White cops harass and pepper spray Black Army Lieutenant in Windsor, VA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was coming on here to say that since these pretextual stops profiling black drivers seem to be a permanent facet of policing, laws need to be changed to discourage traffic stops for minor offenses. That may prevent some civil rights abuses or unnecessary deaths of drivers.

I did a little digging and, amazingly, such a law actually did pass in the state of Virginia where I live. I had not heard about that law until now. Basically, as of the beginning of March 2021, the police cannot stop drivers for such minor offenses as a loud exhaust, tinted windows, or things dangling from your mirror.

Here is a summary:

"no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop a motor vehicle for operating (i) without a light illuminating a license plate, (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment, (iii) without brake lights or a high mount stop light, (iv) without an exhaust system that prevents excessive or unusual levels of noise, (v) with certain sun-shading materials and tinting films, and (vi) with certain objects suspended in the vehicle.

No evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful stop shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding. The bill also provides that no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop, search, or seize any person, place, or thing solely on the basis of the odor of marijuana, and no evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful search or seizure shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding.

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?202+sum+SB5029

Apparently Northam passed a number of other policing reform laws in the wake of the G. Floyd incident and other similar incidents, including a ban against no-knock warrants:

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2020/october/headline-861097-en.html

Wouldn't apply to this stop because stop was for no license plate and tinting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bullshit. The police only have the authority to act reasonably in proportion to the reasonable suspicion they used to justify the traffic stop. Without probable cause of a crime, they don’t have authority to order you out of your car or to search your car or to pepper spray you for asking why they stopped you or to threaten to shoot you for questioning their instructions.

Police don't need PC to order you out of your car. You have no idea what you are talking about.

You think you know what you are talking about. See comment above.

y'all are throwing around legal terms that have specific legal meanings without understanding. Probable Cause is not needed to pull you over. That is what is needed to arrest you. Reasonable suspicion of a violation of law is all that is needed to pull you over. Reasonable suspicion means something you can point to. That is all. "I thought he had no tag based on what I could see at night." That is enough to pull this guy over. The stop was legal. In fact there is no plate. It was affixed inside in the window. But once the stop is made, they get to investigate it. Even is they see the paper tag, they get to look at it, run it and see if it is legal. Once you are pulled over, the police can require you to leave you car if they have a reason to be concerned about their safety. Again, they just need something to point to. Here, the combo of the no plate, not stopping right away, and some hesitation on the part of the driver would justify removing him from the car. The place where this all goes off the rail and becomes improper and illegal is the use of the chemical agent. That cannot be justified no way, no how. Then they rough him up. Then they try to coerce him to give up his First Amendment rights in exchange for letting him go.

Different poster here. Unless the police had received a call about a stolen vehicle from a local car dealership, why did they assume that a new-looking car driven by a black man was possibly stolen? And as soon as they saw the paper tags, why didn't they just let him go? Why engage further, especially when it is now pretty widely known that many minority drivers do not feel safe when stopped by police? How does this overzealous policing help the public?

[Anonymous]

Windsor is redneck land.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was coming on here to say that since these pretextual stops profiling black drivers seem to be a permanent facet of policing, laws need to be changed to discourage traffic stops for minor offenses. That may prevent some civil rights abuses or unnecessary deaths of drivers.

I did a little digging and, amazingly, such a law actually did pass in the state of Virginia where I live. I had not heard about that law until now. Basically, as of the beginning of March 2021, the police cannot stop drivers for such minor offenses as a loud exhaust, tinted windows, or things dangling from your mirror.

Here is a summary:

"no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop a motor vehicle for operating (i) without a light illuminating a license plate, (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment, (iii) without brake lights or a high mount stop light, (iv) without an exhaust system that prevents excessive or unusual levels of noise, (v) with certain sun-shading materials and tinting films, and (vi) with certain objects suspended in the vehicle.

No evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful stop shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding. The bill also provides that no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop, search, or seize any person, place, or thing solely on the basis of the odor of marijuana, and no evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful search or seizure shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding.

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?202+sum+SB5029

Apparently Northam passed a number of other policing reform laws in the wake of the G. Floyd incident and other similar incidents, including a ban against no-knock warrants:

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2020/october/headline-861097-en.html

Wouldn't apply to this stop because stop was for no license plate and tinting.

Actually, tinting is included (see V) but, you're right, the tag/plate issue is not. But I wasn't saying it was or that it would have made a difference in this situation. I was saying that we need to change the laws surrounding traffic stops...and apparently VA, for one, has.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was coming on here to say that since these pretextual stops profiling black drivers seem to be a permanent facet of policing, laws need to be changed to discourage traffic stops for minor offenses. That may prevent some civil rights abuses or unnecessary deaths of drivers.

I did a little digging and, amazingly, such a law actually did pass in the state of Virginia where I live. I had not heard about that law until now. Basically, as of the beginning of March 2021, the police cannot stop drivers for such minor offenses as a loud exhaust, tinted windows, or things dangling from your mirror.

Here is a summary:

"no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop a motor vehicle for operating (i) without a light illuminating a license plate, (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment, (iii) without brake lights or a high mount stop light, (iv) without an exhaust system that prevents excessive or unusual levels of noise, (v) with certain sun-shading materials and tinting films, and (vi) with certain objects suspended in the vehicle.

No evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful stop shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding. The bill also provides that no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop, search, or seize any person, place, or thing solely on the basis of the odor of marijuana, and no evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful search or seizure shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding.

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?202+sum+SB5029

Apparently Northam passed a number of other policing reform laws in the wake of the G. Floyd incident and other similar incidents, including a ban against no-knock warrants:

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2020/october/headline-861097-en.html

Wouldn't apply to this stop because stop was for no license plate and tinting.

Actually, tinting is included (see V) but, you're right, the tag/plate issue is not. But I wasn't saying it was or that it would have made a difference in this situation. I was saying that we need to change the laws surrounding traffic stops...and apparently VA, for one, has.

Unfortunately the police can always make up a reason. See this case where they stopped him for not having a license when he in fact had a license plate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was coming on here to say that since these pretextual stops profiling black drivers seem to be a permanent facet of policing, laws need to be changed to discourage traffic stops for minor offenses. That may prevent some civil rights abuses or unnecessary deaths of drivers.

I did a little digging and, amazingly, such a law actually did pass in the state of Virginia where I live. I had not heard about that law until now. Basically, as of the beginning of March 2021, the police cannot stop drivers for such minor offenses as a loud exhaust, tinted windows, or things dangling from your mirror.

Here is a summary:

"no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop a motor vehicle for operating (i) without a light illuminating a license plate, (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment, (iii) without brake lights or a high mount stop light, (iv) without an exhaust system that prevents excessive or unusual levels of noise, (v) with certain sun-shading materials and tinting films, and (vi) with certain objects suspended in the vehicle.

No evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful stop shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding. The bill also provides that no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop, search, or seize any person, place, or thing solely on the basis of the odor of marijuana, and no evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful search or seizure shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding.

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?202+sum+SB5029

Apparently Northam passed a number of other policing reform laws in the wake of the G. Floyd incident and other similar incidents, including a ban against no-knock warrants:

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2020/october/headline-861097-en.html

Wouldn't apply to this stop because stop was for no license plate and tinting.

Actually, tinting is included (see V) but, you're right, the tag/plate issue is not. But I wasn't saying it was or that it would have made a difference in this situation. I was saying that we need to change the laws surrounding traffic stops...and apparently VA, for one, has.

Unfortunately the police can always make up a reason. See this case where they stopped him for not having a license when he in fact had a license plate.

