WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court has upheld the authority of police officers to stop cars and question their drivers based on an anonymous tip to a hot line.
In a 5-4 decision written by Justice Clarence Thomas, the justices ruled that such stops do not amount to an unreasonable search or seizure, even if the arresting officer did not observe the vehicle speeding or swaying while driving down the highway. Full Article
This is uncalled for. Do we have the ability to get some sort of proof that a call was indeed made, or tip provided? We have a right to face our accusers in court, but not before court? In order to go to court, we need to have a reason. If i feel i’m being harassed by cops or some other “concerned citizen”, then i should have a full legal right to know who’s behind it. It’s due to the registry that i’ve been repeatedly and constantly harassed, especially during my time on parole.
yes your right Jason.. If a stalker were to call the hotline everytime I leave the house. what good would that do ?
It’s ensure fulfillment of one of the true intended purpose of the registry.
If I remember right, wasn’t Thomas involved in a sexual harassment issue when he was appointed?
What I see is some registry troll that thinks he/she has the right to punish you again after you have served your time and paid your debt to society, calling on multiple registrants, or just the ones in their neighborhood and placing the public in danger by diverting resources away from real threats to society. And just as sure as the sun always rising in the east you can be sure this is going to catch on with the vigilantes and other haters. I see this getting really bad if it isn’t checked. This is going to turn into a new form of vigilantism. 🙁
Justice Scalia had this very premonition in his dissent. He didn’t mince his words, and called it “a freedom-destroying cocktail.”
I concur with Justice Scalia. Of course we are all familiar with a class of offenses that only require an accusation. Watch out Americans, it’s progressing!
Well, this pales compared to the ability of cops to gang murder homeless men and get off scot free. All those little frightened American voters who want to be protected from bad guys to the nth degree are authorizing a police state, that will be very difficult to dismantle.
Hi Tim:
You are so right. These people are throwing away freedom and they only think they are getting something in return; the fools get nothing and fail to see the Pandora’s box they have opened.
“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” Ben Franklin: (Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor, Tue, Nov 11, 1755)
Hello Q. I heard that Nazi Germany was such a very safe place to live for those who weren’t in a death camp, and for those who could overlook the fact that the people to watch for were all wearing brown shirts.