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January 25, 2005
Stop 'n Sniff
So the Supremes have held that it's ok to let a drug dog sniff your car during a traffic stop as long as he finds something. Scary implications for civil liberties aside, Justice Souter bluntly points out the blindingly obvious error in the majority opinion:
Dogs lie, on occasion. Even the best trained ones.
If you've ever owned a dog, you know exactly what he means. So to base your entire constitutional argument on the necessary proposition that drug dogs are sui generis (or unique, in English) and rarely/never alert on a false positive is just plain ridiculous.
Sui generis my eye.
Posted by Rita at January 25, 2005 04:08 PM
Comments
In my experience, they only lie when it involves pooping, eating, stealing things, stealing other things and sniffing crotches for drugs.
My lot routinely steal cans of tuna and open them with their teeth and then look surprised when I chastise them. I quite like that though because I cannot abide tinned tuna; the only way tuna should be eaten is as sashimi.
But they are a joy.
Bless 'em.
Posted by: Andy at January 25, 2005 10:06 PM
Interesting link. I've never read one before. Their differences in opinion certainly aren't ordinary.
Posted by: Kenneth at January 25, 2005 10:24 PM
Andy, safe travels to you. Dogs are especially prone to lie when rewards are involved. Why, we even having an old hillbilly saying about "lying like a dog"....usually said about some politician or another. Heh.
Kenneth, you should always read the opinion itself. The media often leaves out the most interesting parts.
Posted by: rita at January 26, 2005 07:19 AM