True. Even if states implement laws against pretextual stops, I think the police will still come up with reasons to stop someone. But maybe if they are told by their superiors not to do it except for in serious or potentially dangerous circumstances, maybe they will do it less. That should help keep everyone safer--both the citizens who are pulled over wrongfully...and the cops who stop a dangerous criminal and get shot to death because the criminal has something to hide (outstanding felony warrant, guns, illegal drugs, etc.) and shoots the cop to try to get away. As a society, we need to pick our battles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bullshit. The police only have the authority to act reasonably in proportion to the reasonable suspicion they used to justify the traffic stop. Without probable cause of a crime, they don’t have authority to order you out of your car or to search your car or to pepper spray you for asking why they stopped you or to threaten to shoot you for questioning their instructions.

Police don't need PC to order you out of your car. You have no idea what you are talking about.

You think you know what you are talking about. See comment above.

y'all are throwing around legal terms that have specific legal meanings without understanding. Probable Cause is not needed to pull you over. That is what is needed to arrest you. Reasonable suspicion of a violation of law is all that is needed to pull you over. Reasonable suspicion means something you can point to. That is all. "I thought he had no tag based on what I could see at night." That is enough to pull this guy over. The stop was legal. In fact there is no plate. It was affixed inside in the window. But once the stop is made, they get to investigate it. Even is they see the paper tag, they get to look at it, run it and see if it is legal. Once you are pulled over, the police can require you to leave you car if they have a reason to be concerned about their safety. Again, they just need something to point to. Here, the combo of the no plate, not stopping right away, and some hesitation on the part of the driver would justify removing him from the car. The place where this all goes off the rail and becomes improper and illegal is the use of the chemical agent. That cannot be justified no way, no how. Then they rough him up. Then they try to coerce him to give up his First Amendment rights in exchange for letting him go.

Different poster here. Unless the police had received a call about a stolen vehicle from a local car dealership, why did they assume that a new-looking car driven by a black man was possibly stolen? And as soon as they saw the paper tags, why didn't they just let him go? Why engage further, especially when it is now pretty widely known that many minority drivers do not feel safe when stopped by police? How does this overzealous policing help the public?

No tag you get pulled over 100% of the time no matter who you are. No exceptions ever. Might not get a ticket and just a warning but you get pulled over. No tag is a major red flag of issues. As innocent as no insurance and as bad as stolen or plate off to commit a crime. He was pulled over not because it might have been a stolen car but because that it had no tag. Tag in window will not get a ticket but it is supposed to be on the outside. Once cop sees the tag, he still gets to check it out -- is it real, why on inside, still valid. So no issue there at all on the stop. No plate is not a BS thing like tint too dark or blinker out. No plate is a red flag. As it turns out he has a tag and this should have ended with the LT going on his way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was coming on here to say that since these pretextual stops profiling black drivers seem to be a permanent facet of policing, laws need to be changed to discourage traffic stops for minor offenses. That may prevent some civil rights abuses or unnecessary deaths of drivers.

I did a little digging and, amazingly, such a law actually did pass in the state of Virginia where I live. I had not heard about that law until now. Basically, as of the beginning of March 2021, the police cannot stop drivers for such minor offenses as a loud exhaust, tinted windows, or things dangling from your mirror.

Here is a summary:

"no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop a motor vehicle for operating (i) without a light illuminating a license plate, (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment, (iii) without brake lights or a high mount stop light, (iv) without an exhaust system that prevents excessive or unusual levels of noise, (v) with certain sun-shading materials and tinting films, and (vi) with certain objects suspended in the vehicle.

No evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful stop shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding. The bill also provides that no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop, search, or seize any person, place, or thing solely on the basis of the odor of marijuana, and no evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful search or seizure shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding.

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?202+sum+SB5029

Apparently Northam passed a number of other policing reform laws in the wake of the G. Floyd incident and other similar incidents, including a ban against no-knock warrants:

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2020/october/headline-861097-en.html

Wouldn't apply to this stop because stop was for no license plate and tinting.

