As a Colorado native with my car still registered in the state with legalized weed, nothing surprises me about a man suing the police for profiling him because of his Colorado license plate. Though marijuana was never directly referenced when I was pulled over in Missouri, the officer took a special interest in where I was from and asked to see my student ID to prove I went to Mizzou. Denver Westword has also reported on an instance of profiling.
Darien Roseen, who's filed a federal lawsuit against the Idaho state police, says an officer didn't give him a reason for pulling him over while driving between his homes in Colorado and Washington. The officer said Roseen had glassy eyes and accused him of "having something in his vehicle that he should not have." He then asked him the loaded question, "When is the last time you used any marijuana?"
After repeatedly saying no Roseen eventually consented to a partial search of his car. Saying he smelled weed, the officer searched the entire car and said Roseen wasn't being arrested despite detaining him in his squad and reading him his Miranda rights. No marijuana, or anything else illegal, were discovered in Roseen's car.
While Roseen shouldn't have consented to a search, he also shouldn't have been targeted for being from Colorado. Believe it or not, everyone from there isn't high or trafficking pot.
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[via CBS Seattle]
