itt jerome scuggs asks for legal advice

[Capital Knockers]

It seems to me that everyone's advice about paying the fine and forgetting about it is right. A few words of advice about talking to the cops about searches, though.

First, never consent to a search. I don't care if you have a gram of blow hanging out of your nose, don't consent. You don't win any points by doing so, and you can only hurt yourself.

Second, the cop most likely will say he has probable cause to search your car anyway once you refuse the search. This is fine, they're going to do whatever they want anyway. The key thing next is to ask 2 things: what he's searching for and where he's going to search for it. For example, the cops Jerome dealt with only had probable cause to search for beer. The weed thing is just something all cops like to fish for - especially with stoner looking kids (believe me, it's happened to me before).

If you ask where he's going to search then you exclude places like, for example, a pencil case full of weed because there is no way that alcohol could be in there. You also exclude places like your console and glove compartment. Even if they do find weed some where they shouldn't have been looking you can always hire a good lawyer and beat it fairly easily - especially if you have witnesses. Most of the time though the cops are really careful if you start asking them questions. It's simply best to get all this shit on record.

Finally, if they do find something, whether or not it was a "legal" search, do whatever the cop says but don't say anything. Once you're under arrest go into silent mode until your lawyer arrives. There are some extreme exceptions to this situation - for example if you're extremely fucked (we're talking 6 or 7 felonies pending) and you want to help the cops in any way possible to get out of it. I have had friends go this route and it does work but you have to feel it out for yourself. Best option is just to be silent, you can only hurt yourself by talking to cops.

And always remember, keep your cool no matter what. If you get nervous or pissed off or show any other emotion it will not only set off alarms in the cops' heads (because they look for these types of cues) but it also increases your own chances of saying or doing something stupid. This is probably the hardest part but if you need to just take it slow, think out the questions you're being asked a long time, and carefully respond. It's better to look like you're a little mentally slow than to look guilty. Be respectful to the cops, but don't act weird. Act professional and serious, and they will have no option but to be professional and serious with you. I've seen people get too angry at the cops which only pisses them off and makes the situation worse. There's a lot to be said for a person who can keep cool under pressure.

This should be stickied for all the kids out there that can't deal with a cop. Lord knows I've seen people act really stupid with them in the past, it's sad.

edit - didnt realize you'd replied jerome. i agree with jeen, even when i take extended breaks from playing, i keep updated on my jerome stories We definatly have to chill one day. I read some of the other stuff as well.

I've never had a problem with cops up here in Canada. I used to walk home through downtown 4-5am from work everyday. I'd have my walk-home joint - I swear I've been pulled aside by no less than 20 different cops, and been let off every single time. I worked at the Subway on Dalhousie, and in the market. Our owner was smart, he gave cops 50% off. So they helped with the bums and drunks asap whenever we needed them - and we purposely went out of our way to make them killer food. Half of the cops in Ottawa knew me, so they'd just let me keep walking and smoking, or tell me to put it out till I got home. Worse that ever happend, he took the joint. We even smoked in the back of that Subway, then served cops when we heard the buzzer ring, blitzed, and the place still smelling a bit like pot. Luckily, fresh bread is a strong smell and we'd have the door to the alley open.

Zerzera - read a little more before you post. Jerome clearly said he'd LIKE to have a clean record, because he's not a dumbass. No one is going to break a law and willingly get caught, unless it's something like murder. You've never gotten out of a tight spot before? He might be either of those things if he had said he WANTED a clean record - but he said like. Meaning he's willing to take the punishment if he gets caught, and accepts the chance of it. It's stupid to not think of appearance, and upkeep it to an extent. A clean record is a pretty general thing to have, or try to keep as long as you can.

[Epinephrine]

Man you guys do a lot of drugs.

[gran guerrero]

if smoking pot a lot and doing other drugs every now and then deems that we are unfit for society because we are horrible criminals, then ok I guess. Enjoy living your lie.

