Driver: Pro-pot sticker led to ticket from offended cop

Rocky Mountain News

AURORA - The rear window of Paul Wansing's Ford pickup truck is decorated with an array of political stickers, including one with the message: "Legalize Marijuana - Just say know more."

Wansing claims that's the reason he was pulled over by an Aurora police officer who he says told him he was "offended" by the sticker then cited him for a cracked windshield.

On Friday, two days after the traffic stop, Wansing stood with members of the pro-pot group SAFER outside Aurora's municipal building.

"In my eyes, this is a violation of freedom of speech," said the 26-year-old Aurora chef. "My mission is to let people know that rights are being violated by certain members of law enforcement."

Mason Tvert, a founder of SAFER, which persuaded Denver voters in November to legalize possession by adults of small amounts of marijuana, said "anti-marijuana madness has got to end."

"The demonization of marijuana in this country is apparently so out of hand that police officers feel it appropriate to pull someone over for simply suggesting that marijuana should be legal," he said.

Police said it was the number of stickers on the truck window that caught the attention of the officer, who then noticed the crack as well.

In addition, Wansing was cited for having a softball-size air freshener dangling from his rearview mirror, which police say could obstruct his view.