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 LAND OF THE FREE??
This 4th of July I actually took a few moments
after running Peachtree to ponder exactly what our Founding
Fathers did to insure our basic human freedoms. Later, I had
a chance to serve on a jury in an aggravated assault, kidnapping
case, and got to see that our jury system works because of the
dedication of American citizens to seek the truth (guilty).
Later in the month, I went to New York and visited the Statue
of Liberty and Ellis Island, and again I thought about what
those symbols mean to us as Americans today.
Then, as I went back to work and began to see once again how our government and courts erode on a daily basis our basic, Constitutional rights, I began to wonder whether Americans actually care more about security than freedom. Because it seems that very few Americans care enough to complain to their elected officials about what is going on not just in Washington, but in their local towns and cities, when it comes to police-State intrusion into our daily lives.
Examples:
- A Massachusetts man was found guilty of wiretapping after he secretly recorded police during a traffic stop; he used the tape to prove he was harassed, and instead wound up sentenced to a fine and 6 months probation.
- The mere odor of alcohol gives an officer the right to detain you and ask for a breath test in Georgia. (Appeals case 6/13/01)
- The GBI does not have to publish any rules or get legislative approval for its rules on chemical tests for DUI, even though the same tests are used extensively to convict citizens of DUI.(Appeals 6/4/01).
- Evidence that a person refuses to take the on site field sobriety tests(ABCs, Heel to Toe, etc) can be used against that person at trial, even though they are “voluntary”. (Appeals 4/30/01)
- A DUI suspect does not have to be informed that breath test results can be used against him at trial, even though he is told that if he refuses the test, the refusal can and will be used against him at trial. (Appeals 6/11/01)
- A police officer has unfettered discretion to stop whomever he pleases, regardless of ulterior motive!! (US Supreme Ct. 5/29/01)
"He who would sacrifice freedom for security deserves neither."
Ben Franklin
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 MORE
NEW LAWS
Last newsletter I
listed several of the new laws effective 7/1. Following are
two more:
- Hunting and fishing are "rights" in this State! a driver’s
license is not. (huh??)
- If you purchase a keg of beer, you must identify yourself
as the purchaser, and a registration label is placed on
the keg
 SUWANEE
ROADBLOCKS
EDITORIAL: The paper reports that Suwanee
police will begin road checks of drivers to check "proper documentation."
Police claim this is necessary to make the streets of Suwanee
safer from accidents. I really love Suwanee, know many of the
officers there, have strong community ties there, and while
Suwanee is not alone in running roadblocks, there really isn’t
any relation to the number of accidents in Suwanee and a driver’s
having "proper documentation." Police there used to take pride
in primarily patrolling subdivisions making sure Suwanee was
safe from burglars. Now, a Court session will have hundreds
of residents in court for minor violations (tag lights, illegal
tint, cracked windshields, etc.) It saddens me to see so many
Suwanee residents hauled into court for very minor traffic infractions.
The only thing the road checks will do is expand the
coffers of the City treasury.
"The Constitution is a limit on government, not on
individuals; it prescribes the conduct of government, not
individuals; it is not a charter for government power, but
of the citizen’s protection vs. government."
Ayn Rand
Practice dedicated exclusively to defense of those accused
of DUI, serious traffic offenses, drug offenses.
770-923-4948
mickeygroberts@aol.com
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