My question involves criminal law for the state of: Georgia
On January 4, 2014 around 2 in the morning,
My two friends and I go for a drive to our nearest gas station for drinks and a pack of cigarettes. Let's call the two people with me John and James. We are headed back to my house and about a mile down the road and we notice a car following. We make a right turn towards my neighborhood and see it's a cop, he immediately flashes us to pull over. We comply with everything the cop asks, unfortunately we are 3 males, 2 Caucasian passengers and 1 African American driver. Your typical profiling case. My friend has a valid driver's license, doesn't have it on him. He gives them his government issued Social Security card and they come back and say his license is not valid in the state of Georgia.
Once this is discussed John is asked to step to the back of the vehicle and empty his person. After they see he isn't in possession of anything, they ask to search the car. John complies and lets them, all while another 1 of 3 more cops are heard saying there is something in there because John's eyes were not dilating correctly. They search the car and find a glass 'tobacco' pipe. The officer says "just as I thought" as another one states that he saw me put it under my seat. John admits to it being his, unlike what this officer "saw". They all begin to question John and ultimately tell him he is being charged with no state license, DUI, failure to maintain lane, and paraphernalia. None of us had any alcohol to drink but the officer is going off the assumption of the glass pipe and says he is Driving under the influence.
The officer pulled us over for "too wide of a right turn and you have no brake lights". The car is an early model Chevrolet caviler, the tail lights work but are very dim. We made a right turn, a normal, law abiding citizen, regular everyday right turn
This 'bust' was all on the assumption that different races riding in an older car early in the morning are bound to be getting into trouble.
In other words PROFILING the innocent.

