Not a great surprise. Illinois ranks 41st in Personal and Economic Freedom. (I much prefer Indiana at #3): http://mercatus.org/freedom-50-states-2011

Well, I could be naive and optimistic that the publication of this video will have some consequences for Michael Reichert...but that would be stupid. He's still out there, abusing his authority, probably being cited for breaking more laws, and will continue to do so.

What I do NOT understand is how on earth can this cop still be a cop with a conviction on his record?

Charles, I was wondering the exact same thing!

"You are free to leave, but I am detaining your vehicle."
Per free online dictionary, Reichert is technically correct, in that one meaning is to withhold. He was withholding the car from Huff.
It's still a ridiculous ploy to keep the vehicle, and had the men actually left, the car would have probably been termed "abandoned" and would have been impounded, at which point it would have been searched.

So, in the end, the best I can come up with is a note to self: Never drive through Collinsville, IL.

Tar, Feathers, Michael Reichert. Some assembly required.

It seems curious that he doesn't have more important things to be doing than hanging out on the 4 Lane highway outside of town. The town must be crime free if they can afford use one of their policemen that way.

Here is my take. He is generating revenue for the town. He is looking for two things, speeders, so he can write a lucrative ticket, and the drug transporter and vehicle and cash impound thing seems to be on his mind from the start. Why drug transporters? I bet the town gets to impound and eventually claim any cash seized in such stops and they get to seize the vehicle and sell it or use it for the town fleet. Laws such as this were popular during the height of the drug war when Pols were seeking to outdo each other in authoring new anti-drug laws. It is unlikely they have been repealed. And if they only find a large amount of cash, they can impound that and demand that you prove you weren't trying to buy drugs with it.(And attempt to seize the cash and vehicle.)

One more reason to legalize drugs, so guys like this aren't harassing ordinary citizens hoping to get lucky and find the one car in 10s of thousands that is transporting drugs. Plus, does anyone believe he really doesn't care about personal amounts of weed? I bet if he had found a joint, he would have arrested them, and the vehicle and its contents would have been seized by the DA.

That's one thing that I always wondered about. An officer can just train a dog to signal that there's drugs whether drugs are present or not. So a dog signaling that there's drugs shouldn't be considered probable cause for a search.

Go Trekkies! I hate that they had that experience, but I'm glad they did all the work of fighting for the video and sharing it with the world.

I also would like someone with law enforcement experience to explain the whole - you are free to go but I'm keeping your car - thing. Don't you get in trouble if you abandon a car on the side of an interstate? If you have enough suspicion to legally detain my car, don't you have enough suspicion to legally detain me? How is a citizen supposed to react in this type of situation? It seems like the only answer you are allowed to give is "sure search my car." If you have no legal right to refuse a search, why go through all the motions of asking for permission?

I agree with the statement in the video that the dog was being coached. You could clearly hear the "officer" disrupting the dog from its job and encouraging the dog to bark. The dog did look more professional than the cop and also better than the ones the local cops used to bring into my high school. I don't recall them finding any drugs but they located every lunch bag with a tuna fish sandwich in the whole school!

About 10 years ago I was driving into Minnesota from Ontario. The US Customs officer searched my car for about 30 minutes, finding nothing improper.

As a Canadian visitor, did I have any right to tell him I didn't want my car searched ... and still be allowed entry?

Technically -- as soon as the cop issued the warning -- the cop could have asked for the search, the vehicle owner could have said, "No, I don't consent to search,", turned around and gotten in his vehicle and left. If the cop stopped or chased him down, it would be instant lawful detention. The guy could have had kilos of drugs in his vehicle; it still would have been an illegal search.

It has been long established that an officer has no obligation to be truthful. Current training implies that honest discourse places the officer at a disadvantage and their default position is to assume that you are lying. I see nothing in the video that isn't considered SOP for officers today. I'm certain he was in compliance with department policy and performs his duties under 'implied immunity' protection. Justice has become an industry; and you may have much as you can afford!

I believe your friend is correct, just as the guy in the video declined to consent to the search, this is the default position. We should keep in mind that asserting your rights will be viewed as suspicious and cause to further investigate. Less than ethical officers may see this as an opportunity to teach you a lesson.

Thanks, Amy. That's what I suspected but wanted to check with you all.

"As a Canadian visitor, did I have any right to tell him I didn't want my car searched ... and still be allowed entry?"

Ask Mike Hunter or Patrick, on this blog. Both seem to feel that Americans do not have the right to travel on an airplane, but are silent when asked which mode of transportation is their right.

And people still honestly wonder why many hate cops and don't trust them at all.

Radwaste: Who are these evil people preventing you from riding an airplane? Unless you're on a no-fly list you should be able to take a flight just like everyone else.

But my question: What would have happened if the passenger didn't have identification with him?

That probably have been probable cause to search the car.

What would have happened if the passenger went to vote?

Mike,

I was citing you. Nice dodge.