Court Rules Flock Camera Data Enough Probable Cause For THC Stop On Wisconsin Border

Here's another reason Flock cameras are very unpopular with the public. A Wisconsin court case has ruled that frequent trips across the Michigan/Wisconsin border are probable cause for searching a vehicle for THC possession.

Flock Camera Recording Vehicle Traveling To And From Michigan

404 Media reports that Edward Abrams-Philips was arrested on marijuana possession charges after he was pulled over and searched while traveling southbound on Interstate 41 towards Green Bay. His vehicle was tracked through the Flock camera network during the course of the day, traveling to Michigan, where marijuana is legal, and then back into Wisconsin.

Creates Probable Cause For Traffic Stop

Based on previous Flock camera recordings, they determined that Abrams-Philips travels between Michigan and Wisconsin frequently, and that alone created probable cause for the traffic stop.

The probable cause justification reads:

"The vehicle travels to Michigan Frequently which is a known source state for mairjuana as it is legal there."

That sets a precedent for getting pulled over just because you drive from Wisconsin to Michigan and back. Michigan's legal recreational marijuana is far cheaper than nearby states. It's at least 4 times cheaper than the Minnesota legal marijuana market.

Increased Traffic Stops At Michigan / Wisconsin Border

Ken Hayes

That's brought a lot of out-of-state buyers, many of them not realizing that it is illegal to cross through Wisconsin. Which, by the way, they are very much targeting THC possession in vehicles.

Read More: Wisconsin State Patrol Targeting THC At Michigan Border

The Wisconsin State Patrol has been pulling over vehicles for any minor violation and then searching vehicles for marijuana. Speeding, expired license plates, tinted windows, or even snow covering a license plate has been enough reason to pull over vehicles and ask the occupants if they have THC in their possession, even when there are no visible signs.

Interactive Map Shows All Flock Cameras

DeFlock.org has an interactive map showing the location of all Flock cameras. As you can see there, there are thousands across the region, and many of them are near the Wisconsin / Michigan border.