Actually, tinting is included (see V) but, you're right, the tag/plate issue is not. But I wasn't saying it was or that it would have made a difference in this situation. I was saying that we need to change the laws surrounding traffic stops...and apparently VA, for one, has.

Unfortunately the police can always make up a reason. See this case where they stopped him for not having a license when he in fact had a license plate.

This was a bad stop so I am not trying to justify it. But he did not have the tag where it was supposed to be. Car dealers have special paper that these are printed on and they are made to go right where the plate it and be exposed to the elements. They are not on copy paper. Nothing wrong with pulling him over. It is what happened next that is the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bullshit. The police only have the authority to act reasonably in proportion to the reasonable suspicion they used to justify the traffic stop. Without probable cause of a crime, they don’t have authority to order you out of your car or to search your car or to pepper spray you for asking why they stopped you or to threaten to shoot you for questioning their instructions.

Police don't need PC to order you out of your car. You have no idea what you are talking about.

They have to have reasonable suspicion based on facts, not a hunch or profiling. They had nothing.

RS is a very low standard.

You might want to brush up on your case law (or google skills haha). The police have the authority to control the traffic stop, which means they can force you to stay in the vehicle or they can make you exit the vehicle. A couple of states do have a higher standard, but they are obviously the exception. Gotta love all the clueless people posting nonsense because hate the police.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bullshit. The police only have the authority to act reasonably in proportion to the reasonable suspicion they used to justify the traffic stop. Without probable cause of a crime, they don’t have authority to order you out of your car or to search your car or to pepper spray you for asking why they stopped you or to threaten to shoot you for questioning their instructions.

Police don't need PC to order you out of your car. You have no idea what you are talking about.

They have to have reasonable suspicion based on facts, not a hunch or profiling. They had nothing.

RS is a very low standard.

You might want to brush up on your case law (or google skills haha). The police have the authority to control the traffic stop, which means they can force you to stay in the vehicle or they can make you exit the vehicle. A couple of states do have a higher standard, but they are obviously the exception. Gotta love all the clueless people posting nonsense because hate the police.

Not the PP but I really don't think that most people hate cops. Don't interpret questioning the actions of police officers as hating them. There's clearly some confusion amongst the public about what is permissible in a traffic stop. And there are understandable concerns about how some[b] police officers handle interactions with the public, particularly minorities. If there are institutional/structural issues within specific police forces, then now might be a good time to look at them as a society and rethink how we want policing to work in our communities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was coming on here to say that since these pretextual stops profiling black drivers seem to be a permanent facet of policing, laws need to be changed to discourage traffic stops for minor offenses. That may prevent some civil rights abuses or unnecessary deaths of drivers.

I did a little digging and, amazingly, such a law actually did pass in the state of Virginia where I live. I had not heard about that law until now. Basically, as of the beginning of March 2021, the police cannot stop drivers for such minor offenses as a loud exhaust, tinted windows, or things dangling from your mirror.

Here is a summary:

"no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop a motor vehicle for operating (i) without a light illuminating a license plate, (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment, (iii) without brake lights or a high mount stop light, (iv) without an exhaust system that prevents excessive or unusual levels of noise, (v) with certain sun-shading materials and tinting films, and (vi) with certain objects suspended in the vehicle.

No evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful stop shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding. The bill also provides that no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop, search, or seize any person, place, or thing solely on the basis of the odor of marijuana, and no evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful search or seizure shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding.

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?202+sum+SB5029

Apparently Northam passed a number of other policing reform laws in the wake of the G. Floyd incident and other similar incidents, including a ban against no-knock warrants:

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2020/october/headline-861097-en.html

Wouldn't apply to this stop because stop was for no license plate and tinting.

Actually, tinting is included (see V) but, you're right, the tag/plate issue is not. But I wasn't saying it was or that it would have made a difference in this situation. I was saying that we need to change the laws surrounding traffic stops...and apparently VA, for one, has.

