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Drivers of White Vans are being treated as criminals
Vanity | Self

Posted on 10/20/2002 7:48:19 AM PDT by SamAdams76

The photos above currently on the Drudge site concern me. I followed the link and the article clearly stated that nobody was arrested last night.

Why then, do we have drivers of white vans, innocent civilians, evidently being pulled out vans at gunpoint and treated like dangerous criminals? One photo shows a man on the ground, evidently in handcuffs, with police officers standing over him as though they have just captured Whitey Bulger. When I first saw the photo, I figured the man was obviously a wanted criminal that police just so happened to come across during their search. But since there were no arrests last night, this man was obviously released and was no criminal after all.

The other photo shows a man by another white van with his hands in the air and a police officer has a gun drawn on him. Again, this was evidently just another innocent civilian who had the misfortune to be driving a white van on I-95 last night.

Now I understand the need for these roadblocks and for the police to be very thorough in their search for the sniper(s). But I cannot see the point of innocent people dragged out of their vehicles at gunpoint with no pretext other than the fact that they happen to be driving a white van.

Now maybe somebody here has an explanation why these two individuals were treated like criminals. Maybe they tried to evade the police or maybe they were driving stolen vans. But again, there were no arrests made last night. So what is the deal with our citizens being treated like Jesse James just for driving a white van?


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; US: Virginia
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To: Roscoe
"I think Benjamin Franklin had a different views of what constitutes "essential liberty."

"He that does not like civil Society on these Terms, let him retire and live among Savages. He can have no right to the benefits of Society, who will not pay his Club towards the Support of it." -- Benjamin Franklin "

Perhaps you can explain what the quote you pulled out has to do with essential Liberty.

821 posted on 10/20/2002 8:59:31 PM PDT by spunkets
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To: TigersEye
You know, seriously - if I lived in the area (I assume you don't, either), and I drove a white van, I would be perfectly happy to pull over and step out of it so they could rule me out. No problem. The police ask very little for the service they provide, and I want them to catch this guy. If my pulling over helps, then GREAT.

If that's the only clue they have, then it would be cool of you to do what you can to work with them to use it, imo.

I was once profiled this way. I was driving a blue car, coming out of a parking lot, and the police were looking for a female suspect in a blue car - they asked me a couple of questions, and away I went. I wasn't scarred for life, or anything!
822 posted on 10/20/2002 8:59:37 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
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To: Texasforever
If we had an eye in the sky somehow, which could zoom in on the site of a sniping the instant it was reported. That would eliminate this Chinese fire drill looking for the white van.
823 posted on 10/20/2002 9:00:50 PM PDT by The Red Zone
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To: takenoprisoner
No that's it. Just brutal honesty. You're a nutcake.
824 posted on 10/20/2002 9:01:08 PM PDT by TigersEye
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To: Roscoe
"He that does not like civil Society on these Terms, let him retire and live among Savages. He can have no right to the benefits of Society, who will not pay his Club towards the Support of it."

To whom was he refering?

825 posted on 10/20/2002 9:01:53 PM PDT by takenoprisoner
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To: takenoprisoner
I made it very clear to you what truth I was speaking of. My LOL was to a poster, certainly not about someone's tragic circumstances.
826 posted on 10/20/2002 9:02:54 PM PDT by ladyinred
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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
I think the cop just made that up to try and get your phone number. ;-D
827 posted on 10/20/2002 9:02:58 PM PDT by Sir Gawain
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To: takenoprisoner
Laugh at will so you desire and as you wish.

Is English your first language?

828 posted on 10/20/2002 9:03:22 PM PDT by justshe
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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
Given that one of these massive dragnets is likely to happen on a near daily basis, perhaps the cops ought to get on the TV and explain to John Q. Public what he ought to do when his white van is stopped in one.
829 posted on 10/20/2002 9:03:38 PM PDT by The Red Zone
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To: realpatriot71
However, I do have a problem pulling people out of their vehicle at gunpoint, handcuffing them, and making them to lay on ground when there is no evidence that they have committed any crime. What was their crime - driving a white van? It's a violation of their civil liberties.

I apologize for misunderstanding your position, but I still think you're overreacting to these photographs.

If they are concerned that a suspect they are searching for is armed, what would you have them approach the vehicle with - a bouquet? They do that for safety. Not just their own. For the safety of everyone on the road. That includes you.

Secondly, how many people in this situation have been put on the ground and cuffed, and why? Do you know the answer to either of those questions?

830 posted on 10/20/2002 9:03:54 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
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To: straightbend
I have never posted on a thread, I mostly read and try to evaluate what is going on but this has been ...the next step in your addiction, my FRiend! You can never go back to lurking now...!
831 posted on 10/20/2002 9:04:14 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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To: TigersEye
No that's it. Just brutal honesty. You're a nutcake.

Then I shall take that as a compliment. Thanks...forever a "nutcake."

832 posted on 10/20/2002 9:04:16 PM PDT by takenoprisoner
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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
...is that about right?

That's about close to hysterical emotionalism on your part. This is far and away not the first case of a multiple murder case. What its proximity to our nations capitol has to do with anything is beyond me.

833 posted on 10/20/2002 9:04:39 PM PDT by TigersEye
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To: Sir Gawain
I think the cop just made that up to try and get your phone number. ;-D

Sure, sure... : )

834 posted on 10/20/2002 9:04:51 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
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To: Roscoe
You mean he wasn't an anarchist? ; )
835 posted on 10/20/2002 9:06:01 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
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To: TigersEye
Given that there is at least one white van on every block and every quarter mile of urban road in this country and it wasn't said that the perp had one, just that there was one in the proximity of the crime that's incredibly lame

It is also the ONLY thing they have to work with. How would you like to be the head cop in these jurisdictions? They are up against it and it is not just Chief Moose it is every county that the sniper has hit. There may not be a white van but if and when the sniper is found in a white van then the cops would be ran out of town if they had ignored witness reports. I can't believe the anal-retentive wannabe constitutional scholars that cannot apply the most rudimentary element of common sense to their arguments.

836 posted on 10/20/2002 9:07:32 PM PDT by Texasforever
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To: TankerKC
Yeah, well I've noticed you tend to zero in on the really important stuff. I was defending a lady. Try it sometime.
837 posted on 10/20/2002 9:07:41 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
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To: McGavin999
Boy, did you nail it. Great post.
838 posted on 10/20/2002 9:07:55 PM PDT by alnick
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To: straightbend
RIGHT ON STRAIGHTBEND (whoever you are)

Anti law enforcement is not what this country needs when situations dictate some flexibility needed in attitudes , and we don't need weak charactered women attack dogs that show their asses to everyone.

I think I will just go find a thread that has a little more intelligence on it - and that could be just about any other thread.

839 posted on 10/20/2002 9:10:14 PM PDT by chadsworth
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To: SamAdams76
But tell me, how is the end result any different when an officer pulls the driver out of the vehicle at gunpoint and has him lie face-down in the pavement? If the van is clean, the van is clean. The officers still have to let them go.

Didn't see anyone face down on the pavement but what exactly is your question?

840 posted on 10/20/2002 9:11:26 PM PDT by Texas Mom
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