On August 23rd, Inyo County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Howard conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in Big Pine for a traffic violation. Upon making contact with the driver, John Baker (48) of Truckee, Deputy Howard immediately smelled the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. After Baker made inconsistent statements to Deputy Howard regarding what he had in his possession, assistance was requested of the Inyo Narcotics Enforcement Team (INET).
Agents from INET responded and began an investigation into Baker. Agents developed probable cause and arrested Baker for Possession of Marijuana for Sales and Transportation of Over an Ounce of Marijuana. Agents seized over eight ounces of marijuana, over eight thousand dollars in cash, and other evidence of sales. Baker was transported and booked at the Inyo County Jail.
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Well, you know what? I don’t feel any safer, this is the least of evils that are traveling on HWY 395, but for some reason law enforcement thinks highlighting this to the general public justify’s their protocol and procedures, YES we know there is drugs out there! Why marijuana is still classified as a drug gets me, You know what else gets me? Methamphetamine! How the heck does Meth make it all the way to country bumpkin INYO County, and in my time growing up in Lone Pine their was never no end of supply for those that wanted to use it? Here in INYO County? I thought the gov’t control’s the main ingredients (Ephedrine,etc..) but for some reason here in INYO county there is a supply that always meets the demand???? Seriously, that makes me mad (yes I am angry Wayne, LOL), and here we are congratulating law enforcement for getting something off the street when the demand will always be met?? Makes no sense to me no matter how much it makes to others!
Portugal Legalized all drugs over 10 years ago and you know what? they NOW have the lowest rates (in all category’s) in the EU.
What about Monsanto? they have more of a threat to all of us then all the drugs combined? Oh wait they are a industry that bought our gov’t, so enough will believe the propaganda they throw out there!
Judging from what I see(and have heard about) on my way to the local store to get my cup of coffee in the morning,after this long holiday week-end,our local tow and impound yard is getting to look like a high-end used car lot with the DUI arrests,the drug users and trafficers,with these guys losing their vehicles to the “orange-hook”…hopefully to the 30 day hold(and about a $1,000 fee to pay) they SHOULD be getting for driving impaired on the streets of Inyo County..Looks safe to say THANK YOU Inyo County Law Enforcement and CHP for making the streets and highways safer for the rest of us to travel….The rest of us that choose to obey the laws while driving don’t want our own vehicles stuck in that lot all busted up because someone choose to drive impaired causing an accident with us.
Sounds to me like this will be totally legal in two years. I guess we’ll have to go back to good old speed traps again.
I agree that it will be completely legal to use Marijuana in two years yet seriously doubt and hope it is never legal to drive while intoxicated on it or anything else.
I believe that if a person can’t put down the pipe long enough to drive from point A to point B, then they are dependent on the drug and are using UN-healthfully.
For those who use Marijuana or other substances it may be beneficial to familiarize yourself with The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagnostic_and_Statistical_Manual_of_Mental_Disorders
DSMIV-TR Criteria for Substance Abuse for Dependency
http://www.uscourts.gov/uscourts/federalcourts/pps/fedprob/2006-09/accountability_table1.html
Mongo- I kind of agree with you on not being allowed to be driving around stoned or drunk. But I don’t think anyone should be put in jail for simple being addicted to something.If they really hurt someone other then themselves, I guess they should pay for their mistakes in some way. But jail helps no body I know of.
I agree Trouble.
I just cant accept DUI on 395, it’s the most dangerous road I travel. I have no problem with use and know at least one person that weed has profoundly helped. I vote YES for complete legalization, and NO on stoned driving.
Trouble…Back in my olden’ days I knew of repeat offenders of DUI….both pot and alcohol…and the system kept kicking them out after a day or two or three in jail.It seems if your addicted to drugs or alcohol,a good bet it means driving drunk or high too.Remember that guy a few years back that had multiple DUI’s in Olancha that drove with a passenger on the top of his SUV,the guy fell off and was killed ?….or the accident outside of Olancha(again) that took a locals life here in Lone Pine when she was hit head-on by a DUI driver that had priors?…The system won’t be kicking that guy that caused that accident out anymore….or his friend… .. to re-offend,but sometimes jail is necessary….if, for nothing more, than to keep the rest of us safer on the highways without them on it.
Wayne- I don’t support driving around messed up , but our war on drugs is in a very sad state affairs. Plus Olancha needs to fix their death trap passing lanes.
Next year Caltrans will widen US 395 to four lanes, and bypass both Olancha and Cartago to the west with a completely new highway alignment.
Mongo knows every time he drives 395 that he may die.
Mongo will call 911 if he smells or sees a driver smoking weed.
395 demands more respect than many, I drive it quite a bit and regularly see potentially deadly happenings. I see people who I assume are sober making huge mistakes nearly every time I travel it.
I want to live, if you want to die, go smoke weed on Razorback Ridge or while snowboarding.
I’m more afraid of people on their cell phones or those who need to text while driving or people with a bunch of kids yelling and screaming and bouncing around the car or a dog on their lap or…or
There’s so many things that people do that distract and endanger those around them that someone who smoked a little pot is way down on my list of dangers. Not that smoking pot and driving is a good thing….
I love that statement, “officers developed probable cause,” more likely “created probable” cause.
Warning to dopers, stay off 395.
he should be stoned