Unfortunately the police can always make up a reason. See this case where they stopped him for not having a license when he in fact had a license plate.

This was a bad stop so I am not trying to justify it. But he did not have the tag where it was supposed to be. Car dealers have special paper that these are printed on and they are made to go right where the plate it and be exposed to the elements. They are not on copy paper. Nothing wrong with pulling him over. It is what happened next that is the problem.

That’s BS. I had my temp tag on the window. That’s where the dealer put it. I never got pulled over. I see them on windows all the time. Maybe it’s not correct but it’s incredibly common. The difference is I’m a middle aged white guy who the cops would never think stole a car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was coming on here to say that since these pretextual stops profiling black drivers seem to be a permanent facet of policing, laws need to be changed to discourage traffic stops for minor offenses. That may prevent some civil rights abuses or unnecessary deaths of drivers.

I did a little digging and, amazingly, such a law actually did pass in the state of Virginia where I live. I had not heard about that law until now. Basically, as of the beginning of March 2021, the police cannot stop drivers for such minor offenses as a loud exhaust, tinted windows, or things dangling from your mirror.

Here is a summary:

"no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop a motor vehicle for operating (i) without a light illuminating a license plate, (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment, (iii) without brake lights or a high mount stop light, (iv) without an exhaust system that prevents excessive or unusual levels of noise, (v) with certain sun-shading materials and tinting films, and (vi) with certain objects suspended in the vehicle.

No evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful stop shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding. The bill also provides that no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop, search, or seize any person, place, or thing solely on the basis of the odor of marijuana, and no evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful search or seizure shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding.

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?202+sum+SB5029

Apparently Northam passed a number of other policing reform laws in the wake of the G. Floyd incident and other similar incidents, including a ban against no-knock warrants:

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2020/october/headline-861097-en.html

Wouldn't apply to this stop because stop was for no license plate and tinting.

Actually, tinting is included (see V) but, you're right, the tag/plate issue is not. But I wasn't saying it was or that it would have made a difference in this situation. I was saying that we need to change the laws surrounding traffic stops...and apparently VA, for one, has.

Unfortunately the police can always make up a reason. See this case where they stopped him for not having a license when he in fact had a license plate.

This was a bad stop so I am not trying to justify it. But he did not have the tag where it was supposed to be. Car dealers have special paper that these are printed on and they are made to go right where the plate it and be exposed to the elements. They are not on copy paper. Nothing wrong with pulling him over. It is what happened next that is the problem.

That’s BS. I had my temp tag on the window. That’s where the dealer put it. I never got pulled over. I see them on windows all the time. Maybe it’s not correct but it’s incredibly common. The difference is I’m a middle aged white guy who the cops would never think stole a car.

Maybe the temp tag wasn't visible to the officer at night. Didn't he also have tinted windows? Yeah, cops are always picking on black guys and always let the white people do whatever they want

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was coming on here to say that since these pretextual stops profiling black drivers seem to be a permanent facet of policing, laws need to be changed to discourage traffic stops for minor offenses. That may prevent some civil rights abuses or unnecessary deaths of drivers.

I did a little digging and, amazingly, such a law actually did pass in the state of Virginia where I live. I had not heard about that law until now. Basically, as of the beginning of March 2021, the police cannot stop drivers for such minor offenses as a loud exhaust, tinted windows, or things dangling from your mirror.

Here is a summary:

"no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop a motor vehicle for operating (i) without a light illuminating a license plate, (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment, (iii) without brake lights or a high mount stop light, (iv) without an exhaust system that prevents excessive or unusual levels of noise, (v) with certain sun-shading materials and tinting films, and (vi) with certain objects suspended in the vehicle.

No evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful stop shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding. The bill also provides that no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop, search, or seize any person, place, or thing solely on the basis of the odor of marijuana, and no evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful search or seizure shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding.

