I’ve had it for a year/7 months, been pulled over 4 times, searched 2 times.

[98_Q45]

I mentioned this on another thread, but I’ve been meaning to come to the community about this, as I’ve had the talks elsewhere. But this is like a recurrent problem issue.

I am a freelance travel guy (wont explain what I do, but it’s nothing illegal). So I tend to go to many different cities over the course of a year. I have no drugs and rarely large amounts of cash (which I don’t know what the police equivalent of large amounts of cash is. I rarely ever have $1,000 in my bank account, let alone in my car).

Granted, my windows are dark tinted (came that way when I bought from Arizona), but only in the sunlight...and to me they aren’t really all that dark because I can still see thru them from the front and back window.

Now, all of these stops have been mainly “you did something so minuscule, therefore I pulled you over”. The first time was admittedly due to having an expired temporary tag...mainly the fault of Arizona not passing emissions, and only giving me 90 days to register in another state. Long story short, I got tags in different state, it was dismissed, and it’s done deal.

However, since then it’s happened 3 more times for COMPLETELY no reasons at all. 2 of those times have been full on k-9 drug searches. One in Oklahoma, other in Wisconsin. I don’t have any record of drug arrest/convictions. I took drivers ed at 15, defensive driving after school, and again a few years later. I know how to be a safe driver.

I’m just wondering, what gives??? I have compared the q45 to the rolls Royce silver spur and Mercedes E-Classes of its time. Perhaps the police see the vehicle, think it’s “loaded”. (especially having an older 90s vehicle that is NOT being driven by an old White man/lady lol).

I find it so offensive. But I won’t give up the q45 over that. It’s not fair to be judgemental based on what someone drives.

[Rogue One]

The luck of the draw. It's the downside of traveling, the longer you're on the road, the more likely you are going to run into the fuzz. It should come as no surprise to you that the police know what routes are used by drug runners, and they will profile certain types of vehicles, which apparently includes yours, if they're spotted on those routes.

You've hit on a solution that may help you, just remove the tint on your vehicle. While you may feel it's not excessive, the police apparently feel otherwise. If you just have to have the tint, then get something lighter that won't attract attention. As an added bonus see if you can get a Mary Kay Cosmetics decal for your back window. That'll really confuse them!

[Q451990]

The one thing I figured out from watching live PD, is that I will let an officer search my car if they ask. In the past I always thought I would refuse, but it appears that a refusal gives them the opportunity to let a K-9 claw all over your paint job and interior.

Lighter tint may help. If it happens again, when it's all over, you might talk to the officer about the number of times you've been searched, and ask what made him suspect you of "riding dirty."

For liability reasons they probably won't be honest with you, but it's worth a shot.

[98_Q45]

Argghh! I had a nice post typed up and the page “reloaded” on me.

So shorter version: thanks for the suggestions. I have a 4th gen Maxima with no tints, I feel too exposed and sunburnt in it. So I’ve kept the dark Ariona tints. Never been told it’s too dark or illegal, but the whole “can I take a look inside” s*** seems to point to.

And guys, nowadays I’m noticing they’re not even ASKING to search. In my latest case in Oklahoma and another in Wisconsin last year, they just started walking the K-9 around without any cause! It’s like what the hell, my car smells like California scents and there’s not a single cigarette burn anywhere. They literally make my car look like a crime scene, K-9, 2 police SUVs, and have hundreds of motorists thinking I’m “busted” or that they’ve “got the bad guy”. Each time, I drive off and go on my way, because it’s NOTHING to find. It’s all fabricated crime. They use dirty tactics to sneakily violate rights without even giving the option to not consent.

That’s why (not to get political here) we do need prison reform. This whole war on drugs s*** is out of control. Stopping and harassing motorists who are trying to travel the highways and spend and spend their money and support the economy is stupid. I think it should be banned to perform vehicle searches unless a serious accident occurs. If I’m driving minding my business, why are you holding me up? Nonsense.

[komradklaus]

The one thing I figured out from watching live PD, is that I will let an officer search my car if they ask. In the past I always thought I would refuse, but it appears that a refusal gives them the opportunity to let a K-9 claw all over your paint job and interior.

No lawyer will ever recommend that you or anyone else consent to a search during a traffic stop and you shouldn't recommend that people consent to searches either.

[Q451990]

Just making a point that if you don't consent they'll have a K9 clawing all over your car. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Unless you don't care about scratches on your car.

[98_Q45]

Just making a point that if you don't consent they'll have a K9 clawing all over your car. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Unless you don't care about scratches on your car.

Unfortunately, that happens regardless of consent or not. On the 2nd occasion, I was waiting outside of the officers car while he was running my documents...(I told him before I got out, I’m not consenting to a search, and he said he wasn’t going to search.) Few minutes later, another one pulls up and immediately started walking the dog around my car...after that, they claim the dog “alerted” to something, and if that happens they are obligated to search. s***.

So far though, I went on a recent 1,200 mile trip this month, and didn’t have any incidents like this. However...in Kansas I did see a couple of people waiting outside of their car while being searched. So I’m inclined to believe they are random, but regardless it’s ridiculous.

If the constitution is going to be so vaguely enforced...it needs to re-written. Touting freedom in a land of the not so free, is misleading.