[Ward]

He is NOT going to get a record for an offense like this you idiot. I've been ticketed for smoking on a non-smoking property (plenty of times), for speeding, and for open booze posession. None of that counts as a criminal offense. Similar case with that oaf Jerome Scuggs. All the police have caught is a bunch of underage drinkers. He's been ticketed, but it won't go towards his criminal record.

[DankNuggets]

man i wish underage drinking wasn't a "criminal" offensive here. though it doesn't matter any more. I would have lost my scholarships, lost my liscense, and still had to pay the tickets. On top of that it would appear as a misdemeanor for 6-7 years untill it was expunged. No wonder these laws don't have any effect on underage drinking -- there's no consequences. At least after i got ticketed i stayed the fuck away from bars and big parties where i could get busted easily.

[DoTheFandango]

here's the question I ask:

how good was this bud and how much did you smoke directly after this.

[Troll King]

wtf does 'Tone of punks' mean? I am critical of the police culture so I am a punk?.. maybe it is a product of anonymous communication but can you please try to think outside of stereotypes.. I am a person. and I personally know many police, lawyers and even a QC who would agree so please stfu.. you obviously know fuckall about this world and get your false impressions from shit like CSI..
And you have teh nerve to call me crazy?.. because i actually have an opinion.. WTF do you contribute?.. your recent posts is like a stroll down submissive lane.. All you do is condemn anything outside of your "own" very bland, grain-fed perception of the world and follow it up with the odd mention of a "dong".

Maybe he called you crazy because you're railing about how cops "will 'find' crime where there is none" when in both of these cases, the posters admitted to it. Your post was full of stereotypes as well, and it's just as much "grain-fed" a perception these days. If you feel that you have the right to this opinion, then fine. So does he, and his opinion is that you have a messed up worldview.

[Vykromond]

wtf does 'Tone of punks' mean? I am critical of the police culture so I am a punk?.. maybe it is a product of anonymous communication but can you please try to think outside of stereotypes.. I am a person. and I personally know many police, lawyers and even a QC who would agree so please stfu.. you obviously know fuckall about this world and get your false impressions from shit like CSI..
And you have teh nerve to call me crazy?.. because i actually have an opinion.. WTF do you contribute?.. your recent posts is like a stroll down submissive lane.. All you do is condemn anything outside of your "own" very bland, grain-fed perception of the world and follow it up with the odd mention of a "dong".

Some dongs might do you good actually

[Cops]

Although it may be right for you to be concerned, since you clearly aren't the most respected between your pals seeing how you get snitched on.

wait a second didn't jerome just say,

and the first rule of anyone who's been through that is "no snitchin'.

and then he said,

After they satisfy themselves, they get us all together and make us pour out the icechest of beer. We do our best to act bummed, Noah keeps offering the cops a beer or two. After we pour out all fifty beers, the cops ask us who the beer belonged to. None of us say anything, so they give us a choice: all six of us can get ticketed, or just one person if they take the hit.

Once again I'm doing the math. Noah's got a record and shouldn't even be with us. Josh has a record, but it's history cause he's more or less straightened out. Devoncie was the youngest and it wouldn't be nice to start off his early adulthood with a posession charge. Dylan's record was clean as well, but he's got enough to deal with, personal things. Stafford's record was pretty clean, a few speeding tickets, but his parents would definitely kill him.

So I volunteered to take the charge.

and then people said

It is true you all would have been ticketed had no one took responsibility (the same thing can happen if you had an oz of weed under the seat and get pulled over and they find it and no one claims it--you all get possession tickets.

ward you really didn't read what Jerome posted before you decided to hit the reply button.

[Troll King]

When has that ever stopped him before?

[TagMor]

Maybe he called you crazy because you're railing about how cops "will 'find' crime where there is none" when in both of these cases, the posters admitted to it.

Threatening to charge someone with 'aiding and abbeting' because they are trying to assert their rights is finding crime where there is none.

Your post was full of stereotypes as well, and it's just as much "grain-fed" a perception these days.

right dismiss me as some .com wacko.. i think this says more about yourself then it does about me.

