An article released this Tuesday on popular news site The Blaze has gone viral. It tells the story of an Illinois man who told a police officer who pulled him over that he was being recorded. In many cases, this is a great way to prevent cops from hassling you and infringing on your constitutional rights at a stop or checkpoint. Unfortunately, that didn't happen this time.
Ryan Scott drove up to a DUI checkpoint last Saturday night, started recording with his phone, and posted the encounter on YouTube. It went a little something like this:
Scott: Evening officer. Before we continue, I would just like to let you know that you are being recorded right now.
Officer: Okay, that's fine.
Scott: I would just like to know why I'm being pulled over.
Officer: We're doing a roadside safety check.
Scott: Okay. Am I being detained?
Officer: You are not free to leave right now.
This is where it gets interesting. The officer asks the driver to show his driver's license. Scott responds by saying that he doesn't have to unless he is being detained. The officer proceeds to lose his cool, and demand that the driver step out of his vehicle.
The driver finally concedes and hands over his license, but makes sure to tell the officer that the way he is conducting this stop is unconstitutional. You can watch the full video here.
The video of the incident has produced mixed reactions. Many believe that had the driver simply complied, the officer would have sent him on his way in minutes or less. Others stressed the importance of the individual's constitutional rights, namely, the right to remain silent and the right to be free from unlawful searches.
We'd like to hear from you – what do you think about the way police and Scott handled themselves at the DUI checkpoint?