TRAFFIC STOPS ERODE AT THE CONSTITUTION

Dear Editor: The Tuscaloosa County traffic stop that yielded a $ 2.7
million windfall for police should remind us that these officers stopping
us for all these petty reasons are really in the game for pennies from Drug
War heaven.

Trouble is, they have to stop tens of thousands of law-abiding citizens to
hit the jackpot. They are called "Terri Stops" and the idea is to stop you
for any reason if you or your car fits a certain profile and then "ask" you
if it's OK to search your car. It is a legal fiction tearing at yet another
corner of the Constitution. Why do we let them keep on doing it?

Dave Michon

Eau Claire, WI