What are a citizen's rights in a police traffic stop? (Denver Post file)

Video: Iowa police are now profiling Frisbee golfers for pot possession

In the town of Ankeny, Iowa, some police officers are profiling fans of Frisbee golf as potheads, according to a recent video of a roadside stop.

And while joints and bowls are as commonplace as long-distance drivers on disc golf courses, it’s still off-putting to hear an officer ask a man he’s pulled over on the side of the road, “Why is it everybody that plays Frisbee golf smokes weed?”

The set-up for the video, as much as we can tell: The male driver didn’t have his headlights on, and he received a written warning from the officer. As the officer returns his information, he spies a bag of Frisbee golf equipment in the back seat of the car.

Officer: “Why is it everybody that plays Frisbee golf smokes weed?”

Driver: “Nope, it’s not everybody, it’s just –”

Officer: “No, it’s everybody, man. You can’t tell me you’ve never smoked weed before.”

Driver: “I’m not going to tell you one way or another.”

Officer: “See, there you go. How much weed do you have in the car tonight?”


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A few moments later, after the driver says there is no weed on his person or in his car, the conversation continues.

Officer: “You understand you’re free to go and everything, but you wouldn’t have a problem with me looking through your car?”

Driver: “I actually would. Just because I have a disc golf bag doesn’t mean that every disc golfer does have weed.”

Officer: “So you have weed in the car then, is what you’re saying?”

Driver: “No, what I’m saying is I would mind if you searched my car because you’re profiling me based on me being a disc golfer.”

Officer: “No, I just asked you a question but you admitted that you have smoked weed in the past during our conversation so I’m asking –”

Driver: “What I said is I am not going to say one way or another whether I have smoked pot.”

Officer: “(Laughs) OK, well that’s a yes.”

Driver: “No, it’s not.”

The officer’s attitude sometimes borders on condescension in the video. The YouTube user who posted the video, TheResistantCow, included this brief description: “Cops use manipulative wordplay to try and make you incriminate yourself. Don’t let them violate your rights.”

To his credit, the driver keeps his calm throughout the roadside stop. He answers questions clearly. He tells the office he doesn’t trust the police. And he thanks the officer at the end of the conversation.