Comments on: Drug War Idiocy

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 21:46:27 +0000

Question: What was the outcome of the search? Did they find marijuana growing? Not advocating, just wondering.

By: Baylen

Baylen — Fri, 02 Apr 2004 18:14:26 +0000

The Smoking Gun has posted the affidavit for a search warrant – http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0330044pot1.html. This is really scary stuff.

By: Douglas Lorenz

Douglas Lorenz — Tue, 30 Mar 2004 16:36:31 +0000

Hey, remember the “Library Provisions” under the Patriot Act…

If you’ve ever rented a Cheech and Chong movie at your local Blockbuster, then the cops now have probable cause…

God forbid you ever bought a copy of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” or “Heavy Metal”…

By: Garth

Garth — Tue, 30 Mar 2004 14:40:13 +0000

I guess I shouldn’t have had that Cheech and Chong movie marathon party the other night.

By: Modulator

Modulator — Tue, 30 Mar 2004 00:42:18 +0000

Lucky Family

These folks are lucky that they did not end up on this list (via Say Uncle). Wash too many clothes and expect a visit from the police. Radley asks:And is anyone else troubled by the fact that cops are permitted to comb utilities records for suspiciousl…

By: Douglas Lorenz

Douglas Lorenz — Tue, 30 Mar 2004 00:23:20 +0000

I wonder if this wouldn’t make an appropriate lawsuit against the utility company…

It’s obvious that the utilities gave out the information to the police, and since the police got their warrant from the utility information, then I would bet that they didn’t have a warrant before they got that info.

Personally, any company that gave my personal information over to the police without my express approval would immediately lose my business. Of course, SDG&E is a monopoly, so you have no choice in that area but to use them…

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 29 Mar 2004 23:41:13 +0000

I could be off, but if my memory serves me correctly, the electric company hands over the info to the authorities. I believe they take the average electric use for a neighborhood and way it against the offending person’s bill. Supposedly judges ARE NOT to give warrants just on the electric bill alone. And in this case, I think the other evidence they cited was that the people put their trash out every trash morning, and this is suspect because pot growers don’t want their trash to be rummaged through by leaving it out all night….YAK YAK….This country’s war on marijuana has gone WAY over the legal lines. And personally, I believe it shows the desparation on the part of the gov’t view. Better not leave those lights on!!!!!!!!!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Mar 2004 18:10:42 +0000

…we are from the gov’t, we are here to help, bwah hah hah hah hah…

http://independent.org/tii/news/040324Gregory.html

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Mar 2004 17:49:23 +0000

I seriously do wonder how that works. Anyone know? How do the cops get their hands on your electric bill? The utilities just had over all their records, or just electric bills over a certain amount, or what? Are they required to by law? Do they just do it of course as part of being a “good citizen” or something?

By: Frank N

Frank N — Mon, 29 Mar 2004 17:27:53 +0000

$300 Electric bill

Sounds like the utility company should be arrested for theft…

By: Frank N

Frank N — Mon, 29 Mar 2004 10:02:18 +0000

Gonna need a bigger island.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 29 Mar 2004 00:17:47 +0000

For readers not familiar w/So Cal, Carlsbad isn’t what one might call a trailer-park town (from their Chamber of Commerce )

LOCAL STATS (As of Jan ‘02)
Pop 88,013; Size 42 sq miles
Housing Units 37,486
Median Household income $64,145

Median Home Value (92008 ZIP code) $365,000
Median Home Value (92009 ZIP code) $449,000

By: Sean

Sean — Sun, 28 Mar 2004 21:56:55 +0000

Being born and raised in Carlsbad, I can personally attest to the fact that Carlsbad PD has nothing better to do that sift through utilitiy bills. They always liked to play tough guy when they hassled the local kids. They act like they are policing the streets of some rough and tumble city. Carlsbad is paradise… too bad the cops there don’t realize it and relax.

By: Jym Brittain

Jym Brittain — Sun, 28 Mar 2004 20:40:31 +0000

They should be thankful they dont live in the 5th Circuit. According to a ruling handed down by the court of appeals there as covered in http://www.theneworleanschannel.com/news/2953483/detail.html "Police officers in Louisiana no longer need a search or arrest warrant to conduct a brief search of your home or business"

By: Tod Kavonic

Tod Kavonic — Sun, 28 Mar 2004 19:51:48 +0000

And another thing.
Smoking is quickly being banned at all our So.Cal beaches, so I guess all the lifeguards get to play cop now.

By: John Foland

John Foland — Sun, 28 Mar 2004 18:42:03 +0000

Having lived in San Diego for years, a $300 energy bill may be legal extortion, but certainly not unusual. I am so glad to be out of there.

By: Andy

Andy — Sun, 28 Mar 2004 17:55:24 +0000

I just called SDG&E, the electrical provider here in SD County about this and theys said that they don’t release a customer’s usage/bill without a subpoena or warrant. *cough*bull*cough*caca.

The amusing part to this is that the phone rep I talked to knew exactly why I was asking and said that they’d just received (from their legal department) something on this.

By: Andy

Andy — Sun, 28 Mar 2004 17:30:35 +0000

Nevermind the fact that a $300 utility bill for a big, populated house in southern California is not unrealistic.