Good post, but I'd like to make a couple of points;
>
> > <<>>  But I guess we have no choice pretty much if/
> > when we are asked if they can search the van but to let them?  ph
'80
> >
>
> Don't cower in fear of rogue cops.  You have every right to say NO,
and you
> should unless you don't mind giving your rights and your freedom
away.  You can
> say something like, "officer, unless you have some reason to believe
i a have
> comitted a crime or am doing something illegal, I'd prefer that you
not search
> my vehicle.  I've done nothing wrong and have no intention of
breaking the
> law."  What's he going to say?  If you confront them as a polite,
law abiding
> citizen, chances are they'll balk and let it go.  Otherwise in order
to search
> the vehicle he has to arrest you (for what)

Lots of things.  In one case cops wanted to search this guys van after
they spoted it in a parking lot.  When he refused, they arrested him
for public intoxication, even tho he hadn't been drinking.  He asked
to take a breathalizer.  They didn't have one. 'We determined you are
drunk, and now we get to search your van..'  He then said Ok, you can
search it, but they said too late.  This sort of thing goes on all the
time, everywhere.

or get a warrant (for what and why
> go to all the hassel) or conduct an illegal search (and if you have
nothing,
> he'll have to let you go).

There is another option you didn't mention.  Bring out the dog, and
when he sits down say that is the signal he has found drugs.  This
happened to a friend of mine.  His car was searched, his lugage dumped
on the side of the road.  They found nothing, but don't put it passed
them to plant something if they want the car.***

[His comment on all this was 'The problem is not that they shoot a few
cops every year, it's that they shoot the wrong ones!'  Hey, he said
it , not me.]

TBill
83.5 Vanagon Westy

***Better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not
have it***
_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com