How much force should police be allowed to use?

About 12 years ago, I personally was the victim of "officer road rage" and don't ever want anyone else to have to experience this. I was traveling 65 MPH in the fast lane when I was pulled over. The officer started the confrontation by yelling at me through my open window, accusing me of being on drugs. After running my plates and checking my license and insurance, he had me get out of the car, and yelled at me, face to face for two or three minutes, telling me he was going to take me down town and have me drug tested. The closest thing I can compare it to is the typical hollywood drill sergeant. I kept insisting I wasn't on drugs and the only thing I was potentially guilty of was not moving over when other speeders wanted to pass.

The confrontation ended by the officer forcing me to get into his cruiser and driving me to my home, inconveniencing me and costing me another hour to retrieve my car.

He never filed any charges and didn't take me "down town" for drug testing. I didn't even get a ticket.

The experience scared me quite badly and left me shaken. I was so intimidated I never asked for a badge number or name. I'm just grateful this officer did not have a "non-lethal" taser to assault me with.

Now, I'm sure this is, in general, an isolated incident.

I can certainly see some of your points of view. Having a husband, wife or other family member that is a cop certainly ups the ante for you when it comes to officer safety.

But, having watched this video three or four times, I can't arrive at any other conclusion than that this is a gross violation of civil rights and a bad bureaucratic system.

Let's clear up one thing that was stated in previous posts. If there's a video out there on youtube.com without sound, you should look for the version with sound, because it's available.

Two links to the story (both have sound):

• The actual footage from the officers dash cam.


• Interview on CNN with the Highway Patrol Rep and the victim.

The officer never explained how fast the gentleman was going. As far as I know, that has to be written on the ticket. Why would the officer not inform the guy of that? Every speeding ticket I've ever received, had the excess of posted speed limit and amount marked.

The officer never explained that signing the ticket "was not and admission of guilt". The officer never even told the gentleman he was under arrest before tasering him. He was just told to "turn around with your hands behind your back".

On the bureaucratic side, why is not signing a ticket an arrestable offense?

I have a question for the ladies who's husbands are police officers. Don't police officers have to inform the arrested of their rights anymore? Or, is reading the accused their rights just movie and television fluff? I'm not asking to be argumentative. I really want to know.

Also I've read that the "non-lethal" taser has killed more that 270 individuals in North America in the last 5 years. Granted, that figure doesn't take into account drug abusers that may have died as a result of their drugged state. An article put out by Wired Magazine suggests that a quarter of those deaths are attributed to the taser itself, but this is not substantiated, as autopsies are performed on less than half of the victims.

So, for me this boils down to, "Does a routine speeding ticket merit use of possibly-lethal force?" I think not.

I'd love to hear your input.