Thread: NE-Judge Throws Out Dope From Traffic Stop-No Habla English

Judge Throws Out Dope From Traffic Stop

January 24, 2011

‘Maybe’ isn’t good enough when it comes to someone waiving their constitutional rights during a police stop.

Last summer Jose Rodriquez of Los Angeles got busted for speeding on I-80 in Lincoln and state troopers found 56 pounds of alleged pot in his car.

Rodriquez signed a form giving cops permission to search the vehicle, but Lancaster County District Judge Karen Flowers says the marijuana can’t be used as evidence because it isn’t clear that he understood what he was signing.

Trooper Mark White testified that he’d been instructed on how to do a traffic stop in Spanish and had done it 50 times or so. However, videotape of the bust showed he and Rodriquez had a hard time communicating.

Flowers noted White’s testifying about having had lessons and experience in Spanish-language traffic arrests.

“….That may be true, but this wasn't just a basic traffic stop. This was a stop in which White asked Rodriguez to waive one of his constitutional rights."

http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/di ... ce49a75547

this Spanish language issue is becoming absurd. Whey are required to speak a foreign language in our own country? enough of this nonsense!

If we start "forgiving" crimes because people do not understand the English language, we are going to spiral down a very, very dangerous slope.

I work in insurance in Maryland, and we CONSTANTLY have people coming in complaining of their increased rates, most of which come from traffic violations. We ALWAYS here the same excuse ~~~ "I don't understand English" ~~~ "I didn't understand what the sign said because I can't read English" ~~~ "I shouldn't have to be responsible for something I did not understand"

Does this sound safe to you? Do you want your kids on the road when the Spanish-speaking person behind you who "doesn't understand English" can't read the overhead sign that says "Icy conditions ahead" or "Slow down" or "Congestion ahead, be prepared"??????

It is VILE to think we are allowing people to use the excuse "I don't understand English" as a way around the law.

I remember a case here in Maryland where a 32-year old illegal alien RAPED a 12-year old girl, and guess what his lawyers defense was??? Yep, his client "didn't speak English" and therefore "didn't know what he was doing was wrong."

Deport them all please.

What does the ability to understand English have to do with not understanding it's wrong to rape a child? I agree we are heading down a slippery slope in which Americans are going to become victims of yet more crime excused by the court system. When I lived overseas, I was expected not only to speak and understand the native language, but FULLY understand what was legally acceptable behavior there! Stop this madness!!