You said it all right here, brother. Knowing your rights is completely UNCOOL. That little punk-ass strutting around knowing all of his rights and about the constitution and laws of the nation he's a citizen of. What a snotty little punk-ass!
I'll be honest, I've never gone through a checkpoint but I really don't see how this method can possibly be efficient. How is asking whether or not you are a US Citizen really going to prove you are a US Citizen? I'm a Citizen and I don't carry around my SS Card or Passport or any documentation whatsoever with me. If they asked me if I were a US Citizen and I said yes, would I just be free to go without providing any evidence? Wouldn't that be the same case for somebody who is not a Citizen and just responds yes to the question? Like what even is the point of these checkpoints?
Do you carry around your drivers license when you are driving around? I would hope so.....if so, then yes, you carry around proof of citizenship. Also, the goal is to judge the response, for example, if you can't understand him because you don't speak or understand English, then maybe there is a reason to take a closer look. If you get really nervous or evasive, then maybe there is a reason to take a closer look (or determine if it's just a douchebag kid playing games). For the most part, the ICE checkpoints end up catching more drug smugglers than illegals, but that's seen as a good thing, so they keep doing them.
Am not a libertarian but this is my current understanding of the law. They could not detain or pull you over just for suspicion or hunch. It has to be a "reasonable" cause or suspicion for example, if there was a tip describing a wanted suspect and you happen to fit the description, they are well within their rights. The officer asked to run his plates and if they found anything which ties the car to any violation, they would have been justified to also stop him. Based on that understanding, as douchey as he acted, it was his right not to answer the question.
Well drivers license doesn't necessarily prove citizenship or even legality (for all states). You see stuff like this and it really feels annoying:
If he could clearly and accurately state to the officers the legal precedents that allow him to pass freely it would be perfect. Just saying "this is America" over and over seems a little exhausting.
Yeah, I'm not a big fan of checkpoints in general, but with a totally non secure border it ends up being a reality that we have to live with until something is done to fix the problem. I still say that most people don't have problems with these kinds of things and that most people who film their interactions show up looking to pick a fight or cause a scene for propaganda purposes. I do understand the argument they have against it though. It's where abstract principles run into the reality of the world we live in, at times there is and should be some give and take, but I understand resistance to doing so. Plenty of "slippery slope" arguments spring up when this kind of thing happens.
Depends on your goals, as to whether it was perfect or not. If you just want to get where you're going as fast as possible, you can almost always get through quicker if you just comply. If you're a "my rights" guy with a camera, noncompliance is the goal, they are looking for these confrontations to document, so it was perfect for him. Idk if it helps or hurts, that these guys are out there doing this- they are exercising our rights, on all our behalf, and I thank them for that, but the threat of becoming fodder for one of their videos might also discourage what L.E. are out to accomplish with these checkpoints too. It doesn't always go so perfect for these guys. In the end they all ultimately prove they have their rights, but sometimes they end up with busted windows and bodies in the process. Even with cameras. Not worth the risk for me. That's their thing though, their hobby. Like base jumping or something, has its risks & rewards I guess.
Yeah, go kick someone's ass for "knowing his rights," as you say! That makes you . . . a criminal (wannabe). Go do it or STFU, wannabe criminal poser ass p***y.