If you feel that you have the right to this opinion, then fine. So does he, and his opinion is that you have a messed up worldview.

Nice you are sticking up for your e-friend.. however.. I was voicing my opinion on a much debated subject as police corruption/abuse of power.. Vykromond, once again, failed to argue any of my points and instead attacked my personal character.. if you cant see the difference then you're as fucked up as him.

[Heroin Bob]

all hail TAGMOR, King of everything and knower of all

[Troll King]

Threatening to charge someone with 'aiding and abbeting' because they are trying to assert their rights is finding crime where there is none.

Except for the part where he said he helped him hide "his artwork and anything else that might be incriminating", right? Isn't that aiding and abetting when he's helping to hide stuff he knows his friend is guilty and the stuff is incriminating?

right dismiss me as some .com wacko.. i think this says more about yourself then it does about me.

Like you dismissed him for siding with other side of your argument? Don't try to psychoanalyze me here, anyone here who has ever heard of me knows that's only going to backfire on you.

Nice you are sticking up for your e-friend.. however.. I was voicing my opinion on a much debated subject as police corruption/abuse of power.. Vykromond, once again, failed to argue any of my points and instead attacked my personal character.. if you cant see the difference then you're as fucked up as him.

Did you even notice that Vyk's first post here said as much as you did about how Jerome got off easy because cops can try to do worse and often get away with it.

In case you hadn't noticed, he's saying the same thing you're saying, only he doesn't sound batshit crazy in the process. Of course he didn't argue against your points. He said the same thing earlier. He was rightfully criticizing the way you were saying it which actually hurt your position. The fact that you flew off the handle like you did just makes it worse.



Lord, I missed this forum. I come back for a couple of days and I'm suddenly Vyk's e-friend.

[Galleleo]

Yea, and I'm sure you've never broken a law. And neither has anyone else who is judging Jerome for breaking the law.

I don't really care what crime Jerome commits or not, willingly or not or who else breaks the law. For me personally it is all about values you hold yourself too. For me, the only law I willingly break is the speedlimit on the highway (not in towns or anything like that) and that with a maximum of 20km/h. And the handsfree calling rule, because I find it retarded. I can understand some people are not good at driving and calling while holding a phone, but I have never had even the slightest problem with it.

As far as drugs go, I don't really care about people doing weed, I find that it is reasonably harmless, others drugs, I think people shouldn't. But in the end it is up to yourself and the choices you make, just don't whine about it when you get caught (not trying to blame anyone for that).

My point is: everyone has a different conception of what is good and wrong, some people think weed shouldn't be banned by law, others things gay people should get restricted by means of law. If you find that you cannot live with the law the way it is in your land, get out of it and move somewhere else. If you choose to break them, accept the consequences when you get caught.

[TagMor]

Except for the part where he said he helped him hide "his artwork and anything else that might be incriminating", right? Isn't that aiding and abetting when he's helping to hide stuff he knows his friend is guilty and the stuff is incriminating?

And how do the cops know this? If you read the post it was clearly a result of him trying to assert his flatmates rights.. arguing any different just makes you look stupid.

Like you dismissed him for siding with other side of your argument?

In case you hadn't noticed, he's saying the same thing you're saying

pardon?

Don't try to psychoanalyze me here, anyone here who has ever heard of me knows that's only going to backfire on you.

ok mr tough guy

he doesn't sound batshit crazy in the process. Of course he didn't argue against your points. He said the same thing earlier. He was rightfully criticizing the way you were saying it which actually hurt your position. The fact that you flew off the handle like you did just makes it worse.

I flew off the handle?..lol..
The reason I write in a sensationalist tone is not to gain any supporters.. It's as a contrast to the reserved tone of modern mainstream thinking.. the kind of thought patterns that give way to fantasies like "The police are all morally upstanding people".. or "pharmaceuticals are wholesome and only exist for the benefit of people's health".. Which confines peoples ability to think for themselves.. Even if consciously you think i am a nut, my point of view will (hopefully) have some effect, and help people better discern the world for themselves.