. . . and you thought this was a no brainer? Yet the holding is derived from a
recent decision of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in a case where Coronado, California Police Officer Brian McPherson blasted motorist Carl Bryan, then 21, with a 1200-volt taser during a traffic stop over a minor infraction on the Coronado Bridge near San Diego, five years ago. Bryan lost four of his front teeth and was hit with “resisting arrest” charges. He sued, claiming excessive force had been used. The court held that the intermediate, significant level of force delivered by a taser must be justified by a significant threat to the officer. Bryan's seatbelt infraction was not enough.
Nice to know next time you are pulled over for a fix-it ticket and the cop takes out your teeth.
[Source: via
The Truth About Cars]
