Hey, first-time poster here. Just wanted to share this true story about one crazy night. A couple years ago, me and a friend went to get some munchies after a couple bowls. We smoked another bowl in my glass pipe on the way back. I didn't know it at the time, but my lights weren't on because even though it was nearly midnight, it was really bright with all of the streetlights on this main street. Just as my friend was breaking up some bud to pack a new bowl, we hear the worst sound ever: a cop's sirens right behind us. I see the red and blue lights flashing in my rear-view mirror. Immediately I try to roll down all the windows to minimize the smell and my supposed best friend puts the bowl and the bottle of bud on my lap. I roll the windows back up again, and lock my doors. I hide the bud in the center console and close the top. As I see the cop in the mirror is still in his car, I ask her, "shit, was I swerving or something?" I see him starting to get out of the car and walk towards mine. I was blazed out of my mind, so when I looked down at my lap, it took me a second to register that I had left the half-filled bowl there. Just as he came up to my window, I quickly shoved it in my pocket in my huge winter coat. I'm not sure if he noticed or not because he hadn't yet raised his flashlight and was looking down the road before he turned to me. I roll down the window about 4 inches and ask him what the problem was? He says that my lights weren't on and that he needs to see license and registration. I apologize and flash a guilty look at my friend and reach for what he requested. I was freaking out so much, I stupidly gave a gift card instead of my license because all I saw was the back of it and it looks similar, he shows me my mistake and I apologize again, this time handing him the correct object. He says next that my car reeks of weed, and I freeze for a second, thinking it's all over and the situation is hopeless, but deny it, nonetheless. He asks me to get out of the car. As I do, I remember to lock the door. He asks to search the car and say that I'm sorry, but I don't give him permission to. He then tells me that he's going to give me a sobriety test. I ask what the consequesces will be of refusing, knowing that he might lie and also that I'm ignorant of any laws regarding this. He says that if I do, he'll call for a dog to come down and sniff around my car. If that happened, I knew I'd be screwed, so he walks me around to the back of the car, and asks me to stand on one leg and count to 10 (or 20, don't really remember) I tried not to let it show, but it was a real struggle to do so, but I managed in the end. I was so relieved. He looks at me for a bit and asks me if I've ever been arrested before, not wanting to lie about something that he could find the truth about easily, I say that I have and he has me explain. None of it is drug-related, just stupid stuff because of my parents wanting to teach me a lesson. He tells me to wait here and he walks over to my passanger door and speaks with my friend. I can't hear what he's saying, but when he walks back he says that he knows that I've been smoking (I later asked my "friend" if she snitched and she denies it, but she's a terrible liar), and that it isn't safe to do while driving. He says that he'll let me off with a warning, and asks if I want a ride home. I refuse and he just tells me to make sure I put my lights on and to not get caught again. We both depart and as I go back into the car and drive away, I am speechless. It didn't even occur to me until the next day, but I was so god damn lucky. I've had encounters with cops in this city before, and I know how nasty then can be. I've seen them lie, push friends, and use their power for no other reason then they can, but this really made me feel so appreciative of this one guy who gave me a break. I hope this wasn't a one time thing for him, and he was as polite and honest with everyone, but who knows, maybe it was late, his shift was ending and he just wanted to go home? Either way, I'll never forget to be more cautious when driving, and to always just keep cool and think before I speak. Yes, I did make mistakes, but I learned from them, and I'm now a safer smoker. A little paranoia is a side-effect, but I've never been busted since, so it's worth it.
yea, but he could have searched it if he wanted to. an odor of marijuana is probable cause i'm sure.....ur lucky. was probably just a cop that smoked himself, and didn't feel like doin paperwork that night lol
It's not probable cause in all states, in some it's not. Smell is not something that can be proven in court, it can't hurt to try. Worst case, you get the punishment you were getting anyway. I have refused when a cop said he "Was going to" search because he smelled weed. He got pissed, but he didn't find my weed.
