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Drug Laws Prove Superfluous in Monroe, Louisiana, Highway Stop This Weekend

from the Drug Policy News Writing Demonstration Project
The following adaptation is based on an article by staff, (Man Booked for Drug Possession, Dec 6, 2009, The News-Star), and is part of a demonstration project on drug policy conducted by the publication Drug War Chronicle.
Original Title: 
Man Booked for Drug Possession
Original URL: 
http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20091207/NEWS01/912070323
Original Publication: 
The News-Star
Original Pubdate: 
1260075600

Louisiana state troopers arrested a Monroe resident on Sunday, in an incident that demonstrated the superfluousness of drug prohibition laws.

According to The News-Star, state troopers stopped the suspect, a 34-year old man, after they saw him speeding in a Ford Taurus on eastbound Highway 594. The man was booked into Ouachita Correctional Center on charges of speeding, violating the open container law, possession of marijuana and possession of PCP.

"The road safety laws were all that were needed to take this dangerous driver off the road," said David Borden, executive director of StoptheDrugWar.org. "Laws banning drug possession did nothing to make the traffic stop more likely -- the troopers didn't even know about the drugs when they stopped the guy."

The suspect's bond was set at $17,150, according to The News-Star.

Geography: 
Monroe, LA
Harvest NID: 
83
Original Author: 
staff

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