The Quest for Drug Charges and Improper Vehicle Searches

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/31/drug-search-trekies-stopped-searched-illinois_n_1364087.html

Unfortunately, in the quest to get more drug charges, the conduct discussed in this article is all to common, not just in Collinsville, but throughout Madison and St. Clair counties.  Police manufacture probable cause in attempt to search a car for narcotics.  Vehicles with out of state license plates, or those with minority drivers are particularly likely to be targeted in this area.  The police will bring out a drug dog that, very commonly, will “alert” out of view of the vehicle owner and the squad car camera.  A person is not required to grant consent to search his/her vehicle.  It is never wrong to assert your rights and stand by them.  Conduct like that shown in the video above is one of the many reasons that a person should contact an attorney as soon as possible after police contact.  Do not even wait until you have been charged.  Finding an experienced attorney who is knowledgeable about felony drug laws is critical.  It can be possible for an attorney, under the right circumstances, to stop charges from even being filed.

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