United States News
See other United States News Articles
Title: Police Announce Program to Illegally Stop People for ‘SAFE Driving’ & Facebook Owns Them
Source:
Free Thought Project
URL Source: http://thefreethoughtproject.com/po ... afe-driving-pull-over-rewards/
Published: Feb 23, 2018
Author: Matt Agorist
Post Date: 2018-02-23 09:47:01 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 429
Comments: 11
Crestview, FL — In an unprecedented violation of the right of citizens to be free from unlawful search and seizure, the Crestview Police Department in Florida has announced a most insidious program. Driving safely is now a reason for cops to pull you over—under the guise that you’ll be “offered free pizza.” “A free Papa Murphy’s “FAVES” pizza awaits Crestview motorists who drive safely and courteously and get caught in the act,” reads the announcement on the department’s Facebook page. “Under this program, Crestview Police officers may initiate a traffic stop based upon observed safe operation of a motor vehicle,” Community Services Officer Sam Kimmons said. While the Free Thought Project has reported on programs where cops randomly pull people over to give them free stuff, this program crosses a line others did not by conducting an actual traffic stop. “We’re going to reward you for good driving,” Police Chief Tony Taylor said. “It’s as simple as that.” But it is not “as simple as that.” Pulling people over for driving safely is a direct violation of the 4th Amendment. And this department is not just giving people pizza, they are conducting actual traffic stops. Under the program, officers have standardized criteria to look for. Examples of safe operation Ofc. Kimmons cites include “using hands-free devices or having children properly buckled up.” Others include using a seat belt, maintaining a safe following distance, courteous driving, proper use of turn signals, and observing the speed limit. Here is where the program takes a turn for the worse. Safe drivers will only get the “reward” if they allow their rights to be violated and further submit to the illegal stop. Drivers who flex their rights get nothing, or worse. When stopped for safe operation of their vehicles, drivers are offered the opportunity to opt out of the program and are immediately allowed to leave under most circumstances. If they wish to participate, the officer will ask for the driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance. If all the documentation checks out, the officer will present the driver with a certificate for a free Papa Murphy’s “FAVES” pizza, redeemable at their Crestview location, 2670 Ferdon Blvd. S. (Not the Mini Murph Offc. Kimmons displays in the photo.) See how they did that? Notice how they said, “under most circumstances,” meaning if they find anything when they walk up to your vehicle during the unlawful stop, you’re screwed—4th amendment be damned. Only if the illegal stop, illegal detention, relinquishing of rights, and citizen submission all work out in your favor, then, and only then, will you get some coupon for a pizza. But, if they find one thing wrong, their illegal traffic stop just found a way to circumvent the 4th amendment. However, if the documentation isn’t in order, or if the officer notices openly visible unlawful behavior or materials, such as DUI impairment, drug paraphernalia, narcotics or open alcoholic beverage containers, “proper law enforcement action will be taken,” Ofc. Kimmons said. In order for police to initiate a traffic stop, an officer must have reasonable suspicion that articulable facts indicate there is a crime being committed or about to be committed. Luckily, however, people on Facebook are seeing right through it. There are hundreds of comments on the post and only a handful of people who actually support the program. “I’m all for giving back to the community, but this is a horrible idea. Now you can literally pull anyone over for absolutely no reason, in the silent hopes you find something. Keep your pizza and save me the time and anxiety attack of being pulled over,” Jessica Roan wrote. “You are pulling people over for abiding by the law….isnt it illegal to pull people over if they are not doing anything wrong? Pull me over for being a law abiding citizen and I will sue your ass,” writes Liz Stewart. “Go feed homeless people and stop harassing citizens.” In one exchange on the post, the typical police apologist reaction of “if you don’t do anything illegal, you have nothing to worry about,” was presented and that person received the most epic reply pointing out that it is the police who are breaking the law. Judging from the reaction to this program the police department would do well to scrap it. If they do not, taxpayers of Crestview be warned: you are setting yourselves up to be fleeced in the countless lawsuits that are sure to follow. 
Safe driving is not reasonable suspicion and offering pizza coupons does not change this fact.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Deckard (#0)
Illegal and unconstitutional. This will not stand up in the first court it is contested in. They can only stop you for probable cause. Anything else exceeds any lawful authority they have, even if they're throwing cash at you.
Crestivew - Know the place so well.
I'll take a pepperoni with extra topping of Miranda rights. If the cops aren't willing to deliver it to my door without a no-knock warrant, I'm not interested.
If not in Crestview, they surely would next door in DeFuniak Springs. BTW – If there is any problem, just tell them that the “Panhandle Kid” said you’re okay.
Cops in my state just aren't this stupid. On very rare occasions, they do try something dumb like this and it causes them far more trouble than it's worth. Some states, you're better off not harassing the motorists much unless they're driving recklessly. And then you have plenty of cause to stop them anyway. The last "cute" trick I saw them pulling was putting up temporary signs on the interstate, warning "DEA Checkpoint Ahead". The signs were placed a mile or so prior to an dusty rural interstate exit. Naturally, they had cops watching who immediately got off the interstate with out-of-state plates. They seem to have given up on that since the various states that legalized weed made it problematic. They don't want to fill the state prisons with people busted for small amounts of wacky tobacco. Too expensive, let that crime move through the state unimpeded.
