RB> Now, in my neighborhood, the cops *illegally* cruise around and run
 RB> license  plates of cars parked there, so I was really nervous.
UM?, there is nothing illegal about cops running license plates. Where did 
you get such an idea? That's how we find stolen cars, wanted people, 
improperly registered or non-registered vehicles, stolen license plates, etc. 
This is part of their jobs, and they are supposed to be involved in law 
enforcement activities when they are not tied up on calls, arrests, etc.
 RB> I could  have the option to sue, if I wanted, but that would mean a
 RB> possible trial, and  then the inevitable civil trial, and the whole
 RB> process would take about 2 years
 RB> or more. He said I could expect to get about $1000-2000 for it,
 RB> certainly not  making me a rich man.
You would be talking about false imprisonment, and the award would have huge, 
compared to what you were told, if that is what you were told. You were told 
correctly that there would have been a trial, and the process might have 
taken 2 years or more. I would have thought that a person like yourself with 
such strong moral convictions about police misconduct would have taken the 
matter to trial, IF YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD A CASE.
I'm going to take this opportunity to pleasantly request that you get many of 
your messages back on topic for this conference. This message was on topic. 
Many of your messages belong in social government class, not in a law 
enforcement echo. This echo is not devoted to classism, racism, sexism, 
poverty, non-poverty, communes, other forms of government, etc. This echo is 
devoted to citizens asking law enforcement officers questions about the law 
and law enforcement. Many of the resulting discussions are perfectly 
on-topic. Many of your messages belong in an echo like civil liberties. I 
find many of your messages quite interesting and have enjoyed many of them, 
but many of them are off-topic completely for this echo. As a result, I am 
requesting that you keep your messages on-topic for this echo.
Tom Rightmer - A Victims' Rights Advocate
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