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Getting stopped by the police for no reason

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ScientistOfSound
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31 May 2011, 2:29 pm

I've never been stopped, however when around policemen and women I always feel as if they're watching my every move.



Anemone
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03 Jun 2011, 9:29 am

I've been stopped three more times since posting, the last one in April sometime. The last one was the worst - a police officer checked my ID, then another police officer checked my ID, then an ambulance arrived (The first one sent for it) and I had yet two more people to argue with. It took about fifteen minutes total and I had to sign a release for refusing to be examined by the paramedics. Grrr. (The second last stop they searched my backpack - why, I have no idea. Time on their hands? And they seem to be quite perplexed that I'm not on meds and don't see a doctor regularly.)

After that I wrote the police department with a complaint. So far all I've heard back was that they've received my letter.



Anemone
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05 Dec 2011, 11:46 am

I did hear back from the police - the letter got sent to the local station, and they said they'd keep my situation (bare feet) in mind. I don't think they believed me that being autistic had anything to do with it.

And I haven't been stopped again in my neighbourhood.

But yesterday it was a nice day for December (high of 9°C/high 40s F) so I walked over to the Lachine Rapids (about 8 km/5 miles? each way). And once I was out of my neighbourhood and in a different suburb, I got stopped again. Apparently they got five calls about me. Suburbs, huh! At any rate, this time it took a half hour because first it took a while for the ambulance to get there then they wouldn't let me sign the release right away, because they wanted to take vitals first and I refused. And the cop in charge said she was filing a report and reporting me to social services, so that if I kept being stopped they could arrest me and force me to go to the hospital. So I'm filing a human rights complaint today. And I'm asking the human rights commission here to investigate how often this happens to disabled people in general. (They've already released a report on racial profiling.) Maybe we could call it DWE - disabled without escort - since they seem to think we shouldn't be out and about unaccompanied. They always seem so disappointed they don't have a family member they can call, or that I'm not on meds. :evil:

Anyway, after the stop, I went to the rapids and watched people surfing in the rapids. (And they think *I'm* taking risks.) It was a nice day overall.



hanyo
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05 Dec 2011, 12:19 pm

I guess I've been lucky. I've only had three times that the police "bothered" me and it wasn't anything bad.

The most invasive time was once when I was walking to the library I had a Nintendo DS case on a strap over my shoulder and they pulled up and asked to see in the case. I just opened it and showed them my DS and that was it. Maybe it looked like a case a gun would be in? I don't know. I know I could have refused and if I had thought about it ahead of time I might have wanted to just out of principle but it was easier to just show them my video game.

Once when walking home from a convenience store at night a cop going by in a cop car asked if I was ok and/or where I was coming from and going to. I told them and they moved on.

Once as a teenager I had a pair of pants with the ass ripped out and a cop asked me if I had been assaulted. I said no, that was it. They moved on.

I used to walk around at night a lot, even through bad neighborhoods, mostly walking to and from bars. I'm too scared to walk alone at night now. Also I don't drink any more.

About that barefoot thing. I've read a site about barefoot living and it seemed interesting and healthy for your feet (assuming you don't have diabetes or need orthopedic footwear or live in a bad neighborhood when the streets are littered with broken glass). I've walked places barefoot on occasion. I find most shoes uncomfortable and in warm weather I sometimes get rashes on my feet from wearing shoes.



Anemone
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16 Dec 2011, 1:51 pm

I finally discovered the Flex Your Rights website and videos. Here are the videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmrbNLt7 ... ure=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKPutNg8 ... ure=fvwrel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REJ2RsLp ... ure=fvwrel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUv3A4hs ... ure=relmfu

And I wrote them and asked about what happens if they're stopping you because they think you're mentally ill instead of criminal:

Quote:
Hi,

I love your videos and FAQs section, but there's one issue that I don't see you covering anywhere and that's what happens if the police stop you because they think you are mentally ill. Is everything exactly the same except the reason why they might arrest you? I get hassled a lot and I know other autistic people do too, as well as other disabled people who just want to be left alone, and a scenario covering our situations would be perfect. (And yes, I've been failing the attitude test. Profiling will do that to a person.)

Thanks,

Anemone Cerridwen


Here's their reply:
Quote:
Anemone,

It seems like you've answered your own question. Passing the attitude test is essential -- regardless of what mental state you've been diagnosed with.

In other words, there is no mental illness exception to the Bill of Rights. At the same time, there is no mental illness protection that will allow you to mouth off to police or disobey legal orders without increasing your likelihood of arrest.

Good luck out there!

Steve


Note: I have not yet had an opportunity to field test this advice.



Asp-Z
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16 Dec 2011, 1:58 pm

BasilSquire wrote:
I was once pulled over by the police for driving at 31 in a 30. They checked my car was taxed and asked where I had been (it was late) then they let me on my way. Another time I was in a car park waiting to pick someone up in a strange town. A Police officer knocked on my window and asked if I was the owner of my car and for some ID as there had been lots of car thefts in the area lately.


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