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Originally Posted by Gouge
Examples please?
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Of course it is, and the less perceived value you have to society, the easier it is for police to violate your rights and get away with it.
I'll give you an example, New Jersey enacted a disorderly persons law: Loitering to obtain CDS(Controlled dangerous substance)
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A person, whether on foot or in a motor vehicle, commits a disorderly persons offense if (1) he wanders, remains or prowls in a public place with the purpose of unlawfully obtaining or distributing a controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog; and (2) engages in conduct that, under the circumstances, manifests a purpose to obtain or distribute a controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog.
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This law basically gives police the power to violate your fourth amendment right to protection from illegal search and seizure. Philadelphia has enacted similar measures with their "stop and frisk" policy. Implicitly, the message is, make as many stops as possible, and hopefully you'll find something. Read the first part of that law, "wanders, remains or prowls in a public place", that is all the justification a cop needs to jump out on you, slam you on the pavement and search you for guns or drugs.
Basically, if you're white and you're in a neighborhood you "shouldn't be in" you're getting stopped and searched. If you happen to be a minority, and you live in the neighborhood, stay in the house.
It happened to me walking home from a bar one night. Between my neighborhood and the one I was drinking in is a rougher neighborhood, where, i'll admit, drugs are sold out on the corners. Because I just happened to be white passing through this neighborhood, the cops stopped me, serched me, ran my name through the computers, and then let me go when they realized my story checked out. But what the fuck?! You can't even walk down the street in your own town without getting fucked with.