Police Accountability Organization in Tennessee wants to give citizens dashcams to record checkpoints
Tennessee- Members of the Rutherford County (TN) Libertarian Party became concerned about DUI checkpoints occurring in Rutherford County. Members were advised to record their interactions, should they find themselves going through a checkpoint during their routine travels. It was made clear that this would be done so in a way that was nonconfrontational and unobtrusive, but still in clear view of law enforcement."
During the encounter, the Rutherford County deputies invoked "alerts" by a drug-sniffing dog as cause to force Kalbaugh to exit his car while it was searched. Unsurprisingly, nothing was found, since as Reason writers have documented, dogs will alert on pretty much anything their handlers suggest with signals subtle and not so much. Tellingly, before discovering the camera, Deputy Ross conceded that Kalbaugh was "perfectly innocent and he knows his rights" while his colleague admitted, "It wasn't a very good alert."
Kalbaugh isn't giving interviews at the moment, presumably on legal advice, but Axl David, LP of Tennessee Communications Director, tells me that the county party is considering creating a formal organization to continue to make sure that checkpoints continue to be monitored by video cameras. He told me, "We want all law enforcement agencies in Middle Tennessee to know that they will be watched and held accountable should they abuse anyone's civil liberties."
To give that organization the ability to fulfill its mission, the county party is in the process of creating an IndieGoGo campaign to help fund dashcams for active members. The link is here for anybody who wants to support the project.
As for the results from such efforts ... Even if police departments respond with nothing more than a flurry of announcements about pending investigations, the whole effort will be worthwhile if the A.J. Rosses of the world tune up their conduct to avoid scrutiny of their work history and personal foibles.
About the Police Accountability in Tennessee website:
Citizens Lack the Tools to Hold Police Accountable
The constitutional rights and civil liberties of citizens in Middle Tennessee have long been an afterthought with the law enforcement community. The viral video of the DUI checkpoint on July 4, 2013 exposed the growing problem to the entire world.
We want to educate citizens on their constitutional rights, and be able to hold police accountable.
A vast majority of law enforcement officers stand by their oath and are committed to protecting and serving their community. The few bad apples give the rest a bad name. We believe this is in the best interest of the citizens and the law enforcement community.
What We Need
The Rutherford County (TN) Libertarians, in partnership with various local pro-liberty organizations, are working on a plan to expose corrupt law enforcement officers, particularly with traffic stop and checkpoint interactions.
We believe the best method of doing this is to purchase as many dashcams as possible. Activists throughout the Middle Tennessee region will record interactions with police at checkpoints and traffic stops.
The dashcams we'll purchase will be the most economical available that can record audio and video in reasonable quality.
We will not, in any way, provoke law enforcement. We will respectfully and lawfully exercise our rights should we find ourselves interacting with police.
Other Ways You Can Help
Know your rights! There are great organizations out there such Flex Your Rights that educate average citizens on their constitutional rights when it comes to law enforcement interactions.
You can also "Like" the Rutherford County Libertarians on Facebook.http://reason.com/blog/2013/07/09/get-ready-for-more-dui-checkpoint-video
Clarksville police, Montgomery County sheriff’s office and Tennessee highway patrol to conduct DUI checkpoints in Clarksville-Montgomery County:
http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2013/03/14/clarksville-police-department-montgomery-county-sheriffs-office-and-tennessee-highway-patrol-to-conduct-dui-checkpoints-in-clarksville-montgomery-county/
MA state police to hold sobriety checkpoint somewhere in Hampden County:
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/07/state_police_to_hold_sobriety_3.html#incart_river_default
At a California DHS checkpoint agents break drivers’ window, seize property, no charges filed:
California - An incredibly odd video is making the rounds on youtube and reveals a violent act by CA Homeland Securtity Agents who angrily bashed in a driver's car window and put him in cuffs. The video, posted by youtube user Robert Trudell, was posted on June 21, 2013 and currently has 2,905 views, 21 likes and 2 dislikes. The video description simply reads "Get Out, Get Your Hands on Your Head, Get in the Hokey Pokey, US Border Patrol Checkpoint Detention Trailer, Shattered Window and Handcuffs, 31 May 2013, Pine Valley, California http://yuma310.com/border_dance.htm."Â
A much longer 14-minute video of the same incident is here.
Trudell has 4,202 videos on his channel, many of them of internal border checkpoints, including the 20+ minute U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint. Dateland, AZ Gas & Cameras, No Response to "Are you a US Citizen?" (41,804 views, posted Feb, 15 2013); the one minute condensed version What Country are you a Citizen of? US Border Patrol, No Consent Search, Right to Remain Silent and the 12 minute Border Patrol Checkpoint, Right to Remain Silent, US Route 95 Highway, Yuma, Arizona.
His website, titled "The USA Mexican Border Dance", features many of his videos and photographs.
Trudell's car is elaborately riggged with mounted cameras and one photo taken from inside his car captured the dramatic shot of the border patrol busting out his window while he sits in the drivers seat. At first glance it isn't entirely clear what transpired in the window-breaking incident, but Trudell's replies to viewers questions tell more of the story.
Trudell responded to one commenter by explaining "I didn't Consent to a Search and Remained Silent (well except for the "Hmm?" to understand his Order.)" In response to a LibertyFight.com query this morning, Trudell replied, "I was detained for 9 hours following, handcuffed for 6, fingerprinted, photographed, criminal history check, FBI Interview looked up, stripped everything but my shoelaces, ID and Credit Cards and placed on foot in El Cajon that night at 10:30. The ACLU was waiting to see if they are pursuing Criminal Charges against me before filing a Civil Suit against them.--Rob" Here are a few more excerpts with Trudell answering various questions from viewers:
Q. What happened after?
A. "I was hoping the window would be broken open. I bought a spare ahead of time. Afterward everything I had was confiscated other than ID and Credit Cards. They held my Computers, Cameras, Phone for 21 days with no sight of when I'd get it back. I was handcuffed for 6 hours of my 9 hours in Detention. I wasn't offered a toilet for most of that time. I was set on the streets of El Cajon at 10:30pm on foot 200 miles from home and 100 miles from my destination. I was denied covering events. --Rob
Q. Have you filed suit yet?
A. No. The ACLU is looking at the videos.Are you familiar with things like this? What type of scenario could I expect in a Civil Suit? What things can we all gain? --Rob
Q. Did they really have to bust the window or were they just being bell ends?
A. I wasn't going to open the window or door. I wasn't Consenting to a Search which they make very clear is being done with the hand held, belt mounted and shoulder mounted Sniffing devices they wave around and in Vehicles. I have no idea what there Cause or Suspicion was for breaking the window open. --Rob
Q. What country is that? ah, land of the free, I understand...
A. Land of the Free of all Your Material Goods, and Free to Keep Your Hands Behind Your Back in Cuffs for 6 Hours, Free of Toilets for 9 Hours, and Free of Your Vehicle for the Ping Pong Weekend and Free of Cameras to Film the Senior Table Tennis Event. --Rob
Q. What did you do for them to act like that?
A. I didn't Consent to a Search and Remained Silent (well except for the "Hmm?" to understand his Order.) --Rob
Q. Damm so are you going after them for damages and property damage?
A. They gave me a SF-95 form to file for Damages. --Rob
Q. So did they charge you with anything?
A. I don't think so. They held my stuff for 21 days. The Property guy said he was waiting for them to file some Charges and to try to get a Search Warrant to look at my Videos (They had my Laptop, Phone and iPod also till today.)
http://libertyfight.com/2013/dhs_breaks_drivers_window_seizes_property_no_charges.html