The old lady had me take a look at this. Impressed me enough to cause me to break my on-line silence. I know you, so let me testify for any stray readers that your version of events should be taken quite literally. What did they end up citing you for that you had to go to court? And the answer I’m dying to know, what condition was your car in when you got it back? (Or did you?) Did it seem like the panels had been removed and replaced, because I’m practically sure that the reason you, your car, etc. were detained through the morning was so they could search for the origin of the stanky. (Somebody must have spilled some hemp oil in there, man. I have a buddy who left a salmon in his car trunk in the summer heat once… But I regress.)

Based on some personal expertise (that is, with membership in the coercive arms of government), I assess that the length of your stay was certainly aggravated by straight-up bureaucracy, especially since they probably didn’t have a procedure on the books to deal with such an outlier. On the other hand, the fact that they went ahead and booked you after determining they had no grounds for an immediate use charge indicates they had expectation that either a confession or a car search was going to yield a hit. The pressure you were experiencing is consistent with “interrogation by environment.” Are you sure they we’re sweating you? From law enforcement’s perspective, they had probable cause to seize the vehicle because you fit the profile of a mule making an early morning run.

Let this be a lesson kids: 1) don’t do dagga; 2) don’t haul dagga; 3) try not to look like your hauling dagga; and 4) if you’re got a car that smells like dope, drive like preachers claim to live and memorize a good lawyer’s number along with mom’s.

Better luck always.