DUI Checkpoint Bully

Watch the Youtube clip here: Video of Checkpoint

Without video evidence like this, there are many people who would never believe or understand that police can overreach, bully, and even abuse people’s rights. This is video evidence of police harassment. I love good police. If I’m ever in trouble, you bet I’m calling them and asking for help. I hate bad police. Both exist.

Now ultimately, the kid in this video is released unharmed and uncharged. Worse police abuses occur throughout this country every day. But this driver’s rights have still been violated. It is an indignity, a scary one at that, to have the police detain and harass you like this. Some may rightly say that the driver could have avoided this by not being so cute about rolling down the window. That’s not the point. The point is that people have rights, police conduct has boundaries, and individuals who are aware of their constitutional rights should not be treated like a threat. But the officer in this video is weak, petty, and doesn’t care about rights. He responds to a non-threatening citizen, perfectly innocent and aware of his rights, by bullying him. It’s shameful.

And if you still think the stakes are too low in this video to care, imagine if this driver had not been so careful about his words and actions. Imagine what this officer would have done if he had any excuse to use force on the driver. Imagine if it weren’t a busy checkpoint, but on a backroad with no witnesses around to constrain the officer. Imagine the kid is black or brown, or dressed differently. Know that this happens every day. Know your rights. And if your rights have been abused, talk to a criminal lawyer. Having a video camera rolling won’t hurt, either.