Q: I think the police just violated my rights. I was pulled out of my car and patted down for no reason.
I was sitting in my car in a parking lot of a gas station with 2 of my daughters. I was wasting time waiting on a property manager to be in office so I could drop off an application for a home I am interested in. Two cops came up to my car and asked me how I was doing and what was going on, I responded with what I was doing, and then I asked what was going on and what I had done. No answer just asked for I.D and registration which I gave to him. A few moments later I was asked to step out of the car, to which I asked what I had done, and was told to step out of the car again. At first I refused saying I had done nothing, and he won't even tell me what I had done. Just kept repeating step out of the car. It seemed like the situation was going to escalate as he was getting annoyed that I wanted to know what I had done so I stepped put of the car while saying I do not consent to any searches, as soon as I was out of the car I was put against my car and patted down anyway.
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A:
I'm really sorry you and your daughters had to go through that experience. It must have been very unsettling for all of you.
You have the right to know why the officers approached you and requested to search your vehicle. It's important to remember your rights in such situations and to remain calm while asserting them.
Consider documenting every detail of the encounter and reaching out to a legal professional who can help you understand your options. They can provide guidance on how to proceed and ensure your rights are protected moving forward.
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