Washington Cop Fails to Intimidate Man Recording Traffic Stop by Claiming he Could Seize Camera as "Evidence"

by Carlos Miller
PINAC
Jan. 19, 2015

A Washington cop pulled a man over for not having mud flaps on his truck, then proceeded to tell him to turn off his phone when the man began recording the traffic stop.

When Michael Wallace continued recording, the Port Orchard cop told him he could seize it “as evidence,” which is a lie.

And Wallace knew it was a lie, which is why he continued recording, unperturbed by the cop’s threats.

Realizing his lies were failing, the cop proceeded with the traffic stop, citing Wallace for not having mud flaps, and not mentioning the camera again throughout the stop -- which goes to show you the importance of knowing your rights.

After all, this cop, like so many other cops in the country, depend on citizens not knowing their rights, so they can intimidate them from recording any interaction, allowing them to create any narrative they wish on their reports.