Police checks

[johntrfc]

To quote a now Glastonbury Legend.

I heard "Son do you know why I'm stoppin' you for?"

Cause I'm young and I'm black and my hats real low?

Do I look like a mind reader sir, I don't know

Am I under arrest or should I guess some mo'?

"Well you was doin fifty-five in a fifty-fo' "

"Liscense and registration and step out of the car"

"Are you carryin' a weapon on you I know a lot of you are"

I ain't steppin out of shit all my paper's legit

"Well, do you mind if I look round the car a little bit?"

Well my glove compartment is locked so are the trunk in the back

And I know my rights so you gon' need a warrant for that

"Aren't you sharp as a tack, you some type of lawyer or something'?"

"Or somebody important or somethin'?"

Nah, I ain't pass the bar but i know a little bit

Enough that you won't illegally search my shit

"We'll see how smart you are when the K9 come

[howbizzrre]

Each dog is only trained to detect a specific drug isn't it? They're going to be searching for the ones with an "aroma" shall we say...

[siman]

Of course they can stop you. Haven't you ever heard of stop and search...

Reasonable suspicion is vague enough to mean anything. They might suspect you of having drugs because you look f**ked, or even if you have a silly hat on... They are police officers not members of the public. Big difference

[pH1974]

I've never been stopped on my way to the festival but I've always heard the stories, particularly at the start of the festival.

It often seems to me like the Police have a real push on punters early on, like the first morning when people are arriving in droves, and then relax. Maybe they have targets to reach? It's just down to pot luck unless you do something stupid.

I just hope that by the time I'm near those services at around 4am tomorrow morning all will be quiet. Might just stop other side of Bristol just to be on safe side!

Good luck everyone!

[johntrfc]

Maybe they have targets to reach? It's just down to pot luck unless you do something stupid.

[joebingo]

True, but think about it - a car laden with festival gear, heading towards Glastonbury, people in the car looking nervous, drug dog comes and sits down next to you = reasonable suspicion.

Edited June 22, 2010 by joebingo

[Lucanesque]

Either way you're gonna be spending some time in a nick and facing charges for posession of a large amount of drugs, and there's a chance that you'll get away with it if you try to. So yeah, if you are, fill up your tanks and take enough food for the entire journey.

[Deepsky]

Can police dogs smell mushrooms?

[muddyslingbax]

It's not reasonable grounds to suspect you of anything. You are perfectly within your rights, as protected by law, to refuse any other member of the public to rifle through your stuff. They have to prove that you have broken the law, until then, the Police have absolutely no authority over you.

Rockford - sorry mate I miss-worded my first post. You are correct, if a constable has reasonable grounds to suspect you he can search you. You being you and protecting your right to remain anonymous and for your person to not be manhandled is not reasonable grounds to suspect you of any crime, even the possession of drugs.

If I remember correctly, the only time where it is legal for an officer to search you without consent or having gained enough evidence to give him reasonable grounds to suspect you of a crime, is under s45(?) of the terrorism act.

[glastovfestival]

Can police dogs smell mushrooms?

[___S_o_m_a__]

so could one refuse to be searched / have bags searched on entrance to glasto?

admittedly you'd probably not get in but your post suggests that it may not be legal?

[Lucanesque]

so could one refuse to be searched / have bags searched on entrance to glasto?

admittedly you'd probably not get in but your post suggests that it may not be legal?

[Wiggum]

Any easy way to avoid this junction, Bristol bound?

[johntrfc]

Any easy way to avoid this junction, Bristol bound?

[joebingo]

so could one refuse to be searched / have bags searched on entrance to glasto?

admittedly you'd probably not get in but your post suggests that it may not be legal?

[clockworkpurple]

Any easy way to avoid this junction, Bristol bound?

[bombfrog]

Welcome to the Police state. 'Travelling legally down the Queen's highway minding your own business sir? Just wait while I put my rubber gloves on.'

Plod is such a c**t sometimes.

[Lucanesque]

Oh please do f**k off!

[Wiggum]

Dont put car sticker in window till just before you get to the car parks. Makes you less easy to identify as a Glastonbury goer

[howbizzrre]

Just don't stop at the services and head past at 70 in the outside lane. how the bejesus wouls they pull you over into the services if you did that?

[Woppa]

Tractor beam.

[Rhyscot]

Whats the chances of them still being there at around 4am tomorrow morning ?

[Wiggum]

you could get off the M5 at J13 and take the A38 southwards. This runs parallel to the M5 so you could just jump back on at J14 or J15. Bit of a faff though, as it's single carriageway.

[howbizzrre]

I'd say unlikely, and if there are how likely are they to be motivated to do anything at that time of the morning, nevermind pull and search you!

[clockworkpurple]

ah well. I'll consider it anyway. Cheers for the info.