Across the U.S., police use laws that regulate the activity of trucking and hauling to impose their will upon private users of the road. In this encounter, a taillight enforcement action lets cops pile onto the occupants of a car, and make social management adjustments (“arrests”). In Chattanooga and Hamilton County, arrest without a warrant is forbidden under the constitution, with a statutory list of exceptions. This list of exceptions is happily and powerfully ignored by cops and deputies, and their masters (mayors and sheriff). See administrative notice on 40-7-103, arrest by officer without warrant, and coverage on this site about continuing violations. This notice was served on Hamilton County and city of Chattanooga April 15.
