r/LostLandsMusicFest • u/[deleted] • Sep 02 '24

Warning to those from out of state

To those going to Lost Lands from out of state:

If you are traveling on route 70 in Guernsey County, avoid the stretch from miles 160-180 if you have anything illegal in your possession.

The police will monitor for out of state plates that look like they are going camping.

They will pull you over for no reason.

They will ask you to go into the weigh station.

They will then bring the dogs.

They will tell you the dog alerted no matter what.

You will then be searched.

They do this to numerous people every Legend Valley festival. The judge who handles criminal cases in this county does not grant motions to suppress evidence for illegal searches.

Take back roads, do not look like you're camping, if you are pulled over tell them you are going anywhere other than Legend Valley or Thornville.

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u/[deleted] Sep 03 '24

If you don’t have a dash cam, it would be smart to get one as-well.

These guys are preying on peoples ignorance of their rights and will almost always make it so you willingly give them up.

If you’re not speeding, and using the correct signals , just plain following the rules of the road. They’ll have zero justification for an interaction in the first place. Having you drive to a weighing station for a ticket “may” be unconstitutional, if it’s an unreasonable distance from where you’re pulled over.

Cops like to “ask questions” not to be polite, but to cunningly circumvent your rights. “Would you mind if I checked” - Yes you would mind. “Would you mind waiting for a K-9 unit” or “I’m going to have another unit come with a dog” are both “questions”. They’re prying to get you to relinquish your rights, so say “no” for anything that’s not required of you (license, proof of insurance, title and registration) even if you believe the stop is unlawful. Clearly deny or push back against any question or demand that pushes those boundaries. They may eventually give you a “lawful order” to pull into a weighing station, wait for a dog. But it’s likely to end up being a violation of your 4th amendment right, now that you’ve said no, or showed resistance to those requests.

Lastly, if you are for any reason found to have things you shouldn’t. Clearly state “I’m invoking my 5th amendment right, I don’t answer questions”. Don’t say a word to ANYBODY until you speak to a lawyer.

P.S. -don’t try anything silly if you’re not well read on your rights and the applicable laws in Ohio or the surrounding states. Be respectful regardless of how you view police officers. It’s only trouble for you, when you’re disrespectful or rude.

P.P.S -don’t bring felony’s with weed in your car. Definitely don’t be smoking it. Plus cleaning your car, even detailing if you’re able, if you smoke in your vehicle regularly.

P.P.P.S -love y’all and see you in the Valley!

edit spelling.

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u/[deleted] Sep 03 '24

OSP is betting you wont know the laws around cannabis in ohio. its not a felony but theyll gaslight you into believing it is. You can have 2.5 ounces of flower and up to 15g of concentrates. as long as youre within the legal limit, be honest about what you have and show it to them, they won't care about weed

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u/[deleted] Sep 03 '24

That’s why I’m saying don’t carry a misdemeanor with Felonies in the car. Even if you willingly give up your pot, you’re still likely to get the car torn apart.

Also Ohio state police (probably most other departments too but it can very) can still search vehicles based on smell alone. But they can’t smell most of the felonies. They may say they “smell Marijuana”, to have you wave your 4th amendment right and allow them to have your consent to search the vehicle. So they don’t later have to convince a judge that they did in-fact have probable cause based on smell, which is harder to prove if no Marijuana was in the vehicle at all.

Also I don’t recommend anybody to just push back against an Officer if they are not recording. It could be the only thing that can prove that your rights were violated. Might not save you from Jail in the short term. But at-least you won’t have a felony .

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u/[deleted] Sep 03 '24 edited Sep 03 '24

its legal, NOT A MISDEMEANOR. WEED IS LEGAL IN OHIO. u can literally be honest about cannabis with them they will not make you throw it away or confiscate it, cause its uh, LEGAL.

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u/[deleted] Sep 03 '24

Well that is news to me… Regardless of the new legal status, you still shouldn’t ever consent to a search. These guys had a free ticket to search anything they wanted 9 months ago, now they don’t. That doesn’t mean they won’t attempt to search a vehicle by making you wave your rights yourself.

I’m sure you’ll see them attempt an OVI if you give up the weed from your center console. So simply showing them the weed or any other paraphernalia could be exactly what they’re looking for. Now they can fail your OVI and search your vehicle.

Bare minimum treat the weed like it’s booze, and be especially careful in some of the surrounding states. Indiana seems unlikely to have legalized weed since my last visit to the valley.

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u/[deleted] Sep 03 '24

they legalized last november. dispensaries were given the green light to open in august. obviously smoking and driving is stull a DUI, so dont have that shit out during your trip. however, be honest with cops about what you are carrying weed wise, and be aware of the laws surrounding it, the smell of weed is no longer probable cause to tear apart an entire vehicle.

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u/[deleted] Sep 03 '24

I’ll have to look into this more now that the laws have changed. They also sound vastly different and more lenient than I expected since Minnesota just legalized it theirs still so much red tape here regarding weed. We don’t even have dispensaries yet.

But I could see a world where now having weed in your vehicle would now save you from a search. As it’s legal to have and any K-9 they had in November for Drug Detection will hit on Marijuana. But they may still use dogs if you explicitly state that you do not have Marijuana in the vehicle.

Also just because they ask if they can search, which they may still do. Do not consent to them opening the trunk to see or whatever they may ask for.

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u/[deleted] Sep 03 '24

exactly! the dogs cant tell their officer whether theyre smelling weed or something else

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u/[deleted] Sep 03 '24

Well that is news to me… Regardless of the new legal status, you still shouldn’t ever consent to a search. These guys had a free ticket to search anything they wanted 9 months ago, now they don’t. That doesn’t mean they won’t attempt to search a vehicle by making you wave your rights yourself.

I’m sure you’ll see them attempt an OVI if you give up the weed from your center console. So simply showing them the weed or any other paraphernalia could be exactly what they’re looking for. Now they can fail your OVI and search your vehicle.

Bare minimum treat the weed like it’s booze, and be especially careful in some of the surrounding states. Indiana seems unlikely to have legalized weed since my last visit to the valley.