has happened. Actually - if I were in the MMV and a T.P. Officer lit up on me, I would go over as far as I could, but staying on the blacktop, and stop. Right the fuck now. Even IF I'm halfway in the lane still.

If they want me to move over further, then I'd abide by the nice officer's instructions... and have them call the tow company to get me unstuck. NEVER argue with a cop. Unless he asks for a search, but even then it's no argument, it's a simple "No, I do not consent to a search". Nothing more, nothing less, so they have NOTHING to hang you with.

BTW - the reason they have those slow limits thru parts of the res is it's a residential neighborhood (really) in a small town, and there are a lot of kids that live there, and mowing one down doing 65 thru Nixon would *really* frack up your burn. I do 20. Really. Because if *I* lived there, I'd damn well want others to watch for my young'uns. AND slow the frack down.

Trails...

Heed these words, folks...this is the way to do it! BTW, didn't I see you in an episode of Battle Star (frack) Galactica ?

[Fire_Moose]

I coulda sworn he was one of Lobo's sidekicks at one point...

[Lassen Forge]

BTW, didn't I see you in an episode of Battle Star (frack) Galactica ?

I'll never tell.... but as long as you're not one of those people who call Tauron's "Dirt Eaters", we're OK. ;)

See ya in New Llc City...

trails...

[Ugly Dougly]

I look at it from a different point of view.

There are two kinds of potheads. The first type doesn't talk about it on the internet, keeps a low profile, and rarely gets in trouble. The other type does talk about pot on the internet - to the whole world - and they are usually high-profile when they drive to TTITD as well, and they run the risk of being busted.

So what I am saying, Red Arrow, is: keep a low profile here and elsewhere and it will serve you well.

[Dr. Pyro]

Doug, for an ugly bastard, that is probably the best advice I have read on this forum. Absolutely words to live by. Like I say: Never do two stupid things at a time. And bragging about drugs and putting it on a public forum and a forum that LEOs monitor, well, that's at least two stupid things. Consider yourself warned. I hope to hell you believe in angels; you're going to need them.

[Tiahaar]

Did I tell this one?

Last year for the first time in 7 playa trips I got the suprise of seeing flashing lights in the rearview of my bus. Had just turned into the Hawthorne truck fueling joint at the north end of town before stopping for the night at the RV park next door.

The officer was polite, he pointed out I'd let the rear duals cross the double yellow on the last corner "but I realize you've got a long rig here", but said the main reason for the stop was that though my license plate spot was lighted...the plate wasn't there (oops...it was in the rear window so it didn't get oiled up from my engine).

There were soon several squad cars behind me while the reg & license were checked, and the first officer asked if he could take a look inside the rig. I was running clean, don't carry illegal stuff or let my passengers do either, so it was fun to give him a tour of a very packed-with-strange-playa-art bus. I moved the plate back outside, he and the rest of the force seemed bemused more than anything and I was just cautioned to 'drive safe'.

The folks in the truck stop gave me a good kidding, and the lady at the counter told me that was "Officer Billy...he does the canine drug searches here, keeps real busy this time of year!" Allowed as how he'd just busted her ex for open containers in the car while driving the kids, so "thanks Officer Billy!" she said heheh.

So...if you're driving through Hawthorne NV don't do it with drugs (or fireworks, or open containers...my glowsticks were ok though), they're watchin' for ya

[red arrow]

Can somebody please delete this thread then?

I dont know how to find a mod?

It was just a question anyway, out of curiosity.. not a statement

[AntiM]

I'm a mod. Not going to delete the thread, there's good advice here for those who are simply reading. Don't take it personally.

[falk]

You don't have to have drugs for a dog to trigger.

In practice, dogs are trained to trigger on two things:

Drugs

A signal from their handler

And for that matter, all the handler has to do is say that the dog tugged on the leash. Who's to say that it didn't?

Once they bring in the dogs, you will almost certainly be searched.

[SuperNakedGirl]

uh i got pulled over in my budget truck for "driving to close" to the person in front of me. it was total bs and it cost over 300 for the ticket!

drive so perfect that your burn depended on it (esp if have "stuff") and you should be cool

[mudpuppy000]

What happens if you're giving a ride to someone that brings some "stuff" along with them unknown to you. Is the driver screwed?