Snooping in the Garbage

Poor Billy Greenwood of Laguna Beach. Was he a victim of warrantless police search of his garbage? Those nasty local police invaded his constitutional rights to privacy. They searched Billy’s curb-side garbage for evidence of illegal drug activities. What is unforgivable, to some, is that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the actions of the police.

Now Yoder asks America, “Do we really expect snoops in our garbage?” What will be next? He suggested that there is an inherent threat to our right to privacy in the actions of the police and the decision of the court. He does concede there is “ . . . Some urgency, given the state of public hysteria, to prosecute drug peddlers.”

Well Edwin, your questions do rate a response from an irate reader. First, hurrah for the clever police of Laguna Beach! And hurrah for the trash collectors who assisted the police in snatching Greenwood’s trash. They all should get public service awards for keeping trash off the street and out of our kids.

Just think of this dynamic duel--police and the trash collectors vs. Billy Greenwood, accused drug dealer and his high priced attorney and. The good guys won in the U.S. Supreme Court. Hurrah for Justice Byron White and the boys and girl at the court.

The national concern over drugs in society is more than just public hysteria. It represents an awakening to the danger posed to every facet of our society by drug dealers who would make a world of human trash.

No, the actions of the police and the court do not threaten our privacy. They attempt to insure the “right to life, liberty and our sacred honor.”

Oh yes, a hurrah for Yoder for asking us to think carefully about judicial logic.

JAMES DEE ROGERS

San Diego