- Law Enforcement Issues - (What are Your Experiences?)

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I've been living independently for 4 years, in a new town. I can drive just fine, but don't like to, as it can be a bit draining. I feel good whenever I walk places locally, and there are miles and miles of wide sidewalks in town for this purpose. So, I've been walking to the store a lot since I moved here. There are 4 major stores within 2 kilometers, and I have taken to walking to them whenever I don't need that much stuff.

Here's a problem I had not anticipated : Law Enforcement. I work during the daytime, so I often go to local stores along the main road near or after sundown - usually between 7-10PM. The first few years, I did this without any issues whatsoever. However, recently I have been stopped by law enforcement 8 times (in the last year), and 6 of these stops resulted in detainment and frisking. I am offered no explanations other than "it's a high crime area" and "if you're out at night, you will be stopped" - as though the absence of sunlight were to indicate a person's intentions. However, I have encountered none of this "crime" they caution me to be wary of, and at this point I have become much more concerned with the behavior of these officers, and them potentially trying to incriminate me on matters of my ignorance.

I have done some research and determined that they seem to be ignoring the "reasonable suspicion" stopping and detainment laws (conspicuous circumstances / behavior specific to the individual that indicate a likely involvement in crime). I am concerned because my natural candor might get me into some trouble - I was asked once if "I had taken any medicines" during a detainment stop - and since I had taken a clonazepam right before leaving the house, I reflexively answered "yes" and explained. I was then threatened with arrest because of that divulging, so I obviously learned not to say that sort of thing. I end up getting patted down (frisk) because I don't feel I have the option to decline, and I have nothing to hide anyways (I don't smoke, drink, or do any illegal drugs).

I feel it's not much help to me, or to anyone "different" if officers are ignoring their legal protocols or not giving pedestrians at least some benefit of doubt. And were I to be incriminated, it would be thrown out in court anyways due to no "reasonable suspicion" basis for the stop. So why do they do this, then? I just don't understand why I am not free to move around. I have pretty much confined myself to my house after dark, because of this - I now only walk during the day. I don't do anything other than walk on the public sidewalk, wearing light clothes to be visible. Yet for this act alone (and perhaps looking a bit unfocused) it seems I am going to be stopped. I don't know what to make of this. Does anyone else have similar experiences with their local Law Enforcement?

Last edited by abyssquick on 13 May 2011, 1:44 pm, edited 3 times in total.

Where do you live?

South Florida; West Coast -- suburb called Grove City. Not much goes on here. Quiet town.

Ugh.

This threatens to get ugly.

My first reaction is to write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper. Or call the local TV station. Publicity makes law enforcement uncomfortable especially when they appear to be picking on a disabled person.

A Medic Alert bracelet might help. If they stop you just show them that when the ask about medications or drugs.

Are you black or Latino walking in a white neighborhood? Racism is sadly far more present than many would like to believe.

Do you have an autistic shuffle or gait? That might attract attention. The Medic Alert bracelet might help with that as well.

That and perhaps go in and talk to a higher up at the department (if you can manage it). If they know YOU and have stopped you several times for no reason, word can be handed down to not bother you just because you are out after dark. Cops are supposed to learn their beat and who is on it. There is no excuse for constantly being stopped "just because" by the same people again and again. If anything, by seeing you regularly they should have an interest in getting to know you as a person because it's contacts with the general public that they get most tips on ongoing criminal activity.

As someone who has spent a lot of time within activist circles, I recommend you follow this advice:

Know Your Rights: Dealing With Cops

Interesting. No, I don't really have an abnormal gait, my traits are mostly in the awkwardness, obliviousness, and candid naivety of my social interactions. I also have a little light sensitivity (one reason I like to be up at night). I was questioned about this once when they shined a big flashlight in my eyes and had to close them because it hurt (camera flashes can disorient / completely stun my vision temporarily). They thought I was intoxicated because my eyes were so sensitive.

I hear you on the racism thing - I can't imagine what that must be like. No, I am by appearances "white" though I am part native american - I have long hair pulled back, tan skin, and often a little bit of a facial hair.

I have thought about talking to the dept. Leiutennant, though I am unsure whether to bring Autism Awareness materials, or if this is even a fruitful path to go down at all, since these are authoritarian-type personalities. I like to think that explaining stuff and emphasizing private citizens' rights will help, but often I am wrong in pursuing any course of action involving rules and/or politics. I really just don't want to be bothered and put in a position where I am going to be in trouble. That's all there is to it really.

