Don't the police need probable cause to pull you over?

i was driving home last week and got pulled over.first off no i don't have a d/l not susspended i just don't have one.the cop pulled me out of the car told me i was under arrest he didn't cuff me he just had me stand in front of his car while he had his police dog go thru my car.once he saw everything was clear he let me go scott-free no ticket or anything.he told another officer he pulled me over because i was sitting to the side in my car.by the way the dumb dog was sitting on my weed and didn't smell a damn thing.but still i thought the needed probable cause

Don't the police need probable cause to pull you over?
Technically, yes, but hey lie all the time about why they stop you and judges usually go along with the cops. I spent many hours fighting a bad ticket from a state trooper with a grudge, and even with a lawyer, couldn't win. I have been stopped on the pretext of speeding, and been let go for that, but received a $200 ticket for no seat belt twice. Cops can usually get away with whatever they want to.
Reply:Yes they do they may say they don't but they have the upper hand on you if you let them. they don't have the legal right to search nothing unless a judge signs an order to do so. SAY NO. NO NO NO NO go to jail if need be don't talk lawyer up it is about time we as citizens take charge of our rights
Reply:sounds like piemont mo cops they pull you over for no reason
Reply:I would have to agree with the statement above that you had no driving lic and was let go plus the dog missed your pot? highly doubt full





but protection from search and seizure is relative to a person Right to privacy in a home a person has a higher Right to privacy thus higher level of probable cause to search versus a vehicle on a public road where your right to privacy is very limited





with a vehicle there are so many motor vehicle codes that it's pretty simple for a cop to pull you over, also in today's world most police have on board computers and can run your plate in a blink of an eye ,
Reply:Some these answers absolutely amaze me! No accountability! Must be nice to live in the land of OZ.





All they need is reasonable suspicion to stop Terry Stop. To search your vehicle in most states it’s incident to arrest, probable cause (dog sniff, visual), consent, or inventory (not really a search but needed for documentation). Remember that searching your car is not as restrictive as searching your house.





I believe you’re leaving a lot out of your story.





I’ve got an idea: Buy a DL/ insurance and get off the dope. Help your neighbor and be a productive citizen.
Reply:Yes, probable cause is a simple matter for a police officer, couple that with profiling, which is something we all do. I see a guy low ridin' smoke streamin out of his windows, driving a bit squirley, im gonna know he's up to no good. Case in point : he was right wasn't he ? as for letting you go, are you watching your back? You may just be setting up your buddies. Get a D.L. keep yer chit at home and sit up staight in the drivers seat, and you might not get pegged so easy.
Reply:this sounds like a bunch of BS. first you would have been arrested for operating without a license. the first thing a cop does is ask for you license. this whole story is made up.
Reply:Why is it that the guilty ones are always the one to whine about rights???





douche bag
Reply:Cops these days have a badge, a gun, and a right. While it is out of control there is very little that you can do about it, except stay legal.
Reply:Depends on your state, some states allow for stop for checing licence and insurance.





next if you were sitting in a position that is not normal ( or looked like you were hiding something) drug officers are trained to profile what is normally a profile of a durg traffic person /and/or a user.





They are pretty good, Guess the police dog needs a rest or your weed was fake.
Reply:Probable Cause is very easy to manage. All an officer has to do is see you swerve slightly in your lane, or like you said sitting to the side, anything that looks suspicious to him....congrats on beating the system. I have a hard time believing that he let you go with no license AND the dog missed your pot....matter of fact I think your'e lying. Never the less it was fun to answer.
Reply:I think that they do but the definition of probable cause has loosened up quite a bit due to court decisions in the right wing court. sitting oddly may be considered "probable cause' now.


another thing is called "driving while black"( DWB)





if you have any bumper stickers or paint job that bothers the cops, they may single you out. try to keep lower profile.


one tactic to avoid being pestered by bored constabulary is to buy a pro-cop sticker(s) and fasten it on your vehicle.





if you are black, try to look white or avoid certain neighborhoods where the rich use the cops as private security force.


(this is most neighborhoods)
Reply:Ask the police. These (police-matters) are too complicated to answer for anyone through the internet.





Do you have a criminal record?? That also always makes a gigantic differnce???
Reply:BS
Reply:i'm pretty sure he does. talk to a lawyer. did you get the cop's badge number? that would really help.
Reply:Not since the US Government passed the USA PATRIOT Act (without even reading it)





You now live in an imperfect elected dictatorship. You can have your whole house searched in secret, without a warrant or probable cause and you don't even have to be notified. The authorities can remove any items they like and not have to compensate you. They only have to say that they are investigating terrorism, (which could be anything, including downloading MP3's) and they can do anything they like.





Welcome to the land of the free!
Reply:Technically they do, but as far as pulling someone over they can pretty much make up any excuse to do it if they really want to.
Reply:Yes and they can make up that probable cause.
Reply:Yes, but that could be something as simple as a tail light being out or you not signaling to make a turn.
Reply:haha....you didn't even get caught! Ur bad