Federal judge grants injunction banning 'Kansas Two-Step' Highway Patrol tactic

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Federal judge grants injunction banning ‘Kansas Two-Step’ Highway Patrol tactic

BY JIM SALTER
Updated 5:24 PM EST, November 21, 2023

The Kansas Highway Patrol must stop using a tactic known as the “Kansas Two-Step” to detain out-of-state drivers long enough to find a reason to search their vehicles for illegal drugs, a federal judge has ruled.

U.S. District Judge Kathryn H. Vratil on Monday granted a permanent injunction. The injunction was not unexpected. It follows Vratil’s ruling in July that determined that the tactic violated drivers’ constitutional rights against unreasonable searches.

KHP spokeswoman Candice Breshears said the order is being reviewed by the state attorney general’s office and declined further comment. A message left Tuesday with the office of Attorney General Kris Kobach was not immediately returned.

The injunction has several requirements, including cameras and audio for all marked and unmarked patrol cars. It also says troopers must inform drivers that they can refuse or revoke consent for a search at any time. The injunction also requires better training and documentation.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/kansas-highway-patrol-tactic-lawsuit-b3225cbeccd71e89a33ee67bbf0a9dea

[intheflow]

1. I narrowly avoided this in 2015.

Moving across the country, I had my pot paraphernalia in my car, but no pot. Huge sign before the Kansas line, “Police training ahead. Drug sniffing dogs in use.” I got off and drove through a bunch of dirt roads through corn fields. A cop even drove by me going the opposite direction and waved as he went by. My guess is that it worked so well for them, it went from training exercise to codified practice shortly thereafter.

[Chainfire]

2. The cops used to run a little sting just up the road from my home. (Florida)

Traveling on the nearby interstate, drivers would see one of the big lighted signs that said, "Sheriffs Drug Checkpoint Ahead." The sign was a few hundred yard before a remote rual exit. Just out of sight on that exit ramp is where the sheriff and several other agencies set up a "driver's license check." The first time I went through it, I was immediately passed when the dog did not alert and my license showed that I lived on the exit road. They had a school bus, for the people that they arrested and tow trucks for impounded vehicles. The law enforcement officers were visibily having a grand old time; smiles and grins everywhere.

This was maybe 8 years ago, and the "checks" have been halted. I suspect that some judge had a part in that.