Last edited by abyssquick on 13 May 2011, 2:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

The department has 30 officers, and I have been stopped by the same one twice, all the others were new to me. The one who stopped me twice confiscated my driver's license the 2nd time.

Based on what? They can't just take it away from you without probable cause. How did you get it back?

I didn't know at the time, but I looked it up. Apparently it had become invalid due to a temporary suspension. I was in the middle of sorting out a vehicular registration mess last year. I had been out-of-state for the death of a family member, and had an unpaid ticket go past due during that month, because of the registration thing. It is illegal to carry a license that has been suspended. I had to pay the tickets, reinstatement fees, then buy another license for $70. Not much of it makes sense to me, but they tell me "that's how it is." What gets me is that I wasn't aware that I did not have to present my license to the officer. My giving him the license because he asked was me incriminating myself in illegal activity. He "did me a favor" and "let me go" with a warning.

I get crap from cops constantly. You don't have to let them detain you if they can't tell you under suspicion of what charges, but it can just cause more trouble if you won't stop and let them search you etc. I don't know what advice to offer. I've had cops threaten to arrest me for not carrying an ID, which I don't when I'm just going for a thirty minute stroll.

My roommate told a cop once that I have aspergers and the next morning a social worker showed up, the APD had called APS to report that I was disabled and possibly living in an unsuitable situation... they said this because my apartment was MESSY. I'm not on disability which they never bothered to ask before deciding they needed to report my "situation" which was having to live in an apartment with clothing strewn about the floor. I hate the police. Some cops are great but as a rule, I hate the police.

I've become aware of the "right to non-consent" through my research. We are not legally required to carry an ID, nor are we legally required to consent to searching, if there is no specific basis for the officer's suspicions. Flex Your Rights (.com) is a great resource on the matter of privacy rights.

I was stopped randomly around 8PM one evening, and with this information I asked the officer what his suspicions were, and he trotted out : "you're out at night, and I saw you cut a corner at the end of that road, so you were trespassing" (I later learned this was a lie, county property goes 7' in from the sidewalk, and even casual trespassing falls far short of "reasonable suspicion" law) - and from there I only got more hassle. This was the same one who confiscated my license. He seemed to take it as a challenge to his authority that I would even know some of my rights. I was a bit put off by it.

I'm in a state of confusion, because I had good acquaintances who were city police back when I lived with the parents (though these were always female officers). I used to chat with some of them and tell them about Autism and social awareness among other things. It was always very friendly. So, I'm kind of entering a state of changing my attitude towards police entirely. I don't know how many "good" ones are out there, but I try to give them the benefit of the doubt - which I learn more and more, is not something these recent officers (State) would ever give me. It saddens me that the police I knew in the past were a poor sample demographic, an exception to what's really out there.

Instead of confronting them, go into the department and ask if they have any volunteer opportunities. If you spend a weekend helping them in some project, the officers get to know you and not only will they leave you alone, they'll be more apt to help you out in the future.

I have considered this. I am always in favor of awareness and education wherever possible. Taking an opportunity and a responsibility to the circumstance. My inner idealist sees this as viable.

And there's another option, and you talked about the possibility of visiting the police dept. If you go with a coach, teacher, employer, older relative, that will completely change the dynamic. Shouldn't, but it will.

A former boss from about 20 years ago, he had long hair and he was often pulled over driving through an area. He went in and talked with, I guess the sergeant and said, Look, I'm just a guy going to work. And it would have worked even better if he had walked in there with an advocate. They would be less likely to recourse to authoritarianism. (there's a great deal of luck involved in this. Even if you do it really well, it might go well, it might go poorly. Having a quote-unquote respectable member of the community there with you, helps with damage control if it starts to go poorly. Again, shouldn't be this way, but probably is.)

(Maybe because of longer than average hair, they think you're a 'hippie'. And since you're a little different socially (as I am ), they then think drugs, etc)

And I think autism literature would help. It gives something tangible they can remember. Or even a print out of what you think might be a good newspaper article on Asperger's / Autism Spectrum.

Last edited by AardvarkGoodSwimmer on 13 May 2011, 4:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Yes; I will bring Autism literature. I wish I had any of the above "authority figure" to accompany me - but alas I do not. I have no family locally (they are in denial about my Autism anyway), I have no employer other than myself (I walk to the post office every day because of my business), I'm pretty much independent, and just trying to sort out how to function with these various social illiteracies in American society. I'm 28, so I "look" fairly adult at this point - I was always taught to advocate for myself - I see your point about having an older individual there, that way there is more weight behind what is being said. I will contemplate this also.