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

[Patrick O'Duffy]

Timothy Ferguson wrote:

> 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.

Yup.  Gotta love those QLD coppers.

> (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.)

I've had some (if only a little) interaction with the police, the drug scene and
very minor elements of local crime.  It happens.


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

You're a Justice?  Well, feel free to contradict me whenever you like.  I'm
operating on second-hand info and a few personal experiences; you actually know
what you're talking about!  I defer to you on all things legal.

(Actually, my business partner's a JP, but I think I know more about the law
than she does...)

--
Patrick O'Duffy, Brisbane, Australia

Sumo is the most perfect of sports.  It has elegance, ceremony, danger,
art, speed, and, most important, two fat bastards smacking the shit out
of each other.

 - Spider Jerusalem, TRANSMETROPOLITAN #26



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