My husband and I were driving a friend home after he was finished doing some remodeling work to our home. We told him we'd take him to a local sub shop on the way to his house.
We were driving down US Route 1 (Belair Rd) and getting ready to turn into the sub shop parking lot to our right. I was driving. I had my signal on; everyone was wearing seat belts in the vehicle.
I went to turn into the parking lot when a cab started to pull forward and blocked the entrance to the parking lot. They were illegally parked in a bus stop near a hydrant with no lights on at all in the vehicle. This was approximately 9 pm on January 28, so if the vehicle was moving it should have had its headlights on due to the evening being dark.
I motioned that I was trying to pull into the lot. There were four people staring at me in the cab, but the taxi remained in the same position. I waited a few moments longer when my husband, who was seated in the front passenger seat, showed his middle finger to the four people in the cab and motioned for them to move so we could make our turn into the lot.
Immediately the four men jump out of the cab with each door opened quickly, flashing detective badges and brandishing guns. They were very aggressive and loud and demanded to see identification for everyone and registration for the vehicle. They yelled that no one was wearing their safety belts and that I did not have my turn signal on ever (which was now turned off because I had turned my wheel a bit and the signal switched off).
I asked if I could at least pull out of traffic while they checked everyone's ID in the unmarked cab. They permitted me to move out of the flow of traffic.
They demanded my husband stand in front of the sub shop on its stoop, which was about ten feet away; they made me stay in the vehicle while everything was being checked.
Everyone's identification came back just fine but the officer told me I had a suspension on my license. The officer demanded me then to step out of the vehicle so he could tow it. I refused at first, but he then threatened to arrest me. I stepped out of the vehicle with my keys and tried to lock the doors and shut them, but the officer put his hand in the door frame to stop me from closing the door.
All four officers proceeded to illegally search our vehicle, without just cause. They made us stay in the sub shop and then the tow truck arrived. Luckily my mother's name is also on my truck for ownership and we called her but they still insisted on towing our vehicle. After about twenty minutes the officers let my mother reclaim the vehicle instead of having it impounded.
First of all I know I have a valid license with no suspension. Second, if it really had been suspended they are legally obligated to arrest on site. The ticket I was given states in the payable fine amount area the "Other" box is checked and "N/A" is written in the area. The fine for first offense on a suspended license is $310 plus court costs. (I know this because my husband des in fact have a suspended license and has received this fine, which is not applicable to me.)
These officers were simply mad because we exercised our freedom of speech, but we were only trying to pull into a parking lot and did nothing wrong. We have many witnesses who are completely in agreement with us that these officers were wrong and harrassing us.
This could have all been avoided if the officer knew how to properly drive — or get over his ego. I am awaiting trial, but for what?
One officer's name I forgot to include above was Officer I. Louvado. My husband and I called the headquarters and obtained the sergeant's name: [spelling?: Hodgens].
We are currently hiring a lawyer and awaiting my trial.
Bethany
Baltimore, Maryland
U.S.A.
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