Border Patrol checkpoints near Yuma nab hordes of pot users headed back from the beach

Meh; if you're stupid enough to try and carry your weed through a permanent federal checkpoint, you've been smoking for far too long.

This is bullshit. Only in Arizona, I guess.

The story includes, "An agent walked up to the driver's-side window and asked her if she would consent to a search of the vehicle." What would have happened if she had simply said "no"? Would the border agents have searched anyway? If they were going to search anyway, why did the agent ask in the first place? For sure I would begin by vigorously resisting any search and then find out what is going to happen next.

What gets me is the they put so much time and effort into pretending to stopping marijuana,which hasn't killed even one percent as many people as drugs like aspertame,
trazadone,reliphan, and hundreds more. This doesn't count the people that were hurt.

BUT the drug companies have the LEGAL right for their drug pushing, even though its bad for us.Kinda makes you wonder about the focus of the F.D.A.
(selective killing people and the competition)

Good question. If the canine hits on the vehicle and the driver refuses the search, the agents will call a judge and have a search warrant faxed over in minutes.

Typical liberal article. If these people weren't fined, then it would be attributed to the fact they are mostly white, and middle class. Talk about a Catch-22. If you break the law, then you should be subject to consequences and I don't give a rat's ass if you are a grandmother.

Signs are posted that a check point is ahead - do the laws only apply to certain people? Such arrogance.

I agree about the liberal arrogance. Also who is this reporter to say that the Border Patrols primary mission is to stop illegals? Well smart guy, the Border Patrols primary mission is to keep Terrorists and Terrorist weapons from entering the US. Just because they deal with a lot of illegals does not make this their primary job. They also seize more drugs then any other agency in the country. So how is stopping illegals more important than anything else the Border Patrol does? Also when the dog hits on your car it is probable cause to search.

Wow, there are some really scary folks on here! I guess fascism is alive and well in AZ.

Corruption, when initiated, often has unintended consequences.
Our borders have been corrupted for years, and as a consequence we lucky taxpayers get to not only pay for medical, housing, food, and jails, we also get to pay for a system that insures a minimum number of illegal aliens make it across and into America.

So while pockets are being lined while beefing up 'border security'; here we see our border security is really working to provide a funding source for an Arizona county; a county that would very likely still be complaining about a lack of border enforcement.

But in return for no complaints, here are easy misdemeanors for the county to use to fund whatever program helps line county officials' pockets.

All that being said; I am especially unsympathetic to the grandma who was busted along with her friends. In your late '50s and still don't realize that riding around with pot in your car can get to arrested? Then you deserve your wake-up call. Funny, I knew that could happen when I was 16 and in high school. Wake up granny!! It ain't the '60's anymore! Flower Power and Hippies are Dead and Buried!

Super-Duper.......LAME!

As far as I read the interaction of Mary and her friends with the officer, they were asked if they'd consent to a search of their car. It is important to remember that a police officer or federal agent without a warrant can always be told no! Then they have to make an argument that proves their 'reasonable' cause. If you tell them yes, they can search without any impedance. Hold your rights dear to you lest they be stripped from you people. Never let an officer convince you it'd be easier or better if you cooperated. Be silent and allow them no quarter. If you make them have to back up every decision, they'll let you go. Much like a car thief, they'll just wait and find an easier target.

Once a canine "hits" with a positive alert on a vehicle, it constitutes probable cause to search. Once agents have probable cause to believe that a vehicle contains seizable items they may search the vehicle without warrant pursuant to the "mobile vehicle" exception to the warrant rule. Carroll v. U.S. (1925)

Therefore, once that dog "hits" on your vehicle, you no longer have the legal right to say "no"....the agents have all the probable cause they need.

You always have the right to say no to a search, even if the dog hits. This does not mean you will get through or that you wont be searched this simply puts the LEO in the position of having to follow due process and conduct a search according to the law. Ultimately this is to the citizens' advantage because it keeps the LEO honest and if the LEO is sloppy chances are better that evidence can be suppressed.
To echo a previous post, they are your rights, yours by virtue of citizenship do not give them up willingly and always remember the Framers of the Constitution purposely sought to protect us from the tyrant who could arbitrarily violate one's person, houses, papers, and effects through an unreasonable search.

The story says: "The Border Patrol takes pains to explain that it's running immigration checkpoints, with the secondary mission of detecting illegal drugs...", which justifies their checkpoint under the Supreme Court ruling.

Wouldn't the fact that they make hundreds of times more drug busts than immigration busts (and presumably spend an equivalent proportion of time on drug busts vs. immigration busts) mean that drug busts are no longer their "secondary" mission?

Whew! I am glad these federal agents are on top of it! I feel safer already! Thank god fo the US of A and our right to criminalize our citizens!!

