Florida police force motorists out of their vehicles at gunpoint for minor traffic violations

image credit: CNN

An article in WUFT.org revealed that Florida police are forcing motorists out of their vehicles at gunpoint for minor traffic violations.

"When Keyon Young was asked during a traffic stop one morning last month to step back to a deputy’s vehicle, he remained in his car out of confusion."

"Young, 18, called his mother when Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Thueson pulled him over, telling her he had no idea why Thueson was asking him to get out of his car. His mother, Chanae Jackson-Baker, advised him to remain in his car with his hands on the steering wheel until she could find out what was going on from dispatch."

"His unfamiliarity with the policy led him to ignore the deputy’s commands until he was pulled from the driver’s seat of his car while staring down a Taser and being put in handcuffs."

There is no way of knowing which Florida police officer will force a motorist out of their vehicle.

Because each police department handles minor traffic violations differently!

"Nearly every law enforcement agency that conducts traffic stops in this part of the state has a policy that differs from its neighboring agencies. This means drivers can have different experiences depending on where they are pulled over and which agency makes the stop."

What offenses can motorists be forced out of their vehicles for?

According to the Florida DMV, police will force motorists out of their vehicles for driving 15 MPH over the speed limit or for improperly changing lanes and much more.

Serious offenses include:

• Speeding more than 15 MPH over the speed limit.

• Improperly or erratically changing lanes.

• Following too closely behind another driver.

• Careless or reckless driving.

• If you're younger than 21 years old, Florida will suspend your license for 6 months if you're caught driving with a BAC of 0.02% or higher.

Florida police not expected to follow Constitution

Florida police officers use their "gut feelings" to decide whether to order motorists out of their vehicles.

“It’s really a case by case situation,” Maj. Brad Smith of Bradford County said. “Sometimes it’s just a gut feeling the officer has.  

Which means, police can force motorists out of their vehicles based on a whim.

Sheriff's' spokesman Sgt. Brett Rhodenizer say's they have been doing this for twenty years.

And Gainesville Police Department spokesman Ben Tobias say's they will let each officer's "gut feelings" be the deciding factor.

"We don't want to limit the officers, making an officer do something completely different may pull them out of a comfort zone."

How does making police officers who have sworn an oath to uphold our Constitution put limits on them and pull them out of their comfort zone?

Are people uncomfortable being a cop?

Being a cop in America is not even close to being the most dangerous job in the country, It is currently ranked number 14 behind loggers, roofers, trash collectors and many other jobs.

So what is the real reason this is happening?

Each day our government chips away at our rights under the guise of officer and public safety.

Pretty soon our Bill of Rights will be a fairy tale.