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(56,582 posts) Thu Aug 22, 2013, 06:33 AM Aug 2013

Test-driving while black (man arrested during BMW test drive) [View all]

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/man-arrested-during-test-drive/nX5Qn/

Jon-Christopher Sowells had just driven a BMW out of Philips Motors on Highway 78 in Snellville when an officer stopped him.

Sowell told Channel 2’s Kerry Kavanaugh he pulled over, unclear about why the Snellville police officer stopped him.

"He said you don't have any tags on the car. I said, ‘No problem, I don't have any tags on this car because it's not my car. The dealer is right there we can get it all clarified,’” Sowells said.

...

"The dealer comes out to pick the car up and at this point, I'm thinking we can all go home everything is OK now. No it's not OK, I'm going to jail," Sowells said.

79 replies

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Test-driving while black (man arrested during BMW test drive) [View all] Recursion Aug 2013 OP

this is stupid dembotoz Aug 2013 #1

the story is stupid hfojvt Aug 2013 #56

NO H E DIDNT GOD DAMMIT NO HE DIDNT GOD DAMMIT NO HE DIDNT GOD DAMMIT randys1 Aug 2015 #77

Let me guess. You're white. roody Aug 2015 #78

What the fucking hell?? Blue_Tires Aug 2013 #2

Yay, Cops! Iggo Aug 2013 #3

Sad to see how many posters swallowed the "official" police account hook, line and sinker... Blue_Tires Aug 2013 #21

You don't need the "police line." The driver speaks for himself Renew Deal Aug 2013 #30

He was driving around with no plates. Do you have evidence that's not true? n/t pnwmom Aug 2013 #52

He was arrested instead of ticketed? Dustlawyer Aug 2013 #4

Indeed! Mr Sowell, you just won a big lawsuit! Sorry you still had to go through the Nay Aug 2013 #16

Yep. That'll learn him. Iggo Aug 2013 #22

Aah ---To Protect and Serve warrant46 Aug 2013 #5

I tought dealers go with the person on the test drive. LisaL Aug 2013 #6

Not on my recent test drives. marmar Aug 2013 #7

The last two or three cars we bought, they let us take the cars home for a weekend test 1monster Aug 2013 #10

Not always...Depends on the type and value of the car Blue_Tires Aug 2013 #9

Ditto. City Lights Aug 2013 #19

They are supposed to. Hassin Bin Sober Aug 2013 #28

I worked at a VW dealers for 5 years. tammywammy Aug 2013 #33

It was usually an oversight. Or, IIRC, a case of not enough magnet plates... Hassin Bin Sober Aug 2013 #37

I know many the Mini dealers do this, or at least used to Blue_Tires Aug 2013 #57

No tags and he refused to show the cops the papers. gulliver Aug 2013 #8

If he's on a test drive it's the dealer's responsibility to put on tags Blue_Tires Aug 2013 #11

Every time they've stopped us for anything the first thing they do is ask for papers. pnwmom Aug 2013 #63

agree mtasselin Aug 2013 #12

"Comply" with what? Blue_Tires Aug 2013 #14

And the cops tried to verify those facts and couldn't joeglow3 Aug 2013 #23

So once the facts WERE verified, what's the cause for arrest? Blue_Tires Aug 2013 #31

Because, by that point he had violated other laws joeglow3 Aug 2013 #36

"free pass for your behavior?" Blue_Tires Aug 2013 #38

Violated which laws? mainer Aug 2013 #68

They asked to look at the papers strewn across the back seat. pnwmom Aug 2013 #65

No, he doens't. kcr Aug 2013 #45

If refusing to allow a warrantless search MsPithy Aug 2013 #13

disagree, "What do you call ..." or why this man was pulled over in the 1st place bluemarkers Aug 2013 #15

Because people NEVER lie to the police joeglow3 Aug 2013 #24

and the police NEVER lie to the people CBGLuthier Aug 2013 #26

Show me where I made that claim joeglow3 Aug 2013 #27

never said they should bluemarkers Aug 2013 #42

clueless heaven05 Aug 2013 #18

Yep I don't care pipi_k Aug 2013 #20

What do you mean you can't refuse to show them your papers? Shrike47 Aug 2013 #34

No, he's a person driving a car without plates Renew Deal Aug 2013 #43

Probable cause: a vehicle with no plates. Check with your DMV. pnwmom Aug 2013 #70

He is probably alive because he didn't get out. roody Aug 2015 #79

you know heaven05 Aug 2013 #17

OP leaves out the non-compliance. Racism=wouldn't happen if white person. Same scenario w/white KittyWampus Aug 2013 #25

He wasn't very cooperative. Renew Deal Aug 2013 #29

So he has no right to decline a warrantless search of his car or person? Blue_Tires Aug 2013 #39

They didn't ask to search him or his car. Renew Deal Aug 2013 #40

I thought he said he was test driving the car from X dealership? Blue_Tires Aug 2013 #46

In my state anyone who drove around without plates and refused to provide the car's papers pnwmom Aug 2013 #60

He was driving around with no plates. That's enough reason to get arrested, pnwmom Aug 2013 #51

Arrested just for no plates? Blue_Tires Aug 2013 #55

No plates and he refused to give them the car's papers. They don't arrest pnwmom Aug 2013 #58

If you drive around with no plates and no registration papers, you shouldn't be pnwmom Aug 2015 #75

oh my god that's stupid CreekDog Aug 2015 #74

A Google User -- Note that Philips Motors gets 2.1 stars. FarCenter Aug 2013 #32

Black driver ... upscale automobile. Automatic traffic stop. lpbk2713 Aug 2013 #35

Did you read the article? Renew Deal Aug 2013 #41

White driver -- no plates. Automatic traffic stop. pnwmom Aug 2013 #71

IMO Mr Dixon Aug 2013 #44

Even black men well versed in "the drill" can get tired of it eventually and start resisting Blue_Tires Aug 2013 #48

When you're driving around with no plates, should you be surprised pnwmom Aug 2013 #50

and then we get into the nuance Blue_Tires Aug 2013 #54

Pretend the person in the story was white. Would you think the police had gone overboard pnwmom Aug 2013 #69

And being pipi_k Aug 2013 #73

Any person of any race smart enough to have a license should know the drill. pnwmom Aug 2013 #49

Better title: Man stopped for driving with no plates. pnwmom Aug 2013 #47

The REAL common-sense thing would be for the dealer not to let him drive off Blue_Tires Aug 2013 #53

Both are true RZM Aug 2013 #59

And you're always going to get asked for the car's papers. That's standard. n/t pnwmom Aug 2013 #62

But he's not mad at the dealer for some reason. He still bought a car from them. pnwmom Aug 2013 #61

I sure as hell wouldn't have RZM Aug 2013 #64

Me, neither. Almost everything he did, I would have done the opposite. n/t pnwmom Aug 2013 #66

I agree Renew Deal Aug 2013 #67

You are right that the dealer was responsible for this mess in the first place. pnwmom Aug 2015 #76

This part was not smart of him: Quantess Aug 2013 #72