Dear Editor,

I wanted to tell my story from the weekend so other Americans are more prepared than I was when traveling in Southern California and Arizona.  I read some of the comments on the web page today and I think if those who supported the border patrol concerning the video shown experienced what I did, they would think different.

I was traveling back from San Diego yesterday after a fun weekend surfing.  I was stopped at the Californina checkpoint on I-8E and asked my citizenship.  I told the Barder Patrolman I was an American.  He instructed me to pull off to the side for an inspection.  I did as I was told.  When I got out of the car, I was set to a covered area and told to keep my hands out of my pockets.  The agent told me the reason he had me pull over was that he smelled pot in my car.  He asked me if I had a criminal record, if I smoked pot, and if I was transporting pot.  I said no.  I told him I do not do drugs, drink or smoke.  He asked me all the questions again and told me he was going to search my vehicle and get the dogs there.  I told him to do whatever he felt he needed to do.  At this point, I was not too concerned.  I had nothing to hide and I do not do drugs.  So why worry right?

They then had another agent sit with me.  He just talked casually, but the conversation always went back to drugs, trying to trick me into saying anything self incriminating.  They found nothing, so the agent told me to confess or they would put the “screws” to my car.  I told him again that I did not do drugs, sell drugs, or transport drugs.  He then went over to my car and took everything out.  I looked at the agent next to me and said, “Well, this will take a while.”  His response was: “ If you had just told the truth and been honest, we would have gone easy on you.”  I reaffirmed my innocents.  Now, I was nervous.  I was unsure of what to expect.

After another 10-15 minutes, the initial agent went to give me my driver’s license and then pulled it away.  He said, “I know you are lying to me.  They have dogs at the next check point and you will be charged with a felony when they find the drugs.”

The whole ordeal lasted about 30 minutes.  It was embarrassing and stressful to say the least.  I gave 5 years of my life to the service of our country and I got treated like a crminial.  At the border patrols, there is no innocent until proven guilty.   

Yesterday I was naive.  Today I am aware.  Americans need to be prepared for these stops and have a lawyer’s number handy.  Learn you rights.  I am still not sure what I can say/do and not say/do at a border patrol check point.  But I will find out.

Sincerely,

Kevin Flannery