I don't agree with the concept of refusing consent to search. The cop in this case is already being overly aggressive from the OP's point of view, refusing consent is just going to escalate the situation and make the cop feel justified in doing so. The mentality is "why would he refuse if he has nothing to hide?". Refusing consent is a great way to end up face down and cuffed, and then watch it get covered up later, swept under the rug by everyone involved and their superiors, and their superiors' superiors, etc.
I think trigun87 took the right course - co-operated, provided all the info and documentation requested, and was rather grudgingly released. The basis of our rights are legal, and must be defended in the courts, NOT on the side of the road. If the OP does want to defend his rights, the way to do it is to hire a lawyer and start down the long hard road of legal action. Doing it any other way just plays into the hands of those doing the profiling. Having a lawyer's card handy is not a bad idea, if its not a bluff.
I feel for you trigun, there's no excuse for what you have to put up with, and most of us middle aged white guys never have to experience it. I wish I had some good advice for you, but I don't think there is any. Best I can do is suggest that you not let it make you bitter, you can't control other people's behavior, but you can control your own. Doing the right thing in the face of everyone else doing wrong is something to take pride in, and this can give you the self confidence to be above all that crap you have to put up with.
I think trigun87 took the right course - co-operated, provided all the info and documentation requested, and was rather grudgingly released. The basis of our rights are legal, and must be defended in the courts, NOT on the side of the road. If the OP does want to defend his rights, the way to do it is to hire a lawyer and start down the long hard road of legal action. Doing it any other way just plays into the hands of those doing the profiling. Having a lawyer's card handy is not a bad idea, if its not a bluff.
I feel for you trigun, there's no excuse for what you have to put up with, and most of us middle aged white guys never have to experience it. I wish I had some good advice for you, but I don't think there is any. Best I can do is suggest that you not let it make you bitter, you can't control other people's behavior, but you can control your own. Doing the right thing in the face of everyone else doing wrong is something to take pride in, and this can give you the self confidence to be above all that crap you have to put up with.
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