I had a few run ins with cops in my youth where my rights were trampled, though not near as bad as your expience. I'm very conflicted on how cops were able to act this way years ago. It was a gross violation of the rights of citizens, yet I have no doubt it prevented a lot of future crime by scaring the crap out of the youth of the era. I'm willing to bet actual money that things like that prevented far more crime than today's cops that just arrest people for petty crap with no lectures/scare tactics.
Sorry Alta, I must’ve missed this one earlier.
Anyway, it is funny, when I reflect on the incident, that although by today’s standards, the cops behavior, that night, would be regarded as abusive, and certainly a violation of search and seizure rights, I drove off feeling quite lucky, and felt I was actually given a break! LOL!
I hardly gave a thought as to how “I” got treated that night. Two reasons, I guess, looking back on things.
One is that the whole societal tolerance to “marijuana”, back then, was still very low. The use of it wasn’t viewed with anywhere near the casualness that it is today. There was no decriminalization yet in any of the major cities.
Secondly, my loving mother, was also somewhat strict with the discipline, and had given out of few good mouth washings, with soap, to my brothers and I when we were younger.
So the ashtray thing, although catching me a little off guard, didn’t strike me as that out of the ordinary. LOL (go figure).
I also agree wholeheartedly with the last part of your post, where although the cops took “liberties”, that violated rights sometimes, it also must have helped teach, intimidate, or scare/shock, many an impressionable youngster, into being less likely to “cross that line again”!
This, obviously was the greater good!
Rush
