http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/hands_off_washington Originally posted at 1:52 p.m. This just in: Police can't frisk people just for being high and freaky. In another nod to the Washington Constitution's broad privacy protections, the state Supreme Court has thrown out the drug conviction of a man who was searched by police solely because of his weird behavior. Thursday's unanimous decision reinforces the rules for simple pat-downs under state law, which offers stronger safeguards against police searches than the U.S. Constitution. Without a search warrant or probable cause to make an arrest, police in Washington may frisk someone for weapons only if an officer has reason... Copyright 2008 Thu, 22 May 2008 17:38:44 -0800 Fri, 23 May 2008 10:45:27 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss I always thought being under the influence was technically citable?

]]> Dougsf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/hands_off_washington#c1030170 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/hands_off_washington#c1030170 News Thu, 22 May 2008 13:56:19 -0800 There is a reason it is called "drunk and disorderly" the status of being intoxicated has to be accompanied by an offensive action. It isn't constitutional to criminalize a status, possession can be criminal however.

]]> vooodooo84 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/hands_off_washington#c1030210 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/hands_off_washington#c1030210 News Thu, 22 May 2008 14:23:01 -0800 Ahhhh, makes sense.

]]> Dougsf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/hands_off_washington#c1030276 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/hands_off_washington#c1030276 News Thu, 22 May 2008 15:06:51 -0800 What about DWB?

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/hands_off_washington#c1030322 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/hands_off_washington#c1030322 News Thu, 22 May 2008 15:52:18 -0800 Let's just stop handcuffing police!

]]> Bob http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/hands_off_washington#c1030444 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/hands_off_washington#c1030444 News Thu, 22 May 2008 17:52:54 -0800 Isn't being obviously high reason to believe you have drugs on your person hence probable cause for a search?

]]> w7ngman http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/hands_off_washington#c1030446 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/hands_off_washington#c1030446 News Thu, 22 May 2008 17:56:18 -0800 doesn't the DSHS office make 2nd avenue even sketchier than a dark alley?

]]> doink http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/hands_off_washington#c1030492 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/hands_off_washington#c1030492 News Thu, 22 May 2008 19:57:29 -0800 Whew, what a relief! For a while there I was worried the police might do something about the junkies and muggers on on Second.

]]> Stinky http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/hands_off_washington#c1030686 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/hands_off_washington#c1030686 News Fri, 23 May 2008 10:45:27 -0800