Cops in my state just aren't this stupid. I know that area and the people well….I still have family scattered close by there. The cops have done things similar to this all the time and they have been well accepted by the home folks. I predict you will never read about any problem with this if you mark the article for “follow up reports.” The local cops do not patrol the Interstate….only city traffic. So, there are seldom any out-of-towners (foreigners) driving through.
It only takes one uppity lawyer (or client) to ruin their unconstitutional scheme. They have no legal authority whatsoever to stop any vehicle without probable cause.
The Crestview PD heard your great concern. CRESTVIEW, Fla. (WEAR) — A local police department is pumping the brakes on a rewards program before it has even started. Crestview Police said they will still give people pizza for good driving through their "Food from the Fuzz" program, but not like they initially had planned. "It's a simple program to reward good driving habits," Chief Tony Taylor said. "That's all it was." When police first announced the program on Monday, they were planning to pull people over for good driving and reward them with gift certificates for pizza. The agency received backlash on social media from people claiming that is a violation of constitutional rights. Channel Three News asked the State Attorney's Office for their legal standpoint on the program. Shortly after our call, their office called the police department with their own concerns. "Law enforcement can stop or detail individuals only under certain circumstances," Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said. He said those circumstances include if an officer believes the person has committed a crime or if the individual driving is violating a criminal or traffic law. He said good driving is not a legitimate reason to pull a driver over. Marcille also said the program could have had other unintended consequences. For instance, if the officer pulled the driver over for good activity, but found illegal activity, the State Attorney's Office might not be able to prosecute because the officer did not have probable cause to pull the driver over. "Once this was brought to the attention of the police department, they did agree there were concerns they did not realize and did agree to change their program," Marcille said. Marcille said the police department decided they would instead run tags on good drivers and mail them a gift certificate for pizza. "We're immolating a program that dozens of agencies across the nation are doing," Taylor said. "They're stopping people giving them gift cards." Taylor said they just wanted to reward good drivers as an encouragement for everyone else to do the same. He said last year, there were over 1,000 crashes in their city and three were fatalities. Taylor said the program was not a ploy to conduct illegal searches and seizures. He said their intentions were well-meaning. "Not for one minute did we have any intent to violate anyone's rights," Taylor said.
The Crestview PD heard your great concern. Obviously, they are frightened of the huge media reach of LibertysFlame. I'm sure it scared the crap out of them. "Once this was brought to the attention of the police department, they did agree there were concerns they did not realize and did agree to change their program," Marcille said. What a bunch of dumbasses. They couldn't have just asked the local prosecutor? Any lawyer and most informed citizens already know this. Immolating?? LOL Forget knowing the fundamental laws of the country, they need to work on their vocabulary. Just who the hell is paying for all these gift cards and coupons? Those are police agencies with too much money to begin with. By definition. Are they using some huge cache of civil asset forfeitures to fund this boondoggle? And why not a gift card to Walmart instead of a coupon for a local pizza shop? Was that pizza shop owned by the police chief's best buddy or something? They're cops. Not the local Pizza Fairies. And we are not supposed to reward good behavior for obeying the laws. We're supposed to enforce the laws fairly, handing out the most minimal effective punishments to deter further lawlessness.
Yeah - sure Taylor. That was exactly your intent. Crestview, FL — In an unprecedented violation of the right of citizens to be free from unlawful search and seizure, the Crestview Police Department in Florida has announced a most insidious program. Driving safely is now a reason for cops to pull you over—under the guise that you’ll be “offered free pizza.”
#2. To: Tooconservative (#1)
“You have the right not to accept the free pizza. Anything you say can and will be used for you to fulfill this right. You have the right to order your own pizza. If you cannot afford an pizza, you will not get one. Do you understand these rights I have just stated to you? With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak or file a lawsuit?”
#3. To: Tooconservative (#1)
(Edited)
#4. To: Gatlin (#2)
“You have the right not to accept the free pizza. Anything you say can and will be used for you to fulfill this right. You have the right to order your own pizza. If you cannot afford an pizza, you will not get one. Do you understand these rights I have just stated to you? With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak or file a lawsuit?”
#5. To: Tooconservative (#4)
#6. To: Gatlin (#5)
BTW – If there is any problem, just tell them that the “Panhandle Kid” said you’re okay.
#7. To: Tooconservative (#6)
BTW – If there is any problem, just tell them that the “Panhandle Kid” said you’re okay.
It may be stupid to you, but it is not stupid to them.
#8. To: Gatlin (#7)
(Edited)
#9. To: Tooconservative (#8)
They have no legal authority whatsoever to stop any vehicle without probable cause.
#10. To: Gatlin, Deckard, GrandIsland (#9)
(Edited)
Marcille also said the program could have had other unintended consequences. For instance, if the officer pulled the driver over for good activity, but found illegal activity, the State Attorney's Office might not be able to prosecute because the officer did not have probable cause to pull the driver over. "We're immolating a program that dozens of agencies across the nation are doing," Taylor said. "They're stopping people giving them gift cards."
#11. To: Gatlin (#9)
"Not for one minute did we have any intent to violate anyone's rights," Taylor said.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]