Here’s a video that shows why it’s smart to have a video camera in your vehicle.
A Florida man who’d violated no traffic law – much less given reason to suspect him of having committed a crime – was “pulled over” by armed government workers because they wanted to do a “wellness check.” Because the man, they said, had pulled over and parked his car more than once.
The man was forced – literally – to “pull over” for the armed government workers. The air fingers quotes are meant to highlight the soft-shoeing of the force, which underlies every interaction with armed government workers. Dealing with them is never voluntary or consensual in the way we deal with one another. If some random guy demands you “pull over” you can just ignore him – and if he “pursues” you, then he’s a criminal. And you have the right – legally as well as morally – to defend yourself.
Not so when it comes to being “pulled over” by armed government workers. They posses badges – symbols of the legal authority of the state – as well as guns and legal power to use them, if you “resist.”
So you have to “pull over”- or else. And if you defend yourself agains these accosters . . . well, everyone understands what comes next.
The Florida man – who (again) had not so much as failed to “buckle up” – found himself “pulled over” by armed government workers. Plural. One at his driver’s side window, the other lurking menacingly on the opposite side.
For their “safety.”
They proceed to condescendingly interrogate the man – who does a good job of rejecting their mewling/pretended “concerns.” Eventually, they go away. But what if our man had not had the camera? Had not had irrefutable video evidence that he’d committed no traffic infraction, much less a crime?
What if the armed government workers claimed the man was “driving erratically” and – after they “pulled him over”- claimed that they “smelled marijuana” or the “heavy” smell of alcohol? They could have said the man acted bizarrely and they had no choice but to “detain” him for that reason. And when the man was hauled before a court, the “testimony” of the armed government workers – who are officers of the court – would be taken as evidence while whatever the man said in his defense would be taken as hearsay.
And that is why it is a sound idea to have a camera in your vehicle to record not just you side of the story but rather what actually happened.
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This was pure harassment, good move having the dashcam to record everything in case the AGW attempted to plant drugs in his car. Think it’s time for me to get a dashcam for my car.
I used to pull over all the time to respond to a message, if a phone call required my full attention, etc. If it happened on a highway I’d often get a deputy or trooper roll up behind me and start asking questions. If I was on the phone they’d interrupt me and start asking questions. I’d simply explain that I had to take the call so I pulled over in a safe location. Then I thanked them for being so diligent and no, I didn’t require assistance. Usually they’d sit behind with the lights going until I left, which was extremely intimidating (and of course was a little humiliating too since most people would think I was busted for speeding).