MovieChat Forums > Traffic (2001) Discussion > That wire tap wouldn't be accepted in co...

That wire tap wouldn't be accepted in court


JFYI

reply

Do we know that it wasn't authorized??? Legal wiretaps and microphones have been hidden in lamps, ect. The wiretap on Mafia head Paul Castellano was placed during a covert break-in to his home. Cheadle didn't even break in.

reply

I think cops use illegal wire taps to gain information that will then lead them to getting evidence they can use in a case.

reply

Why would you think that? There was no suggestion in the film that Cheadle lacked a warrant for the bug. Once a warrant is issued, the government is allowed to use surreptitious means, including outright breaking-and-entering, to plant the listening device.

reply

They don't know what they're talking about.

reply

The wiretab is to get info tho bust them on the job

reply

"Once a warrant is issued, the government is allowed to use surreptitious means, including outright breaking-and-entering, to plant the listening device."

That's not quite true. Before a warrant is issued. Law enforcement have to tell and explain to the judge on how the wire/bug is to be placed. A judge will only allow breaking and entering if no other way can be used. And they only have a set about of time before the warrant goes "cold."

reply

It is assumed Cheadle's charactor was working within the authorization of the warrant. Why is that so hard to understand? He had a wardant to do what he did, therefore the info gained from it is permissible in court.

reply

It doesn't matter whether it's acceptable or not. It would of been found in a few days anyway. They said earlier in the movie the place is sweeped for bugs twice a day. That's why the lawyer turned up the music and whispered. These are high level drug kingpins, they know to look for wire taps. After a few plans going wrong they would start to get suspicious and figure out either someone is ratting on them and/or they are being tapped.

reply

You got 2 different scenes mixed up.

reply


I think we can safely assume the wiretap was authorized. No need to spell it out; Cheadle's satisfied expression tells us enough.

As for sweeps, I figured the whole incident was scripted - Cheadle confronts them and makes a scene specifically so that the next thing they talk about will, in fact, be the assassination.

It's a long accepted interrogation trick - get the suspect off guard enough to start talking

reply

JFYI the cops probably possibly might know that.

It would be helpful to think a step ahead.

reply

[deleted]

I don't get how they didn't see him put it there.

reply