Just so everyone is on board with the legal implications of Federal Imm. checkpoints: If a Border Patrol K9 alerts to your vehicle, that (in and of itself) is probable cause for searching your vehicle. And by "searching," I mean they have the legal authority to reduce your vehicle to bolts and parts. That generally won't happen, unless they believe someone is carrying a commercial smuggling load, but it could. I found this out by doing a little online research after reading comments by several "armchair lawyers" in this post- and I advise everyone to do the same. Trust, but verify; opinion is rarely based on fact. Also...if you are not ingesting or transporting illegal drugs, you have nothing to worry about! You don't have to confuse yourself by arguing esoteric levels of illegality, 'cause if it's against the law, it's illegal (to the uninitiated, this is called "common sense" ;). This coming from a guy who supports the legalization of marijuana, believing it would have the same social effect as the repeal of Prohibition. Thanks!

If people really wanted to stop these useless roadblock arrests they simply need to sacrifice as much of their time as needed to drag each and every one of these cases out as long as possible. Once it is clear that every citation written is going to cost the legal system 200 hours and $40,000 they'll stop writing them.

It would also be nice if someone would package some Pot Smell spray for all of us NON-pot users to help keep those doggies busy.

Police state
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Many people believe that the United Kingdom and the United States are heading in the direction of becoming police states. A growing population of people in these countries feel that erosion of civil liberties and the movement of decision making away from Parliament or Congress to the executive is a disturbing trend. Recent laws passed in these countries allow for the total surveillance of civil society. The right to protest has been eroded and free speech has been curtailed. Many feel that anti-terror legislation is a guise in order for the UK and USA to become Police states and hold absolute authority over their citizens. Many social critics believe that the United States is becoming a police state with the passage of laws such as the USA PATRIOT Act and the Military Commissions Act.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jury nullification refers to a rendering of a verdict by a trial jury , disagreeing with the instructions by the judge concerning what the law is, or whether such law is applicable to the case, taking into account all of the evidence presented. Although a jury's refusal relates only to the particular case before it, if a pattern of such verdicts develops, it can have the practical effect of disabling the enforcement of that position on what the law is or how it should be applied. Juries are reluctant to render a verdict contrary to law, but a conflict may emerge between what judges and the public from whom juries are drawn hold the law to be, or the legitimacy of a law itself. A succession of such verdicts may signal an unwillingness by the public to accept the law given them and may render it a " dead-letter " or bring about its repeal. The jury system was established because it was felt that a panel of citizens, drawn at random from the community, and serving for too short a time to be corrupted, would be more likely to render a just verdict, through judging both the accused and the law, than officials who may be unduly influenced to follow merely the established law. Jury nullification is a reminder that the right to trial by one's peers affords the public an opportunity to take a dissenting view about the justness of a statute or official practices.

Illegal is illegal and smuggling is smuggling. Once again this rag shows it's colors.
lock them all up.

I do not do any drugs. Do not even do prescription drugs but prefer more natural methods to heal, I do not smoke and seldom drink - never if I drive - so I hope my opinion has some merit here - the purpose of the stop is for stopping illegals - they have invaded our country to the tune of over 20 million (probably as high as 70 million) , this has resulted in lower wages for all legals and other hardships and costs beyond the scope of this article - our gov just does not seem to really care - having been given the funds and the manpower to tackle that issue once again they go after the easy prey - us white grandmas and grampas with a job and the decency to show up in court and pay our fines - it's about $$ to the system - not justice or what is really fair and right to this country's working class citizens. I went through that area last week and also was stopped and questioned - my buddies were in a different vehicle and went thru that stop. The dog did a false positive on their vehicle - they were intimidated - removed from the vehicle - it was searched - they do not do drugs - one "white grandpa" was over 65 and just lost his wife of over 45 years and was out here to get away from the familiar stuff and move on from the grief - he ended up sitting by the road under armed men (soldiers) like a common criminal - I doubt he will be back to Arizona or CA any time soon. There were no drugs and there was NO APOLOGY from these guys either - just get in the vehicle and leave now. This is baloney - if this country thinks they are going to impress us with these kind of actions against innocent and everyday American citizens who are traveling on our roads in the guise of protecting us from illegals and terrorists - think again - you are losing all moral ground to lead and govern us - this is suppose to be a democracy - we are supposed to have our freedoms protected from these types of stops and searches . . . It does not look good for America until this gets resolved according to our "real" constitutional rights - GO AFTER THE REAL CRIMINALS - the gangs - the illegals - the porous border - at the border not 50 to 80 miles north of it. The short term solution is boycot that hioghway and CA - just do not go there till the get their act straight.

i also was stopped at this checkpoint in nov. of 06 coming back from ca. from thanksgiving with family in san deigo,i am a medical marijuana patient i was detained for almost an hour while i along with a border patrol agent waited for a highway patrol officer to arrive all of my pot was labeled medical marijuana along with various,edibles ie lollipops, cookies,they are easier on the stomach sometimes then smoking espesially for a sick person,i am a 46 years old woman the border patrol agent took great delight in telling me about how they'd nabbed the crosby, stills, and nash bus what a waste of federal time and resoures well when az hyway patrol showed up he saw my medical card my 3 grams and loolipops, asked me if i wanted to let the feds keep it or did i want a ticket for it a no brainer even for a stoner,so on my way i went wishing them a good day and hoping they'd enjoy the lollipops and chill out what a complete waste fucking with sick people go get some bad guys p.s. the pot was made in the u.s.a. humbolt who smokes that mexican stuff any more

I just happen to stumble on this article. I'm from the Bay Area and if I ever head that way, I will make sure I come to Arizona thru another route.
Another sick note. Anyone who has done any research knows that the government is head deap in drug dealing. Drugs that are CIA approved (drug dealers who pay their "tax") get's in. Unapproved drug dealers (those who don't pay their "tax") get busted. What a sick hyprocracy, they ship in the drugs, sell it to these unforunate folks and bust them for the drugs that they shiped in. How about that kind of tax sceme for us?

