RANDOM HIGHWAY DRUG SEARCH GIVES INSIGHT INTO RACIAL PROFILING

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that random roadblocks intended for drug
searches are unconstitutional and an unreasonable invasion of privacy.

I couldn't agree more, and here's why:

Over Spring Break, I packed my car in Athens with suitcases, dirty laundry,
homework and my dog. We began an otherwise normal journey down I-85 toward
Columbus, a place not necessarily known for its nightlife.

As I got closer, I began to feel the 2 1/2 hours that had already passed,
which includes getting through the stoplights on Ga. 316 and traffic in
downtown Atlanta. Then, I noticed a roadblock ahead. This didn't surprise
me --- I have been through too many to count --- but this time it went a
little differently.

I passed a line of cars on the side of the road, obviously about to be
impounded. As I reached the front of the line, an officer asked me to pull
over. Silently, I thought that maybe they were counting random numbers to
pull over, which set my mind at ease.

The next thing I knew, five to seven police officers surrounded my car.
Feeling a little nervous, I asked why I was stopped. The men refused to
answer. Instead, they demanded my license and registration. My dog began to
growl loudly, and I became more impatient.

"Why did you stop me?" I asked again. The police officer at my window asked
why I had opened my door and thrown something to the ground while waiting
to pass through.

"What?" I asked. "I never opened my car door." (Believe me now, dear
readers, I never opened my car door.)

"Get out of the car!" they demanded.

Now, usually when I get a ticket for speeding, my knees shake and the tears
well up. But, in this case, I had nothing but rage. Here I was standing on
the side of the road with my dog --- heading to my mother's house where I
would be spending a boring and dull Spring Break --- and I am accused of
carrying drugs. I wasn't angry at the accusations, but I was furious that
nobody believed me.

As four police officers searched my car, I sat there and watched the cars
go by, wondering if any of the passengers were friends of my family (I was
only 25 minutes from the city line). I demanded to see the officer who
claimed he or she saw me, but no one would let me talk to him or her.

So there I was --- accused and already found guilty. It's strange how the
system can actually make you believe you did open your car door. It can
make you think you are wrong.

Of course, they found nothing and allowed me to get back in my car. Papers
and CD covers had been pulled from the glove compartment and scattered over
my floorboard. My suitcases were opened and my dirty laundry searched. My
day was a complete mess, and I felt violated.

Those items scattered about were mine, and I knew I was innocent --- but it
didn't matter. The 25 minutes left in my drive led me to think about what
had just happened. Nothing like this had ever happened to me, which forced
me to think about my social standing. I am just a young, white, college
female and I was stopped on a whim.

I wondered if I was targeted because of my age. More than anything, I was
reminded of various news reports about racial profiling. For one split
second, in my otherwise privileged life, I could see racial profiling from
a different standpoint.

Although I know I could never completely understand how it feels to be
randomly stopped and searched because of my skin color, I briefly
understood how unfair these random stops can be.

Racial profiling is nothing new. According to a story in the Orlando
Sentinel, "70 percent of those pulled over on (Florida's) stretch of I-95
were black, although they represent less than 10 percent of all drivers."

In Maryland, a study found tha more than 70 percent of drivers stopped
along a stretch of the same highway in that state were black, but that they
made up only 17.5 percent of the drivers.

The evidence goes on and on. However, I needed no evidence because this
experience made me realize the harsh truths of racism and it compelled me
to see this situation from a different point of view. Recognizing my
privileges and experiencing injustice has made me think twice about racial
profiling.

All of the feelings I felt left me questioning the system in general. How
could this have happened and why? Therefore, I commend the U.S. Supreme
Court ruling.

I agree that criminals should be stopped from transporting drugs on our
highways, just not at the expense of innocent drivers.

WRITTEN BY READERS AGES 15 TO 22