Consider each of the following scenarios:

Scenario 1: Police officer is riding along when he spots a car with a black male driver.  As he follows a policy of racial profiling, the officer checks the database and finds out that the car is not insured.  He thus pulls the car over. When he approaches the car, he smells marijuana; that gives him probable cause to check the vehicle and upon further inspection, he finds a firearm and cocaine.  He arrests the driver.  The marijuana possession is a misdemeanor, the cocaine possession is a felony, the firearm possession is a felony even though he is licensed to own the gun (because he has it in his possession while committing a felony—the possessing of the cocaine).

Scenario 2: Police officer is riding along and checks as many license plate numbers as he can as he passes cars.  He simply types in the plate numbers on his keypad conveniently located next to his steering wheel.  In one case, he finds out that the car is not insured.  He thus pulls the car over. When he approaches the car, he smells marijuana; that gives him probable cause to check the vehicle and upon further inspection, he finds a firearm and cocaine.  He arrests the driver.  Same charges as in scenario 1.

Scenario 3: Police officer is riding along in a new vehicle that has equipment that automatically gathers the license plate numbers of all cars in its vicinity, checks them on the database, and notifies the driver of the vehicle if any show up with problems.  The officer is notified of a car that is not insured.  He thus pulls the car over. When he approaches the car, he smells marijuana; that gives him probable cause to check the vehicle and upon further inspection, he finds a firearm and cocaine.  He arrests the driver.  Same charges as in scenario 1 and 2.

So which is worse? The racial profiling in scenario 1, the activity that seems very similar to texting and driving in scenario 2, or Big Brother’s presence in scenario 3?