Midland cop caught fishing for violations just to get his hands on the driver's ID. The driver in this traffic stop out of Midland, Texas, put on a clinic with regards to knowing your rights when the "reasonable suspicion" starts to shift mid-conversation. Officer Gilpin initially pulls the driver over claiming he was holding his phone. The driver immediately points to the dashboard mount. The phone wasn’t in his hand; it was secured. Once the phone excuse fell through, the officer pivoted, claiming the driver was speeding. The driver’s response? He was doing 16 mph in a 25 mph zone. When challenged, Gilpin admitted he didn't use radar and wasn't pacing the vehicle—he was sitting still. He claimed he knew the driver was speeding based on "visual interpretation" alone. The driver demanded a supervisor which also does not seem know the law as he also wanted the ID just because he asked. Meanwhile Texas is not id on demand state. Because the initial reason for the stop was proven false and the second reason lacked any objective evidence, the driver refused to hand over his ID, citing his Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable seizure. After this footage went viral, the Midland Police Department conducted an internal review. They concluded the officer’s conduct didn't meet department standards, and the City Manager later confirmed that the officer faced disciplinary action. When you know the law and have the footage to back it up, "visual interpretations" don't hold much weight in the face of the facts.
