LEGAL Traffic Stop & Drug Rehab

I have just been asked an interesting question. A student was stopped by a female police officer. During the stop the officer asked if the person had been to drug rehab. The student wants to know why would the officer ask this question. Are the police computers wired into drug rehab sites where this information is divulged. Was this a shot in the dark by the officer or did the officer have this information on her computer. If this happened would this be a HIPPA violation. Just curious. Thanks for any insight,

Police computers wired into drug rehab sites- No. Yes, as I understand it that would be a HIPPA violation. As to why the question- 21 years ago when I started in police work druggies looked like druggies. Those of you who grew up in the 60's and 70's and early 80's remember the druggies with the feathered roach clip hanging off the car mirror, the Grateful Dead/Led Zepplin tee shirts, the long hair and general appearance. Today EVERYBODY uses drugs. Lawyers, doctors, professionals, house wives and clergy. One of the biggest drug busts I ever made was a clean cut red headed white college kid in his grandfathers Caddy convertable. The garbage bag full of pot in the back seat was right there for God and everyone to see! I never would have picked this kid out as a druggie, but there he was. So maybe the question was to see the reaction, to get the response and try and gauge if there was something going on. You just never know what people are up to these days. I don't put anything past anyone anymore after having 2 of my boyhood friends convicted of murder and another of sex crimes. You just don't know anymore.

I will now standby for the flames and name calling that are sure to follow.

Was it after the officer had ran your friend's name? Someone on the computer who had been court ordered to rehab could have had the same or very similar name and birthdate. The officer would have just been trying to determine which person was in front of her.

Please correct me if I'm wrong. But court orders, and prior arrests and convictions do come back on an identification and/or vehicle call.

Your friend might want to search his name on your state's court records site.

ceeblue said:

Was it after the officer had ran your friend's name? Someone on the computer who had been court ordered to rehab could have had the same or very similar name and birthdate. The officer would have just been trying to determine which person was in front of her.

Please correct me if I'm wrong. But court orders, and prior arrests and convictions do come back on an identification and/or vehicle call.

Your friend might want to search his name on your state's court records site.

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Nope, not in NY anyway. Orders of Protection do, but that's about it. Unfortunately television has given the impression that every cop can type a name into a computer and instantly fingerprints, history, photo,any guns owned, family, likes, dislikes, school records, favorite movies, dogs name and breed, etc appear on the screen. Complete and utter BS!!! If you knew what was involved in getting fingerprints ID'd alone it would boggle your mind.

Sounds like she was playing a hunch. If your friend had drug history, notably several convictions for the same offense, it stands to reason that the kiddo might have been on court ordered drug rehab versus jail or prison time. A lot of times the reaction to the question tells one as much (or more) than a truthful answer will.

Even a traffic stop is an investigation. If I just walk up, fill out a ticket or give a verbal warning and be on my way, I would miss a lot of drunks, drugs, weapons, wanted felons and stolen items.

I sure do appreciate the responses on this. I will convey them to the appropriate source. Thanks

Unfortunately television has given the impression that every cop can type a name into a computer and instantly fingerprints, history, photo,any guns owned, family, likes, dislikes, school records, favorite movies, dogs name and breed, etc appear on the screen. Complete and utter BS

You would be amazed at the info private companies do keep on you though.
All that info can be had for a price. I do not doubt that some gov agency DOES have access to that info.

Grocery store cards, netflix movies, credit card purchases, health insurance data bases and on and on. I don't think the street cops have access to that info but I'm sure some gov agency does.

"Have you been to rehab?" is just about one of those "Have you stopped beating your wife?" questions.

If you say yes then you're admitting to a drug problem; if you say no, well, you're either lying outright or you're still in denial about your little problem. Either way your answer can be twisted around to be used against you.

Remember all the threads on here that say "don't answer questions"?

If Cris Angel is a "Mind Freak," then cops are a complete mind F*ck.

Don't talk to the police.

FREEBIRD said:

"Have you been to rehab?" is just about one of those "Have you stopped beating your wife?" questions.

If you say yes then you're admitting to a drug problem; if you say no, well, you're either lying outright or you're still in denial about your little problem. Either way your answer can be twisted around to be used against you.

Remember all the threads on here that say "don't answer questions"?

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Yup, she was looking for a reason she could search the car.

RSCAR said: You would be amazed at the info private companies do keep on you though. All that info can be had for a price. I do not doubt that some gov agency DOES have access to that info.

As far as drug rehabs go, my husband works for one (a private, national corporation), and they have training every year--attended by every person there, from top administrator to maintenance, housekeeping and kitchen staff--in first aid, emergency procedures, harassment, and confidentiality. If you are out and come across a person you recognize as a former client, you never acknowledge that you've ever met them, unless they say something first--and even then, tread very carefully. You can be terminated for that. They have a lot of "celebrities" and their business depends on their ability to keep quiet. Without a court order, they're not going to give out any information.

We were once out at a restaurant--the whole family--and we had to walk through the bar (waiting) area to get to the exit. There was a table of young ladies, and when we passed by one of the girls jumped up and said to my husband, "It's only orange juice!" Neither her friends nor our kids understood (lots of puzzled looks), and Husband just nodded, smiled, said, "Hi, how are you!" and moved on. He's in the maintenance department, and I don't think they send people out to check up on former clients.

Don't talk to the police?

So you don't talk. What does the cop start thinking?

Me? I keep my hands on the steering wheel and say 'Yessir". He's got the gun.

Bret4207 said:

Nope, not in NY anyway. Orders of Protection do, but that's about it. Unfortunately television has given the impression that every cop can type a name into a computer and instantly fingerprints, history, photo,any guns owned, family, likes, dislikes, school records, favorite movies, dogs name and breed, etc appear on the screen. Complete and utter BS!!! If you knew what was involved in getting fingerprints ID'd alone it would boggle your mind.

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I sit here in this small city in Wisconsin listening to the scanner. A 911 call comes in, the dispatcher sends it out along with the number and type of prior calls from that address. An officer calls in a plate number, the vehicle type and year comes back along with the owner's name and status of the vehicle, if any. An officer calls in a name, the wants and warrants come back along with the validity and restrictions of the drivers' license. I haven't heard this particular and just assumed that if drug rehab was ordered it would show on a license call, as so much is tied to the validity of the drivers' license now, at least in Wisconsin.

Might be that the person had previous arrests for drug violations. That might make an officer ask if they were in rehab...