Law & Politics

Disc Golfers Beware, Cops are on to Your Stoner Ways, Source: http://chaaaching.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_archive.htmlIf you happen to enjoy a simple game of disc golf from time to time, be wary of police, apparently playing the game can get you profiled as a stoner. That’s what happened to one disc golf enthusiast in Ankeny, Iowa when Officer Aaron King discovered he plays the sport after pulling him over for driving without headlights on.

“I need you to answer me a question,” the officer begins, “why is it everyone who plays Frisbee golf smokes weed?”

I’ve never heard of that stereotype before, but maybe the police know something about potheads that I don’t. The informed citizen goes on to combat this stereotype, “No, it’s not everybody, it’s just a select few.”

“It’s everybody man, you can’t tell me you’ve never smoked weed before,” the officer asserts. It’s quite unfortunate that some police try to present a friendly down to earth attitude when they’re really just trying to bait citizens into a confession.

Disc Golfers Beware, Cops Are on to Your Stoner Ways, Source: http://www.thyon.ch/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Disc_golf_Thyon_Veysonnaz.jpgAfter the man responds that he will not confirm or deny his past use of cannabis, Officer King continues to badger him, questioning him on how much weed he has in the car, rather than asking if he has any at all (another deceptive police tactic). After the citizen denies the request to search his car the officer persists, “So you have weed in the car is what you’re saying?”

“No what I’m saying is that I would mind if you searched my car cause’ you’re profiling me based on me being a disc golfer,” the man affirms. Watching this video might make any weedist, or for that matter any who lives in the United States, a bit uncomfortable because it seems as if the officer is trying to trick the man into confessing to a crime the officer has no probable cause to suspect.

Disc Golfers Beware, Cops Are on to Your Stoner Ways, Source: http://www.channahonpark.org/images/Disc%20Golf.JPGPolice are required to have probable cause to search a vehicle in many states, however if you give them consent, the officers may search your car without probable cause. Often times, officers rely on the lack of citizens knowledge of their rights to refuse unwarranted searches, in order to search vehicles without probable cause.

The Free Thought Project has put out this helpful article, on what to do when an officer tries to search your car. It should be noted however that in some states, such as Pennsylvania, police are allowed to search your car without a warrant, so it is important to know your rights and understand the laws that apply in your particular state.

The man in the video is eventually allowed to leave without being searched. The city of Ankeny released a statement disapproving of Officer King’s interrogation saying, “The officer engages the driver in a line of questioning that is foolish and not representative of the Ankeny Police Dept.’s training or interactions with the public. This verbal exchange did not meet the level of professionalism expected of Ankeny police officers. Ankeny Police Chief Gary Mikulec respectfully apologizes for the officer’s demeaning statement.”

Unfortunately when police act out of line it often falls on the citizens to make sure their rights are protected.

Watch the full incident below: