Monday, 16 February 2026

Mike Hanson Records Man Arrested After Appearing To Pass Sobriety Test August 3. 2003 [d X4OQKzX9U]

A routine sobriety checkpoint in Austin turns into a constitutional standoff when a Police Watch volunteer documents arrests and faces threats of barratry from local officers.

Michael Hanson Austin Police Police Watch Barratry Civil Liberties Fourth Amendment

By Mike Hanson Archives | 19m listen | 4 chapters

RSS Transcript

Mike Hanson Records Man Arrested After Appearing To Pass Sobriety Test August 3. 2003 [d X4OQKzX9U] cover

About this episode

Michael Hanson captured footage of Austin Police Department officers Roach and Wagner conducting what he alleges were false sobriety arrests over two consecutive nights in August 2003. The confrontation escalated in a Church's Chicken parking lot when Hanson attempted to provide his contact information to a detainee, leading to immediate police intervention and threats of arrest for barratry. Hanson maintains that the individuals being processed showed no visible signs of intoxication and that the police actions constituted a direct violation of civil liberties.

Officers Roach and Wagner accused Hanson of illegal solicitation and claimed he possessed an outstanding local traffic warrant, a charge Hanson denied while invoking his Fourth Amendment right to remain silent. The dispute centered on whether the Police Watch volunteer's offer of free witness footage qualified as barratry under Texas law. Hanson countered by citing his role on the police department's focus committee and his history of litigation against other members of the force. The standoff intensified as Hanson refused to exit his vehicle or provide identification without a supervisor present on the scene.

Michael Hanson signaled for the activation of an activist phone tree to bring additional cameras and witnesses to the site to document the police conduct. The recording captures the raw tension of early 2000s cop-watching culture as Hanson threatens a civil rights lawsuit against the specific officers involved. This archival footage serves as a primary source for the ongoing friction between independent legal observers and the Austin Police Department.

CHAPTER 01 / 4 Discussion

Michael Hanson Witnesses Police Arrests in Austin

Michael Hanson observes and records Austin police officers conducting roadside sobriety tests and arrests over two consecutive nights. Hanson expresses skepticism regarding the validity of the arrests, claiming the individuals did not appear intoxicated. During a phone call, he describes the scene as a violation of civil liberties and prepares to document the interaction with his camera.

michael hanson· police arrest· roadside sobriety test· freedom of speech· austin

00:27 How's it going? What's going on officer? Nothing, how are you doing? I'm doing fine. Got him going off to somewhere... uh oh Here they go Alright well let me know if you can because they.. Oh look he is looking right at me Oh he is mad too boy Oh god You better... I might have to give an emergency call He has given me the evil eye Oh no! I don't know who he is but he has given me the most evil eye ever

01:35 Wait till you see this film. They're making him do the same thing as the other night, he didn't look drunk to me I don't think any of these people are drunk i think they just pull them out the car and if they can't do their deals then haul em off which is a buncha bull no it's some women in the car let me call ya back I'll call you back alright bye

05:46 Hello. We got another one out here that they just arrested and I tell you what, he was not drunk

09:43 Y'all better be careful because I tell you what they're doing out here. They are really arresting the people This is like, you know two nights in a row there just arresting everybody inside I couldn't even do the stuff that they got these people doing let me call you back cuz I'm right in the middle of I'm riding them it'll be right in the middle of a lot three cops. I got I'll call you right back This is called freedom of speech. No sir, it's not! Yes it is

CHAPTER 02 / 4 Discussion

Michael Hanson Confronts Officers Roach and Wagner

Michael Hanson engages in a heated verbal altercation with Officers Roach and Wagner after attempting to give his business card to a detainee. The officers accuse Hanson of barratry and claim he has an outstanding local traffic warrant, which Hanson vehemently denies. Hanson invokes his First Amendment rights and his status as a member of the police department's focus committee while demanding a supervisor.

michael hanson· officer roach· officer wagner· barratry· first amendment

11:57 No, it's not. It is called giving her the tape I said if she wants to take you cannot you cannot violate the freedom of speech. OK? Yes, Mr Hanson to just step out of the way they can come talk to you if they want yeah I'm giving my card I have a right too. I have a right. I have a right yes I do. Freedom of speech. I have a right now is to leave because you do have a local warrant. Oh really let me let me call that into I do have it all. I'm just glad you're watching the whole thing Yeah, sure do and i have a right to give her my card You're wrong ma'am Nobody's saying that you know it! She just got through saying that I was baritrary That's bull! You better get a supervisor out here Hey, you better get down here right now They are trying to accuse me of baritary When I gave the girl my card because I taped it off And they said I've got a local warrant That's a buncha bull I wanna see it Your wrong about that cause I know I don't No, he doesn't

12:56 No, you said me. I do have a warrant for you? No it's not a warrant for me! They're saying there is a warrant that's a lie Yeah...I got somebody on the way. I'll sue you just like i'm suing six other cops For false arrest! For false arrests! I am on the focus committee of the police department You can't tell me that I cant give her a card! He did I'm saying you have a warrant. No, i don't have a warrant. Yes you do! Send the supervisor over here send the lady-the two lady supervisors over here. I just talked to them about 2 days ago You are violating my freedom of speech both y'all Just remember that this is the United States of America This is America YOU are public servant just remember that

