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On February 19th the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that police can conduct warrantless searches based on the police interpretation of a search dog. The court ruled that the dog doesn't even need formal certification.
The same is true, even in the absence of formal certification, if the dog has recently and successfully completed a training program that evaluated his proficiency in locating drugs. After all, law enforcement units have their own strong incentive to use effective training and certification programs, because only accurate drug-detection dogs enable officers to locate contraband without incurring unnecessary risks or wasting limited time and resources. - U.S. Supreme Court Feb. 9, 2013
In 2010 the University of California, Davis conducted a test of the effectiveness of drug and explosive testing dogs. Out of 144 searches of an empty room the dogs alerted 123 times - an 85% false positive result.
The courts have been watering down our Fourth Amendment rights for quite some time - almost always over the possession of a banned substance that shouldn't be illegal anyway.
- Carrol v. United States. In 1925 the Supreme Court ruled that automobiles can be searched without a warrant as long as the officer had probable cause. the search was limited to only the items the officers had probable cause to suspect. The rationale was that citizens do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in an automobile and that because an automobile may be moved a search may be necessary to preserve evidence. The case stemmed from federal officers pulling over a vehicle they thought contained alcohol.
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The Gloucester Township Municipal Council recently solicited for bids for the purchase of an armored vehicle. Only one bid for $277,986 was received.
Camden County already owns an armored vehicle and keeps it parked right in the township. The County purchased their tank for $289,000 using federal funds in 2009. The Township claims that they need their own in case the County vehicle is already in use. The county disagrees with the township, claiming that the vehicle has always been available whenever needed. In addition the federal funds came with a requirement that the vehicle be available to townships in the region. Most likely the most use any of these vehicles will ever get is during parades.
In the past decade numerous federal grants have funded the militarization of small and large police departments to around $34 Billion. Much of this equipment is warehoused and never put to use.
In 2010, Gloucester Township residents saw a $0.235 per $100 increase in their property tax bills. Since then property taxes have remained flat, but spending has ballooned thanks to $10 million in state aid given to the township.
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Well, at least that is how the mainstream media outlets seem to be reporting this.
On Tuesday, Fernando Antonio Salguero, parked illegally near the Somerdale Police Station while tending to a traffic violation. From what I have heard, his car extended about two feet into a yellow lined area. He reached his car just as the police were beginning their investigation. He was asked for permission to search the car which he declined. Police dogs were called out. Either their handlers had the dogs alert or the dogs alerted to the presence of explosives. A bomb squad was called in and a robotic device pried open his trunk. The media reports that inside were found "incendiary devices" and several weapons. The incendiary weapons were flares, the weapons included a flare gun and a couple of pepper spray canisters.
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One of the scheduled speakers at our convention, NJ Weedman, has been arrested. NJ Weedman, whose real name is Robert Edward Forchion, Jr., was recently unanimously found Not Guilty by a jury in Mount Holly for distribution. He was however found guilty of marijuana possession. Right after his trial the DEA called and threatened The Weedman, demanding that he close up his California dispensary.
Ed had plans to tour around speaking at various events on a “Jury Nullification tour”, our convention being one of the first speaking opportunities for the tour.
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New Jersey Needs More School Choice!
In commemoration of National School Choice Week, please join education reform leaders and supporters from across New Jersey for a timely, important, and uplifting meeting about education reform and school choice in the Garden State. Speakers will include:
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In honor of the universal freedom message preached by Dr. King a "Restoring Freedoms Rally" is being held in his honor on January 21st at the Statehouse in Trenton.
This rally will include a diverse set of speakers, including several libertarians. Libertarians speaking will include NJLP Treasure Joe Siano, former Libertarian Candidate for Governor Murray Sabrin, former NJLP Chair Lou Jasikoff, and 2012 Libertarian Candidate for U.S. Congress Patrick McKnight. Many other speakers are scheduled from various ends of the political spectrum. See http://restoringfreedomsnj.blogspot.com for a full list of speakers.
