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Limousines searched during prom
DMV agents look inside; Belman driver refuses to allow access, citing clients' privacy.Date published: 5/22/2006 By MELISSA NIX Department of Motor Vehicles staff brought a search tactic reportedly used at Northern Virginian proms a little farther south Saturday night. As limousines pulled up to Colonial Forge High School's junior-senior prom, DMV agents asked to search the vehicles. Most drivers agreed to the searches, except for one. Prom-goers began arriving at the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center around 8 p.m. Once limousine drivers dropped off passengers, DMV enforcement agents asked to see chauffeur licenses and to search vehicles for alcohol and drugs. Most limousine drivers submitted to the searches, but Jason Belman, of Elsie Belman Limousine and Sedan Service, refused to let agents search his vehicle. He dropped off his passengers, Robert Hensel Jr. and Ashley Payne, at around 9:30 p.m, he said. And then agents pulled over his 2005 Lincoln stretch limousine and two other limousines. They asked for documents and identification, to make sure he was licensed to drive a limo. He was. "Then they asked if they could search my vehicle," Belman said. "I said, 'I'd rather not,' because my clients weren't there and I did not know if they wanted their things gone through. So I said no. They kinda got rude about it then." Belman said the agents said they would call a K-9 unit. "I said, 'Please do. I'm not hiding nothing.'" Dogs sniffed outside the car without problem, but Belman refused their entry. He was detained in his vehicle for about 50 minutes because he refused the search, he said. "Another reason I didn't want them to search the vehicle is because they said, 'If anything's in there, you'll be charged. You're the captain of the vehicle.' Later they tried to change their story, but I know what I heard." He asked the agents to call a friend of his on the Fredericksburg Police Force. When his friend showed up, Belman said he was released. "I did not let the officers search my vehicle," he said. His aunt, owner of the limousine service, backs her nephew's decision. Elsie Belman said when a policeman contacted her for permission to search the vehicle, she said no, too.
Date published: 5/22/2006
Probable Cause
(posted by
harleychick
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
I am sure there was moe than one young person that was 21. Did the DMV agents ask to search these other cars that were arriving? I can agree on checking credentials from the Limo drivers, for the safety of the passengers they are transporting, but without probable cause to search seems aliitle steep to me, if the driver was legal to drive, and the Limo passed inspection, then that should have been that! The Agents should have moved on to more important projects.
Belman is my new limosine service
(posted by
niteshiftprn
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Maybe the DMV Agents should be used to serve the public in the service centers so the wait isn't so long instead of using taxpayers money in such a ridiculous way!
Belman a hero
(posted by
Malakand
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Well done, it isn't easy to stand up to intimidation by governmental authorities. If DMV had a right to search by law they would have - since they did not, and were denied permission, they showed arrogance by insisting. Der oberkommando was defeated by democracy.
4th amendment
(posted by
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
The drivers were asked if they could search, not forced! So the 4th amendment does not apply. The driver in the article did not consent and the officers found no reason to search. I will say the use of the K9 was stupid and a waste of taxpayer funds.
Snoopy1234?
(posted by
majstoll
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
What federal or Virginia statute or regulation delete's CDL holders' 4th Amendment Rights? Please provide cite(s).
Mike Stollenwerk
www.FairfaxCountyPrivacyCouncil.org
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