Arizona is a Nazi state that loses more and more tourism every year! The Phoenix airport murdered a woman for looking liberal.

1.To: Ray the wanna-be attorney- 'they' do not need to have a search warrant faxed over- there is a motor vehicle exception to the search warrant reqirement pertaining to the probable cause search of a mobile motor vehicle. They can search a vehicle detained on probable cause only without a search warrant.

2. If all you potheads need the magic plant to handle everyday life or keep your galucoma in check and are stupid enough not to realize the very real consequences of its use upfront then I have no sympathy for you. If you use something illegal you should not expect

3. The Border Patrol is now part of the Department of Homeland Security. Their mission has changed. I for one support their mission and appreciate thier attempts to make us safe. Search me, I have done nothing wrong and my daughter would not be so nice as to leave her pipe and grass in my trunk.

4. People complain about laws not being enforced and then again complain when the law is enforced. What is it that you want? If you do not like the law, get it changed.

5. Calling Justice Thomas 'not a beacon of liberal thought' is a compliment in my view.
If liberal thought causes you to become so dependent upon smoking a stupid, illegal plant and then blame everyone else when you have to pay the price- then liberal thought is much akin to retardation.

What I don't understand is how the Border Patrol agents can also be working for the Yuma County Sheriff. (Remember: it's unconstitutional for state and local law enforcement agencies to operate roadblocks with drug sniffing dogs.)

The Border Patrol's (secondary) mission should be to detect and stop drug smuggling, not arrest people who haven't even been near the border with small amounts of drugs that they intend to use themselves. In these cases, the Border Patrol either needs to charge these people with a FEDERAL crime (since they're a FEDERAL agency) or confiscate the shit and let them go.

Does anybody else see the irony of citing these people at the county level using evidence the county wouldn't have been privy to in the first place?!

I truly hope that one of these cases makes its way to the Supreme Court.

Good to know the po-lice are protecting us from these "terrorists".
Some of the disgusting facist attitudes on this board are scary.
It makes me laugh how everything they don't like is tagged "liberal".
Heres a wake up call: Why do you think they call them PIGS!!!!!

I have smoked pot for over thirty years. During this time I managed to earn three degrees (one undergrad and two graduate - current 4.0 GPA) from reputable state universities. I was instrumental in homeschooling my children to the point where each was admitted to college (one of whom was a senior at university at age 19 and still attending). (I do not suspect either of my two children from using or abusing drugs or alcohol.)I have been married once and to the same wife for over twenty years (who does not smoke it). I have safely driven everything from motorcycles to tractor trailers in eight countries and forty-one states in all imaginable conditions. Not even once had any law enforcement officer found cause to pull me over, nor has any other cell phone equipped driver called in to alert law enforcement of the unsafe operation of my vehicle.

I served in the U.S. military, earning various medals and honorably discharged after my four-year enlistment. Despite admitting recent, and current use of marijuana, which was recorded on my enlistment contract and accompanying me to each assignment, I was authorized a Secret Security Clearance and assigned to control classified documents and cryptographic equipment. In my professional life, I was recognized for efficient and sound handling of substantial budgets, supervision of staff, and implementation of projects and programs. My chosen profession is a direct community service. I have a clean relatively driving record (couple of minor tickets/no accidents), clean bill of health, satisfying sex life, and do not see any indicators how pot has "ruined my life" in any way. I am an educated, informed citizen, who is a homeowner and taxpayer, and I vote. I pose absolutley no threat to myself, my family, or others.

I expect something more from my government than a "because I said so..." approach to this issue. To the perpetrators of state terrorism, I say quit obfuscating facts, intimidating citizens, and ingraciating yourselves at the expense of the public. The resources allocated to prosecute the ill-conceived and recklessly applied policies should be brought to bear on more serious matters. Your actions ultimately undermine your authority. It is clear to me this has become a major "cash crop" with proceeds going directly into state coffers by targeting otherwise timid users.

Arizona is fortunate for having such an opportunity. Other jurisdictions must rely on profiling vehicles/individuals (displaying college and Viet Nam related insignias, etc.) to help seize property for later sheriff sales.

I/we did not break any law that was not already broken (right out of the box). If/when you pull these tactics on me, you will have a court fight on your hands - not some private bench affair, but full blown jury trial where the "whole truth" could be scrutinized by rational peers.

I simply refuse to be afraid of my own government.

LET MY PEOPLE GO!!!

Arizona is a Police State. I dread driving through it. I don't have a problem with Border Patrol stopping and checking cars for illegal immigrants terrorists or hard drugs but really a seed??? That is total crap. Thats why I never will live in that state.