It's late, and I did get through the first 5 pages of posts. I do want to finish this thread but I will do so tomorrow.
Some have pointed out that the officers do not always know the law accuratly. The problem arrises when they don't, but think they do.
Based on the details of the account given by the opening poster; Unless my lawyer was sitting in the passenger seat, I think I would have complied at the time. I certainly would be filing a complaint with the department.
Ticket or not, warning or not, Police officers, Peace officers, Patrolmen, Troopers or whatever they refer to themselves as, should not violate our rights.
I'm a fireman, we work side by side at accident scenes, assaults, etc, and we view each other as family most of the time. But, even family can be wrong. And while it pains me to think of this concept, as one poster already wrote, the lives of a few police officers (or firemen as well) are less important that the rights of a Nation's people.
I can remember when I was 22 years old, I got pulled over by an exuberant County Sheriff. He thought I was peeling out, when in fact it was the two rice-burners in front of me that were racing. He removed me from my vehicle, took my sidearm (I had my current permit), and when he returned, he took issue that it was not registered in my name. He claimed that I was "required to register it in my name". As a 22 YO kid, I'm not in a position argue with a Sheriff deputy on the side of the road. I was saved more hassles by a more urgent call on his radio. It didn't help that I was a foot taller than he was, and had 40 lbs of muscle on him.
We must fight to keep our rights. But, we also must pick the occasion. If I have a law firm on retainer and deep pockets, I can "push back" against right violations differently than if I don't. I would hope the opening poster will educate, and arm himself with facts, and file a formal complaint. Even if the officer was within his legal authority (I don't belive he was, based on the story), his methods were unsafe, and he needs to be educated. Also, profiling is real. I am 35, I dress my age, and speak respectfully and articulately. But, people routinely guess my age around 25. So, if I LOOK like a kid or young adult, right or wrong, the fact of human nature is that a cop is likley going to view me differently than if I look 55.
So, in summary, I sure hope the OP'er will decide to file a formal complaint, and lawfully pursue the issue. Frankly, our 'cause' needs him too. Do I blame him for his actions in the 'heat of the moment'? No, I don't. I wasn't there to view all the intangeables of a scenario like that.
I do not wish ill on the police officer in this event. In fact, I wish him and his family a long lifetime, full of health and happiness. I wish the same for the OP'er. But more importantly, I wish all of us Freedom.
PE