Words fail me...

[ffutures]

I doubt I'll be visiting the USA any time soon.

Canadian SF author Peter Watts assaulted by US border guards then faces assault charges

You can read his stories and donate to his defence via the paypal link on this page - http://www.rifters.com/real/shorts.htm

Comments

[elementalv.livejournal.com]

U.S. border guards are dicks, though they usually reserve that level of asshat for U.S. citizens returning from Canada.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean. Pam has a business trip to do in Toronto in the Spring, and the plan was we'd drive up together. Now that she's read this, she'll probably catch a plane on her own . . .

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

I feel sorry for the guy, but his case isn't much different than this:

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/mom_in_minivan_tasered_in_traf.html

Here's how you should react to traffic stops in the US:

Pull over as soon as you hear or see sirens. If the police have pulled you over, put both of your hands on the top of the steering wheel: don't reach for anything (license, registration) until the officer is standing by your window and asking for them. You also don't want to make any sudden moves. You want to be polite and deferential, and answer questions as briefly as possible (and only speak when spoken to). You should only get out of your vehicle if the officer asks you to do so.

Not following any of these rules can result in getting tased, shot, or worse. The time to complain is in court, not during the stop. Complaining during the stop can only go badly for you.

If you've seen enough traffic stops, especially the ones that go wrong, all of this makes perfect sense.

[inamac.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, good advice, in any country. But putting that into the tourguides - which is where it needs to be - isn't going to do the US tourism industry any good.

Especially that Not following any of these rules can result in getting tased, shot, or worseline...

[robertprior.livejournal.com]

You know, that's a rule I'd never have deduced from watching the behaviour of American tourists overseas…

[laney-1974.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'll be visiting the US any time soon, either. That's disgusting.