This article and issue is from Jan 2014. However, it raises awareness about a tactic that our government uses which, on the surface, portrays an aura of authority (uniformed police officers) to conduct "Voluntary" checkpoints. With so many flavors of checkpoints and traffic/safety operations being deployed, it is difficult to distinguish which is mandatory and which are voluntary. The deception is to trick you into thinking you have no choice, but in fact you do.. you won't know, however, until you pull over.
It is hard to believe, but rights in this republic are not
automatically granted to its citizens, they must be asserted/claimed
with every encounter with Law Enforcement. In this case, if YOU don't
ASK if the checkpoint you were waived into is voluntary, law enforcement
agents, more than likely, are not going to tell you...and thus, you
forfeit your right to NOT be detained without reasonable suspicion and
submit to whatever intrusive search or test is part of that operation or
investigation.
Whenever you are waived by law enforcement to pull over. The FIRST thing to do is ask if the stop is voluntary. If it is, they MUST say yes. If that is the case, say you do NOT wish to participate and that you want to leave. If they don't let you pass, demand to see their supervisor, get their badge number, name and or car number and do not submit to interrogation (keep your mouth shut). Even when talking to law enforcement supervisors, continue to ask if you are being detained...the specific vehicle or criminal code they suspect you of breaking.. and ask if you can leave...repeat these questions if necessary. Hopefully, you will have your video camera on at all times during your encounter.
When you get home, document as much information about your encounter on paper for your personal records and give a copy of it to your local rights organization. Your single accounting, as part of a larger collective of reported incidents helps the movement fight back against such operations.
Whenever you are waived by law enforcement to pull over. The FIRST thing to do is ask if the stop is voluntary. If it is, they MUST say yes. If that is the case, say you do NOT wish to participate and that you want to leave. If they don't let you pass, demand to see their supervisor, get their badge number, name and or car number and do not submit to interrogation (keep your mouth shut). Even when talking to law enforcement supervisors, continue to ask if you are being detained...the specific vehicle or criminal code they suspect you of breaking.. and ask if you can leave...repeat these questions if necessary. Hopefully, you will have your video camera on at all times during your encounter.
When you get home, document as much information about your encounter on paper for your personal records and give a copy of it to your local rights organization. Your single accounting, as part of a larger collective of reported incidents helps the movement fight back against such operations.