Maryland Man Feels Discriminated Against, Gets That Not-So-Fresh Feeling
23 October 2007, 3:00 PM. By Alex Alvarez
Mauricio Arellano, a Mexican-born resident of Maryland, feels he was discriminated by cops who stopped him for having too many air fresheners on his rearview mirror. Allegedly. Arellano thinks cops were using his love of scents like Evergreen, New Car Smell and Sweet, Sweet Suburban Mediocrity as an excuse to pull him over and check his immigration status. (As you may know, authorities can do that now if they think you look too brown).
Arellano, who is in the U.S. on a temporary visa, showed authorities his Mexican and international drivers licenses, but was nonetheless arrested for lacking proper identification. And, sure, multiple air fresheners are inherently hilarious, but hold tight to that commemorative Cheech Marin bobblehead you’ve got stuck to your dashboard, compay, because this shit could happen to you:
Frederick County NAACP President Guy Djoken says groundless traffic stops could increase under Sheriff Charles Jenkins’ proposed partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Wait, what’s that we smell? Mmmm, racial profiling. And wintergreen!
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So, like, how many is too many…air fresheners, that is.
I got pulled over on a Maryland tollway because of my Boca Juniors jersey….
Having multiple air fresheners is a drug trafficking red flag to cops, as they are usually used (albeit ineffectively) to mask the odor of marijuana and/or meth (or the materials used to make meth).
If you have a LOT of them (probably 4+) it’ll attract attention. Also, they could be blocking vision through the front windscreen (at least in CA they have a law against that) if they are too massive/bulky.
Why do the traficantes have to cramp a tried and true stereotype?
Can’t they use some of those plastic pucks with the sticky thing on the back to keep their car smelling fresh?
Looks like it’s time for those silk screened and otherwise useless cds to make their resurgence. I thought I’d been spared. Because, you know, they’re perfect to snort meth off of.