Sharks and laws Re: [UA] Explain American laws to me

[Timothy Ferguson]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Patrick O'Duffy" <redfern at thehub.com.au>

> > Note that in Queensland if they (reasonably) think you have drugs, even
of
> > personal use quanitites, in your house, they do not require a warrant to
> > enter and search.  As such, prohiibted weapons or drugs are a free kick
for
> > the Queensland police.
>
> They _can_ do that.  Having had some interaction with the dug scene over
the
> years (mostly as an observer), they rarely bother, at least in Brisbane.
It's
> too much effort.

Let me clarify:  say the police want to search your house with regard to a
robbery, OK?

They don't have enough evidence to get a justice to sign a warrant.

Then, in all of the good detective novels, all they'd need to do is get a
friend to ring Crimestoppers, then say "Fred has drugs in his house".

At that point, the fishing expedition is kinda legal, and if they find
anything the phone man gets a tip into a Metway account from the government,
which he can then use to buy drinks for his buddies.

(At this point I'm obliged to say that I am unaware of this ever actually
occuring.  It is likely simply an urban myth, but Justices of the Peace got
somewhat steamed over the possibility of this when the laws came in.  I'm a
Justice, so this was mentioned to me while I was doing my coursework.)

> > Patrick, please don't do that.  It's rude to make people an accessory...

> My understanding of QLD drug laws is that admitting to having used drugs
in the
> past is not punishable.  If I'm wrong - well, I'd just like to say that
all my
> admissions have been entirely fictional.  Completely.

Good stuff...you might be right...


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