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Tell me about a time you were stopped by a police officer for something minor & how it went. I want folks to see how different the experiences folks have.
Bumping this with one of mine: I was borrowing a friends car & had all the paperwork on me as I'd paid for the registration & insurance before I drove the car. I was pulled over on my way from the gym down the street from my home in Culver City, a sundown down in West LA.
Having done nothing that I was aware of wrong, I told the officers I was going to record everything. They told me that I had no legal right to do so. They also insisted that the car was stolen despite me saying I had the paperwork & was happy to show it to them.
At this point, they told me I had to get out of my car but would not tell me what I did wrong. They said I was being detained but would not tell me why. They asked if I had ever been arrested & put their hands around my wrists. "Does this feel familiar?" the officer said.
I asked the charge. They wouldn't tell me. I told them that I had a lawyer & would be reserving my rights to remain silent then.
At that point, they fruitlessly searched my car. They found nothing because there was nothing. I was still outside my car with hands behind my back.
At that point, they fruitlessly searched my car. They found nothing because there was nothing. I was still outside my car with hands behind my back.
When this was complete another officer came up & said he was going to be giving me a ticket. He said the car had tinted windows & although I wasn't the owner I would be getting the ticket anyway. He then begrudgingly let me go after he whispered "Better be careful out there."
As a white-passing Latina, I know that my incident was one with privilege. Even stating my rights at all was a risk I was able to take with less fear that it would result in death. That ability is not present for many Americans whose skin does not grant that privilege.
I encourage others to look at the stories on this thread and add their own. This is an important piece of conversation to have at any time but especially now. We need police brutality, egos, and lack of accountability to stop. We need change. This is fucking too much.