13:51 Oh my God, I want to call Taylor or something. We are on TV we're on public access TV so you can that you cannot say that i'm not a part of the meeting? I got a press pass did you want to see my press pass? I'll go get it! I'll go get it yeah it's right there First of all, I want you to identify yourself right now for me. What is your name sir? Right here okay what is your name? I'm asking you to identify yourself. Roach Okay because under general orders you're required to identify yourself for me. Y'all falsely arrested this man! I have a right to say so. I have it all on tape he was not drunk

14:40 I couldn't even do what that meant. I could not, I could not even do it. And and i'm not this where's your crime scene? I'll get uh...I have a right to give her my card ma'am what is your name for the record under general orders of stand me know i'm talking here i'm talking about Wagner Wagner okay I sure appreciate that man identifying yourself I have no problem identifying myself. But, uh...I don't appreciate you accusing me of bear treatment! I accused you of having a warrant! I do not have a warrant! You tell me what the warrant is and i'll tell if that's true or not. A local traffic warrant? I DO NOT HAVE A TRAFFIC WARRANT! Mike Hanson right there on your line! That's the same fence 726 of 63 correct?!

CHAPTER 03 / 4 Discussion

Police Watch Activism and Barratry Allegations

Officers question Michael Hanson regarding his identity and a potential warrant while Hanson invokes the Fourth Amendment to refuse answering questions. The dispute centers on whether Hanson's attempt to provide a witness tape to a detainee constitutes illegal solicitation or barratry. Hanson clarifies that his work with Police Watch is a volunteer service and that he intends to provide the footage for free to document what he terms false arrests.

police watch· fourth amendment· barratry· legal solicitation· press pass

15:29 I do not have a warrant. You're wrong about that! Your name is Michael Hanson? Yes it is And how old are you sir? I don't answer questions under the 4th Amendment Mr. Hanson, is that your vehicle? Yes it sure is but I don't have no traffic warrant Okay, if you're down here tell Jimmy to get down her with the camera right now because they are trying say I have a traffic warran which I never...I did NOT have a traffic warrant That's a damn lie No, I got him here. Accusing me of bear treat just giving the girl a card can you believe that? What is Bear Tree sir? Roads 3539 Yeah he's now doing his general orders. Uh i'll be calling Coy about this. I'l go to the police monitor again on these people Yall made this public property by going into a church of chicken too This is private parking lot You don't have any authority here no

16:34 Yeah Hurry up, you know what church of chicken is on 7th Street. Okay? I Did ask for a supervisor hadn't got one yet Okay, I have a right to tell the girl who I am and what and give her card You can't say I don't I got it all on tape and you better not try to take this tape away under the First Amendment. I want you get here give me another tape We have it on tape too Yeah, I have it on tape that man was not drunk I couldn't even drink and I couldn't do the things he said He's talking about his intoxication I'm talking about what you did Not what he Oh! I didn't do anything I got that on tape too Good He was not drunk He was our designated driver Was there?

17:27 Y'all just arrested somebody, falsely arrested somebody. Now you're trying to get me on something? You're not gonna do it! I'm sorry but you're wrong. I am part of Police Watch and have a right to be here and I'm on the focus committee. I never said that you didn't have the right to be here. She's not part of the crime scene If you'd like to listen then I'll tell ya what i was going to say if you want to talk then ill listen We're waiting. I got a recorder on this line too, I got... Waiting for what? You said you wanted to talk to me Okay, do you want to listen? Yeah come over to my van and i'll listen What did you want sir? You have the right to be here but you don't have the right to approach upon my crime scene. You weren't even nowhere near around there and that girl..I can give that girl my card!

18:16 and offer your services as a solicitor. No, I do everything for free here! We're a volunteer organization you cannot say that I'm baritrary, that's like a lawyer or something I'm not a lawyer. I don't practice law you're wrong Mr.. Rose What did you offer to do for her? I wanted to give her the tape of this and I have a right to give her a copy of this tape because we're in police watch We give it all up You try it and see if I don't sue you for false arrest you try it Okay, you better ask around there and see if some of your officers are not being sued for same thing

CHAPTER 04 / 4 Discussion

Activation of Activist Phone Tree and Legal Threats

Michael Hanson calls for the activation of an activist phone tree to bring more witnesses and cameras to the scene at a Church's Chicken parking lot. He threatens to sue the involved officers for false arrest, noting that he is already involved in litigation against other members of the department. Hanson remains in his vehicle to continue documenting the police activity and coordinating a response from his organization.

phone tree· police monitoring· false arrest· lawsuit· civil rights activism

18:59 Call Jamie and get the phone tree activated. Get the phone tree activated, we need to get some people down here. Get Scott down here, get them all down here. Call me back and I'll do it. Yeah call Lee bye. Yeah i'm gonna sit right in my van and start calling people to come down That man did nothing wrong. Y'all are falsely arresting him and you can't stop me from saying that you can arrest me all you want but he ain't gonna, this tape's not going in your pocket