The Restoring Freedom's Committee is seeking donations to help pay for the event. If you like the idea of bringing together groups of various political ideologies to discuss topics of freedom - consider donating to the event. Planning and staging an event like this is expensive.
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The State of NJ Department of Transportation released a report today. The report studied accident data of various red light installations of a year prior to installation to one year after. It found:
Combining all RLR locations and comparing the Pre-Camera installation 12-month time period versus the Year 1 installation 12-month time period, the data indicate that total crashes are up 0.9%, however, more sever right-angle crashes are down 15%, while same-direction (rear-end) crashes are up 20%. Crash severity cost increased by an estimated $1,172,800.
The crash severity cost was based on a five categories: fatality, disabling injury, evident injury, possible, injury, and property damage only (no injury) with each of these categories assigned a dollar figure.
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Gary Johnson Breaks Ed Clark’s 1980 Vote Record of 921,128 Votes for President of the United States.
2012 Libertarian Presidential Ticket of Gov. Gary Johnson and Judge Jim Gray More Than DOUBLED the 2008 Vote Total of Bob Barr and Wayne Root.
http://www.google.com/elections/ed/us/results
Top 3 States for Gov. Gary Johnson and Judge Jim Gray
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Today a jury in Burlington Country has found Ed Forchion - aka NJ Weedman not guilty of distribution of marijuana. A full story can be found at Philly Burbs.
Last night Ed Forchion was interviewed on Free Talk Live.
“I don’t use it the way the state says. To me, it’s medicine, it’s food,” Forchion said, noting for the jury that he had been eating pot-laced cookies throughout the trial. “I feel I’m the victim of a flawed law.”
His first trial ended in a hung jury. Mr. Forchion, suffers from cancer and uses marijuana to ease his suffering.
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The birth place of the NJLP was at my house on one hot summer night location 26 Essex Street Irvington, N.J. I believe I was the first organizer/founder of the NJLP. The story goes.....
Once upon a time in 1969 I met Kathy Greene at a YAF meeting at Monmouth college.She was in a group called New Jersey Libertarian Alliance. Her boyyfriend at the time and future husband was Ralph Fucetola. Through both of them I met a lot of Libertarians. Some of them called themselves Radical Libertarian Alliance. The word radical was hip back then.
One day I was at the home of Don Meinhausen and he had two big boxes of political literature. One was right wing the other left wing. For those who know Don he loved to travel in both groups seeking converts.He told me of a group trying to form a Libertarian Party. I contacted the Nolans. They sent me a list of Reason subscribers. I mailed out using my stamps and envelopes about the meeting of the first Libertarian Party in New Jersey. I also got the name of Bob Steiner. I called him and he with others helped me organize the meeting.
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On October 6th, 1972 - forty years ago today - the NJ Libertarian Party was started. A party constitution was adapted and Bob Steiner was elected the first state Chairperson. Peter Cooper was elected Vice-Chairperson, Joe Salerno was elected Treasurer, Denise Cooper was elected as Recording Secretary, and Lydia Longinotti was elected as Executive Secretary.
Dues were set at $7.50 per year which included a subscription to the PREMISE Newsletter. The first newsletter was produced in November of 1972. The party adopted the Libersign (arrow angling upward) and TANSTAAFL slogan (There ain't no such thing as a free lunch) over an outline of the state of NJ as the party's emblem.
Our first convention was held in February of 1973, during which John Goodson was nominated as our first candidate for NJ Governor.
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Yesterday the national debt has exceeded $16 Trillion! The debt is now at 104% of GDP - the highest it has ever been in fifty years. 65% of the debt has been accumulated during the Bush-Obama presidency.
There are few solutions at this point that the public would be willing to swallow. Politicians must consider the following:
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The NJ Libertarian Party annual picnic will be held on August 25th at the chair's house, 8 Arneytown-Hornerstown Road in Cream Ridge, New Jersey.
The Party's Business Meeting will start at from 2:00 PM and the picnic will follow.
Come hang out with fellow freedom lovers and meet our 2012 Candidates for Office. We are looking at broadcasting speeches from Paulfest at our picnic. RSVP (optional) here.