I watched Marc Stevens (http://www.marcstevens.net/) fighting in a Tempe traffic court. It isn't only the police. It's whole court system.

And then there is the old, funny story that Marc Victor tells about how he defended in a traffic case. He won, of course. But he was reprimanded by the BAR, and maybe almost lost his license to practice law. I think it was up on Freedom's Phoenix at one time. Does anybody have the link?

 The only reason I would ever talk to a police officer would be to give information regarding the witnessing of a violent crime in order to assist their efforts to arrest the perp.  But, even in that situation I would have to feel 110% certain of what and who I saw.  Then again, I probably wouldn't have to say much to the officer in that situation either, because if I saw a violent crime being committed in my presence I would immediately help defend the victim and kick the MF'ers, scumbag ass that was assualting a innocent citizen.  By the time the policeman arrived on the scene justice would have already been served.  So I guess even then I would not talk to a cop.  In fact, I don't think Id say good morning to a cop unless he put his response in writing since, most cops are congenital liars. Ask anyone who has ever had a cop testify against them in court if the cop told the truth.  Dont talk to cops.  Dont kiss their asses, as most of them have nothing but contempt for civilians.  And, stand up for your God given rights. 

Back in 1993 or just before, a group of State Citizens in Phoenix figured out a whole bunch of the law.

One of them (the leader, sort of) was traveling by right in Gila County, Arizona. He didn't have any State plates on his car, and he wasn't driving with a driver's license. He was pulled over and charged by one of the law enforcement agency law enforcers. By the time he finished with Gila County, the county courts were shaking in their boots.

Since then, quite a few people all over the state have been traveling by right, without State issued plates or drivers license. The State has learned to leave them alone, because they are obeying the law. And because the State doesn't want it advertised that you can get away with exercising your rights.

The State Citizen who runs http://www.theamericanrepublic.com/ knows what this is all about. He was there during or shortly after the time it happened, and his website is part of some of the things that the group found out about the law and rights.

So, let's start to get out from under this government styled tyranny and terrorism that is constantly trying to take away our rights.

"I think you guys are missing the whole point of 'protect and serve.'"

That's funny coming from a guy who stated the following:

"Maybe next time, with a different cop an attitude adjustment will be in order"

   and

"If I was that cop and you were tapeing me and wouldn't identify yourself. you would have gotten a ride to the police dept"

I'm fairly certain that several other individuals leaving comments on this thread have a better grasp of 'protecting' and 'serving' than you do smokestack. You're version is more akin to 'dominating' and 'controlling'.

As such, maybe you should consider blowing your smoke up someone else's stack...

I think you guys are missing the whole point of "protect and serve." In this age of terriorists, [I am NOT calling you terriorists] It is not unreasonable to ask someone why he is video tapeing a cop on patrol. 

That's the whole point. Our system is set up to protect us from domestic terrorists as well as terrorists abroad. The system is set up as it is set up... to do just that. 

Who is a terrorist? Is it someone who is simply exercising his rights? Or might it be someone who should know the lawful limits of his rights and duties, and either doesn't know or else is is ignoring the law? 

The only reason the Obama dictatorship hasn't emerged any more than it has is because the law is set up as it is. If we don't exercise our legal rights under the law, we start to lose them because of precedent being set. 

It's time more of us, myself included, start to learn more about what our rights are, how to exercise them, and how to get precedent repealed because of mistake of fact and mistake of law, and by jury nullification. And then we need to ACT on what we have learned. 

 I think you guys are missing the whole point of "protect and serve."  In this age of terriorists, [I am NOT calling you terriorists] It is not unreasonable to ask someone why he is video tapeing a cop on patrol. If you were innocently tapeing a documentary as you say, why would that upset you? For all he knew, you could have been trying to detect a pattern of his patrol to be used for some illegal purpose. BTW, if you had gotten mugged that night, who would you have called for help????

I think I mentioned this before, but I'll repeat it.  GROW UP

Unless the cop's activities were not directly pursuant to protecting someone's rights or property...he's an oath-breaker.

 Thank God there are men like Oyate and Check point USA.  You guys articulated my thoughts perfectly.  I think Smokestack would be happy living in North Korea where his way of thinking is the law of the land... maybe Iran???

I for one, will keep my feet planted on American soil where the purpose and power of government is granted by the People and limited to protecting the Rights of the Individual. 

"If I was that cop and you were tapeing me and wouldn't identify yourself. you would have gotten a ride to the police dept. He had every right to question you for that reason alone. you conducted yourself like a spoiled smart a**ed punk"

 Well, it's a good thing for you that you weren't that cop smokestack because if you had  unlawfully arrested the videographer as you stated above, you'd be looking at a civil rights lawsuit and costing the taxpayers a fair amount of time and money. Videotaping in public is perfectly lawful. While a cop may have the authority to request to know what a videographer is doing , he has no legitimate authority to compel an answer.

Perhaps you should take a moment to remind yourself who cops work for and who ultimately pays their salaries before spouting off on how you would violate someone's rights if they don't bow down to your every whim.

 Seems to me the cop made a reasonable request of someone acting suspicious. Who are you and why are you tapeing me?  A normal person would have given a civil explanation, and the cop goes on his way.

Police are there to protect and serve, but how do they do that without cooperation from the citizens. Some of you have a lot of growing up to do. In the mean time , try putting yourself in the cops shoes. Better yet, go for a ride along with one.

I guess anyone that doesn't grovel at the feet of 'authority' needs an attitude adjustment.

"I wonder if that is considered a "lawful contact"?  If so, our days of anonymity are over"

I addressed this issue in one of my articles. With Arizona's new immigration law, the state has effectively shot itself in the foot and invalidated its 'Stop & Identify' statute. Of course folks will have to actually know their rights and exercise them in the face of belligerent police officers for this to have any effect, but that's always been the case. See:

Gina & Smokestack, that might be fine for where you live. In Arizona, by definition of our state Constitution, all government, ALL government anywhere derives it's just right to govern by protecting the rights of the individual.

It's our right to both remain silent and anonymous in public unless we have broken a law. It's also our right to film any event in public at any time and for any reason or for no reason atall, unless we are once again....breaking a law.

Where you live, apparently it's OK to detain someone and demand ID because you think it's a good idea. It's just a bit different here. Not so much "I don't think they should" and more "the law says".

 Bet they know who the punk is too. Maybe next time, with a different cop an attitude adjustment will be in order.

 If I was that cop and you were tapeing me and wouldn't identify yourself. you would have gotten a ride to the police dept. He had every right to question you for that reason alone. you conducted yourself like a spoiled smart a**ed punk.

 An officer has right to look into suspicious behavior or activity and to ask for I.D when doing so. This to me was a taunt. Most poeple don't sit on a sidewalking filming poeple. I would think it to be odd  and questionable too.

I wonder if that is considered a "lawful contact"?  If so, our days of anonymity are over.

hey man you rock.  That was great.  Bet Scottsdale police knows EXACTLY who you are.