An Illinois driver pulled over during a roadside safety check filmed a state trooper losing his chill when he claimed his constitutional rights were being violated.
Among the more than 270 drivers reportedly stopped on Saturday night in DeKalb, Illinois was Ryan Scott, who questioned the legality of the checkpoint.
When the first trooper approached, Scott immediately informed him that he was being recorded. Scott then asked why they pulled him over, to which the first officer politely replied that they were conducting a roadside safety check.
The driver then asks if he was being detained and says that the stop was unconstitutional, at which point, a second state trooper who was following the scene jumps in and opens his door yelling, “You are obligated, get out now. Get out now. Driving is a privilege, not a right. I’m telling you to get out right now.”
The second cop’s outburst probably caught Scott by surprise as he ended up cooperating, giving his license and registration, but not before he argued for a few more minutes. After everything checked out, the trooper then let Scott go on his way.
According to former DeKalb County State’s Attorney Clay Campbell, the checkpoint was legal.
“The Supreme Court allows checkpoints and road blocks like that as long as they are done randomly and uniformly,” Campbell told the Northwest Herald. “You have to cooperate with the officer. If they ask to see driver’s license and registration, you need to do that.”
In a press statement, Monique Bond, Illinois State Police chief of communications, said that from the footage, it doesn’t look like the trooper violated any policy, but added that “the matter will be reviewed and the appropriate action will be taken as needed.”
“We conduct roadside safety checks to ensure that motorists and roads are safe and our officers are reasonable and follow the law,” the release said. “However, when there is resistance, a motorist’s noncooperative actions could be interpreted differently.”