08-13-2013, 12:03 PM
Fortunately, in this country a citizen doesn't have to prove they are innocent and get that fact "on record". Instead, the state has to charge you with a crime and then prove each element of that crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
In the absence of other evidence, proving a crime is made much more difficult when the contraband is found on vacant land you do not own.
Having brought comfort I'll now remove it: the Drug War has done great violence to the Fourth Amendment, a fact brought home to me very keenly yesterday when the backwash from a helicopter rustled palms sequentially all the way up my driveway. I'm quite sure that if the British had had helicopters back in the day, the Fourth Amendment would now read:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. The use of a flying machine in a warrantless search shall be deemed per se unreasonable.
As they hovered over the vacant lot behind me, I did think of all the energy wasted on hunting down green plant material, when it is the synthetic stuff that is ruining complexions, making swiss cheese of minds, and fueling addiction and all that comes with it.
In the absence of other evidence, proving a crime is made much more difficult when the contraband is found on vacant land you do not own.
Having brought comfort I'll now remove it: the Drug War has done great violence to the Fourth Amendment, a fact brought home to me very keenly yesterday when the backwash from a helicopter rustled palms sequentially all the way up my driveway. I'm quite sure that if the British had had helicopters back in the day, the Fourth Amendment would now read:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. The use of a flying machine in a warrantless search shall be deemed per se unreasonable.
As they hovered over the vacant lot behind me, I did think of all the energy wasted on hunting down green plant material, when it is the synthetic stuff that is ruining complexions, making swiss cheese of minds, and fueling addiction and all that comes with it.