As a white male, I know I have privilege. I think sometimes that's exaggerated, but in reference to police I tend to think that I get better treatment than a typical black person would. In my opinion, It's that privilege that makes it my duty to NOT allow cops on power trips to push me around. Because if I allow it, you know they're going to keep doing it.
Example: stuck on the side of the road broken down last weekend. Cops pull up, "Everything okay?" "sure, broken down waiting on the tow truck, thanks for asking".. ."Oh, okay - can we see your id?"
They were shocked when I did the whole "do you suspect me of a crime?" and refused to identify. Like "I bet this guy is a felon" kinda shock. "We'll just run your plates"... was the intimidation response... and they did, which I think without ANY suspected crime is questionably legal. In fact, there's case law that states refusing to identify on it's own CANNOT be grounds for suspicion.
Anyway, after running my plate, checking my driving record, and putting a nice little record of the interaction down in a report. Oh, and also sitting behind me for 15 mins with their lights on making me look like a damn criminal...... they come back.
"We were really just trying to help, not sure why you didn't want to show ID"
Yeah..... right... You're really trying to help what? You think if my registration was expired, license suspended, warrants, etc that they'd have "just been trying to help" or would they just be using my misfortune as an opportunity for revenue...
I don't hate cops - I'm a big fan actually. I just wish they knew a little better where my rights begin and their rights as Gestapo end.
