Belt Auction

Is it routine to walk police dogs around my car during a seat belt stop?

I was on my way to a festival (during the day) and I was almost at the gates so I took off my seatbelt. I got pulled, and ticketed. I did feel like they used too much intemidation. This is a family oriented music festival. I was picking up my then 1 year old son from my mom, he had spent the night there. The officer walked a drug sniffing dog around my car asking if it had EVER had any illegal drugs in it. He asked me why I was nervous and I felt really intimidated, like I didn't have a right to go to this festival. I don't do drugs I love myself and my kids too much. It was a used car, should I get a drug sniffing dog next time I go car shopping.. I mean they actually made me scared that something was going to show up. Then they gave me a lecture about my car seat being with my mother (who had my son). I have always looked back at that and wondered if that's thier job. If so I'd be career searching.

Public Comments

1. Then its more than a seatbelt check, its also a drug check.
2. Not unusual for them to have dogs at any festival, family oriented or not. Not everyone who goes there is all that "family" oriented. Just stay calm and truthful when they ask questions and you should be ok, although I know it can be a bit nerve wracking.
3. From what you have described, I do not see any reason that the cops would have had for suspecting you had drugs. Is it a high drug area? Were they only pulling you over for not wearing your seat belt? Maybe you should contact the police station and ask whether or not the cops, at that time, were on alert for drugs in the area. Also, whether or not the officer who pulled you over was in his rights to have a police dog check your vehicle for drugs.
4. The Supreme Court ruled that the police can walk a police dog around your car during a car stop. It is not considered a search. I once saw a K9 guy playing with his dog in a parking lot (throwing the ball). The dog got distracted and started going nuts on a car. They waited till the owner came back and drove off. The officer then stopped it and ended up finding like 2 pounds of marijuana. If the K9 officer is working, he is going to have his dog sniff a lot of cars, because you never know when you are going to get lucky.
5. In today's world it is better to be safe than sorry. I know how you must have felt. However the police were just doing their job, which is making everyone safer. Like the lady before said. Just be truthful and answer each question as they come. The more nervous you act the more suspicious the police will become.
6. they usually only get like that when someone's being dumb.
7. No it's not but what are you going to do?
8. It sounds like a security checkpoint that you went through. You didnt have a seatbelt on so you gave them reason to stop you. Now they can go ahead and talk to you and let the dog walk around your vehicle. Many time for festivals and concerts you will see them. A k-9 drug dog can walk around any car, it is not a search. If the dog hits on a car that gives the officer probable cause to search the vehicle. He asked you if you ever had any illegal drugs in it as a distraction question, yes some people will actually say yes I have some right now......NO JOKE. Next time you have an encounter with an officer try to relax and be truthful. If you did not do anything wrong then you have nothing to worry about. Unfortunately some officers are on a power trip and will talk down to you. As far as you being intimidated, well that does happen sometimes. Try to remember the police officers are people just like you.
9. Is it routine to have a k-9 unit check out your car during a stop for a seat belt infraction? Eh, not really. It depends on where units are in relation to the stop. If you get pulled over by a k-9 unit then it's a lot more likely. Is it legal? Of course. Is it intimidating? It shouldn't be if you don't have dope in your car. They just did an external walk around, they didn't have you step out or search internal compartments. You don't have the level of the expectation to privacy in a car that you do in a dwelling. In fact, by citing officer safety, he could have searched anything within your reach.
10. K-9 Officers, and their dogs, need to maintain a number of non-hit contacts combined with a number of hits (drug finds) to show that their dogs are doing their job. You were likely one of the non-hit contacts and hopefully the officer was polite and professional. You deserved the tounge lashing for the seat belt, and I would have done the same. Of course, you would have got a ticket for the seatbelt violation. Click-it or ticket.
11. lol the dog may have smelled weed or something from a previous owner that stuff just soaks into everything just like people who smoke always reek of it. You really can't do anything about it other then say no I don't have any drugs on me you can search the car if you like. You have to understand it is a cops job to intimidate you your less likely to lye underpressure cause your so worked up you don't have time to think of a reply. If I were you I would get the upolstery cleaned and don't worry about the lecture he was just looking out for your kid.