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?202+sum+SB5029

Apparently Northam passed a number of other policing reform laws in the wake of the G. Floyd incident and other similar incidents, including a ban against no-knock warrants:

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2020/october/headline-861097-en.html

Wouldn't apply to this stop because stop was for no license plate and tinting.

Actually, tinting is included (see V) but, you're right, the tag/plate issue is not. But I wasn't saying it was or that it would have made a difference in this situation. I was saying that we need to change the laws surrounding traffic stops...and apparently VA, for one, has.

Unfortunately the police can always make up a reason. See this case where they stopped him for not having a license when he in fact had a license plate.

This was a bad stop so I am not trying to justify it. But he did not have the tag where it was supposed to be. Car dealers have special paper that these are printed on and they are made to go right where the plate it and be exposed to the elements. They are not on copy paper. Nothing wrong with pulling him over. It is what happened next that is the problem.

That’s BS. I had my temp tag on the window. That’s where the dealer put it. I never got pulled over. I see them on windows all the time. Maybe it’s not correct but it’s incredibly common. The difference is I’m a middle aged white guy who the cops would never think stole a car.

If they saw the tag, they would not pull you over. DMV does make the paper plates to go on the outside. Because your dealer put it there is not a defense. The cops said they did not see it. It was young cop that was not fired and he said that before pulling him over. He did not see the tag. He can be pulled over legally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was coming on here to say that since these pretextual stops profiling black drivers seem to be a permanent facet of policing, laws need to be changed to discourage traffic stops for minor offenses. That may prevent some civil rights abuses or unnecessary deaths of drivers.

I did a little digging and, amazingly, such a law actually did pass in the state of Virginia where I live. I had not heard about that law until now. Basically, as of the beginning of March 2021, the police cannot stop drivers for such minor offenses as a loud exhaust, tinted windows, or things dangling from your mirror.

Here is a summary:

"no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop a motor vehicle for operating (i) without a light illuminating a license plate, (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment, (iii) without brake lights or a high mount stop light, (iv) without an exhaust system that prevents excessive or unusual levels of noise, (v) with certain sun-shading materials and tinting films, and (vi) with certain objects suspended in the vehicle.

No evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful stop shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding. The bill also provides that no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop, search, or seize any person, place, or thing solely on the basis of the odor of marijuana, and no evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful search or seizure shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding.

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?202+sum+SB5029

Apparently Northam passed a number of other policing reform laws in the wake of the G. Floyd incident and other similar incidents, including a ban against no-knock warrants:

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2020/october/headline-861097-en.html

Wouldn't apply to this stop because stop was for no license plate and tinting.

Actually, tinting is included (see V) but, you're right, the tag/plate issue is not. But I wasn't saying it was or that it would have made a difference in this situation. I was saying that we need to change the laws surrounding traffic stops...and apparently VA, for one, has.

Unfortunately the police can always make up a reason. See this case where they stopped him for not having a license when he in fact had a license plate.

This was a bad stop so I am not trying to justify it. But he did not have the tag where it was supposed to be. Car dealers have special paper that these are printed on and they are made to go right where the plate it and be exposed to the elements. They are not on copy paper. Nothing wrong with pulling him over. It is what happened next that is the problem.

That’s BS. I had my temp tag on the window. That’s where the dealer put it. I never got pulled over. I see them on windows all the time. Maybe it’s not correct but it’s incredibly common. The difference is I’m a middle aged white guy who the cops would never think stole a car.

If they saw the tag, they would not pull you over. DMV does make the paper plates to go on the outside. Because your dealer put it there is not a defense. The cops said they did not see it. It was young cop that was not fired and he said that before pulling him over. He did not see the tag. He can be pulled over legally.

You could see the tag in the video.

[Anonymous]

Once he stopped at the gas station the tag was visible and there was no reasonable suspicion for the insane reaction of the cops. The young cop started the fiasco by calling for backup because the driver didn’t immediately pull over.