The pinpoint search.

• Author: Henigson, Steve
• Position: Letters - Letter to the editor

Even the crude technology of the drug-sniffing dog could grossly abrogate my civil rights. It'll be even worse when the cop on the street gets to use the "pinpoint" search technology described in Julian Sanchez's article ("The Pinpoint Search," January). Here's how:

Let's say that I'm driving on a public thoroughfare, and that I happen to exceed the speed limit by more than the unofficially tolerated five miles per hour. Let's say that I am then stopped by a traffic cop who, while writing my citation, applies the new "pinpoint" technology. Let's also say that the "sniffer" gives the cop a positive reading for marijuana, and that this probable cause leads to an extensive whole-body and whole-car search. In the end, after a couple of very cold and uncomfortable hours, no solid evidence is found other than the original positive reading, so I am released with my traffic citation in hand.

Now, let's say that I am truly innocent and have never in my life possessed or smoked (or ingested) marijuana. Let's further say that I had purchased the car in question only a week before...