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Advice on making a FOIA request?

VW_Factor

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2010
Messages
1,092
Location
Leesburg, GA
I used to live in Newport Oregon when I was a "teen". I came to find out over time, that their PD agency lacked honesty and integrity.

This weekend I was visiting the coast, and was pulled over. I figured I would see the officers attitude as to how I would handle the stop. I didn't have high hopes for it. As soon as he saw the car (no front plate usually does it) he flipped around (illegal 3 point turn) to follow. First words were this stop is being recorded, blah blah blah is why I pulled you over, is there any reason in particular you could tell me that you did blah blah blah. (His reason was not the front plate)

I didn't do it obviously, I was being followed by a LEO, that would have been silly.

I have a feeling that he turned on his recording equipment the minute he turned around already knowing he was going to initiate the stop.

My answer to his "question" trying to get me to admit guilt was.. "Is there a problem?"

He looked dumbfounded, and asked me what I meant? I sat there silent for a good 30 seconds before he asked "Is there any reason you are not answering me?"

"I'm sorry officer I do not answer questions without my lawyer present".

He most certainly was not very happy with this. Asked me to retrieve relevant information to DL, Insurance, etc.

He came back and asked me again.

"I was trying to give you a chance to give your "legal reasoning" for doing blah blah blah, do you understand?"

"Of course officer"

"You still don't want to answer?"

"Correct".

He handed me my citation and wished me a good day.

This is only a traffic ticket, and I do not have any plans to hire a lawyer or any such thing for it.

Hoping for advice/knowledge on how to request the FOIA for his radio communications and video/audio from the stop. If he began recording the minute he started following me, his own video will reflect my innocence to his made up traffic violation. The best place to do that, is right here. I understand this isn't a criminal charge or anything, just kinda miffed that the Newport Police Dept are still a bunch of dishonest thugs I remember from almost 20 years ago.

Edit : Also, never asked about being armed, nor about my wife or mother-in-law who also happened to be carrying at the time.
 
Last edited:

09jisaac

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2011
Messages
1,692
Location
Louisa, Kentucky
If I am not mistaken officers aren't required to keep evidence of minor traffic violations because they are suppose to be an eye witness to the event.
 

VW_Factor

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2010
Messages
1,092
Location
Leesburg, GA
I hope there is something I can get, at least radio communications. He left a little abbreviation on the citation.. Says "PF" under a crossed out "base fine". Making me think he boosted the fine amount.

Whatever the case is, I'm nearly willing to bet he missed me doing whatever, because he was busy watching his computer while running my plates and getting information before he lit us up.
 

VW_Factor

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2010
Messages
1,092
Location
Leesburg, GA
Also, thank you for the links.

I think I'll send some copies certified USPS, and might even go out of my way to hand deliver them as well. (TDI ftw) :)
 

VW_Factor

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2010
Messages
1,092
Location
Leesburg, GA
An update on good news.

NPD after dragging their feet for some time, I received my copy of in car audio/video. Shows clearly the direction of travel of the officer, as well as the vehicles parked on the side of the road blocking his vision to the intersection in which he claims I made the infraction. Let alone confirming my belief that he was simply too far down the hill from where he was coming from to even see the intersection at all, let alone if I had committed any sort of traffic violation.

As long as the judge is fair in impartial (in Newport a tall order unless things have changed), I'm sure it will be easy to defend this.

If the officer was going to give me a citation, he should have ticketed me for not having a front plate on my car (I believe this is what grabbed his attention anyway) because that was actually true.
 
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