Yes, you are driving with a defective taillight. The officer orders you out of your car. (You are now a direct threat to his personal security). You are ordered to 'spread' against the car. You are searched. For reasons known only to him, and over your forceful but polite protest, you are placed under arrest. You are driven to the station house and are strip-searched prior to being placed in a holding cell since a magistrate is not immediately available to set bail. Improbable? Probably. Impossible? Hardly. Legal? Authur Mendelson takes you through the legal and policy implications of just such an event as described above. (Publisher abstract)