USA - Transportation (Via Car) and Searching

[087Cal]

First, a little bit about SWIM: SWIM has been caught for possession once previously, and has several other minor legal infractions.
SWIM feels like he is often the victim of unfair searches, but SWIM does not have the time or money to fight these issues through the legal system.

Now, SWIM was considering the following hypothetical situation:

SWIM decides that he wants to transport a small amount of cola (Less than 10 grams) via car, but is concerned about doing so. If SWIM was pulled over and searched, how could he best prevent the possibility of being caught? (i.e., How could SWIM best hide the drugs in his car without having to tear it apart? It's a nice car.)
This is assuming that no "drug dogs" were present, in which SWIM would likely be screwed anyways.

Tips or advice for SWIM?

[087Cal]

PM's as responses would be best. (Obviously)

[Pinkavvy]

Over 90% of "drug busts" are the result of being caught with drugs in the vehicle.

Most important ground rules before swiy should even CONSIDER driving drugs.
1. BE LEGAL
Driving with no license or a suspended license give AUTOMATIC rights for a officer to place you under arrest or take you into custody and search swiy's vehicle. If swiy is driving without a VALID DRIVERS LICENSE and swiy gets caught with drugs in the car then swiy's stupidity DESERVES the punishment. :P Make sure swiy has a valid license, insurance, and proper registration ready to give to an officer in the case of being pulled over.
2. DRIVE WITHIN THE LAWS
Swip has heard too many stupid say make the dumb statement that driving the speed limit makes you look suspicous. This is not the case. Remember many people of the world do not break the law daily. These people go years at a time without getting pulled over. Appear to be like them. Drive the speed limit. Obey ALL TRAFFIC LAWS. Use the turn signal. Signal early. Don't swerve. Keep the music down. Don't draw attention.
3. DONT DO FUCKING DRUGS WHILE SWIY IS DRIVING.
Yes, the officers are trained to look for apparent drug use. Not just swerving, but smoke coming out the window. Lots of smoke in the car. Swiy is not perfect, especially while under the influence. Sure it's possible nobody will notice you taking that snort from the bullet, or puff from that sneakatoke... but why risk it while swiy is driving with drugs in the car?
4. Look the part.
Yeah, I know it's not cool that profiling happens. In fact, if swiy is NOT DRIVING WITH DRUGS IN THE CAR then I would encourage swiy to let the long hair hang low, keep the hempfest tshirt on, and the marijuna leaf hat on. Let them profile and pull you over so you can stand up for the rights to express yourself. But if swiy has drugs in the car, then don't fucking look like swiy has drugs in the car. Wear a colar. Clean and neat cloths. Hair combed. Long hair tucked into a grandpa hat. No van halen shirts, no greatful dead shirts, and absolutely no 48 hour shadows. Smile, be polite, look like swiy has "normal 9-5 purpose."
5. NO YOUR RIGHTS
If all this fails and swiy still gets pulled over, stand up for swiy's rights... but do it politely. Being an asshole is not something you should do if swiy actually does have drugs in the car. Politely ask why you wered pulled over. When they explain, apologize even if they are wrong. Explain that it won't happen again or swiy will get it fixed right away. If they ask what they smell is or if swiy have drugs in the car SAY NO. If they ask what that smell is, don't try to explain away that swiy's friend may have smoked a roach in the car yesterday. DENY ANY SMELL. If swiy ackowledges that there is a smell then swiy has GIVING THEM PROBABLE CAUSE TO SEARCH. Even if the smell is blatent (which would be stupid on swiy's part) then swiy still needs to deny the existance of any smell. "I smell nothing, officer." Ask for their badge number. Do NOT CONSENT TO A SEARCH. Ask if you are under arrest, ask if swiy may leave. If not, ask for an attorney, clearly tell them that you are envoking your 4th, 5th, and 6th amendment rights and then say NOTHING MORE.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	Great post
	Great Advice, as always. And Good Vibes/Much Love in the coming days and weeks

[Solinari]

Some one should have a look at the video called Busted: The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters. I watched it, even although i am in the UK it was still a good video.

This would show what to do if someone did get stopped.

[FuBai]

Also try driving in rush hour traffic. Safety in numbers etc and it gives you other drivers to imitate if the stress causes you to get paranoid, although America is quite a bit different from the UK seeing as basically the whole of the UK experiences massive traffic during rush hour, whereas, if you are driving cross country in the states you can usually miss it all.

[zera]

If you don't mind me asking what race are you? It's pretty well documented that at least in the US police systematically search African-American males more than the general population. If swiy falls into this category it might not hurt to bring a white friend along. As fucked up as that is, its the shitty shitty reality that this stupid drug war has produced. Reminds me of the Dave Chappelle skit.

[Bikelbees]

Originally Posted by zera

If you don't mind me asking what race are you? It's pretty well documented that at least in the US police systematically search African-American males more than the general population. If swiy falls into this category it might not hurt to bring a white friend along. As fucked up as that is, its the shitty shitty reality that this stupid drug war has produced. Reminds me of the Dave Chappelle skit.

Isn't this advice just fueling paranoia? You make an given statement, there is racism in society and in the police, but this will be helped by black and white driving in perfect harmony? Police need to obey the rules for black and white, and everyone needs to know their rights, if we start from the assumption that you suggest, then it seems like they are the ones winning the battle. I dont want to sound too idealistic, but something about this advice jarrs me.

[zera]

Originally Posted by Bikelbees

Isn't this advice just fueling paranoia? You make an given statement, there is racism in society and in the police, but this will be helped by black and white driving in perfect harmony? Police need to obey the rules for black and white, and everyone needs to know their rights, if we start from the assumption that you suggest, then it seems like they are the ones winning the battle. I dont want to sound too idealistic, but something about this advice jarrs me.

It jars me too: everyone needs to assert their rights, but its a fact that police are more aggressive to blacks than whites. Racial police profiling is a fact, and our darker skinned comrades need to be aware of this for their own freedom and safety. We need to work to end it absolutely. I'm not starting from any assumptions, I'm just trying to prevent someone having their life ruined by an out of control drug war.

[Pinkavvy]

It jars me too... but zera has a point, in this thread. This thread is about how to drive with drugs and not get caught. And as fucked up as it is, minorities of an area get pulled over more often then the majority in the area, not necisarily always black... but hispanic/latin, asian, etc depending on the area. For example, in the area of the west coast north of southern california it is a fact that people who look hispanic or latino are profiles as drug carriers moreso then other races. As fucked up as it, this thread is about how to not get caught driving drugs, and part of that would be to not only look the part but also have somebody of majority ethnicity from that area in the car ... or even just somebody of another ethnicity. (diversity lessons a profile of gang affiliation.)

[Police Officer]

Well, you can get away with something for a long time, but never all the time.

[ChoppedandFaded]

As was already mentioned, obey all traffic laws, don't speed at all, Use turn signals, etc.

Don't give the cops a reason to pull you over in the first place and you won't ever have to deal w/ searches.

And also, show respect to fellow average citizens and criminals alike. If you spot a piggie camping out, flash your headlights on and off rapidly as you pass other cars, warning them that there is a cop ahead.