The Illusion Of Choice.

So i'll explain the scenario from the begining.

Its a standard afternoon. I get pulled up by the cops. JUST as i'm driving into my street. I've not done anything wrong. But its a random licence check. In the nearly 3 years i've been driving this is the first time its happened. They run my plates and licence details and tell me to have a nice day.

Police always give me the shivers, even if i'm not doing anything wrong. 

I shrug it off and get on with the day.

The next day. Its just gotten dark and me and a few mates are off to the local park. Just as we pull in to the car park the cops pull in behind us. Again. 

They say 'random licence check. I hand them my licence. As one of them goes away to check the details the other guy says...

 

Cop:'Do you have anything in your car your shouldn't have?' 'Drugs/weapons etc?' 

Me: 'Nope'

Cop: 'Can I search your car?' *starts putting on gloves*

Me: 'Do you have a warrant?'

Cop: 'No, all i need to search your car is reasonable ground of suspicion'

Me: 'So what suspicious behaviour are we exhibiting?'

Cop: 'You're refusing to let me search your car, which i can interperate as suspicious behavior, you have something to hide'

Me: 'Woah, wait a sec. No matter what i say, you can search this car either way even though i haven't actually done anything??'

Cop: 'That's right'

Me: 'Well i guess you can search the car then'

Me: *wonders if i've removed all my tools from the car...*

Cop: *proceeds to search my car (and find nothing)*

Well... That was a learning experience. According to a mate of mine, a lawyer in training... The best i can do to stop a cop searching my car is to say I'd like to have a laywer present and get them to write down what they are doing and why, along with their details. I dare say however, that wasting their time like this will result them in doing an unusually detailed search of my car (and probably my person as well). God help us if they actually find something.

So yeah. 

My question is. Was this even legal? I feel like i've just had my 'rights' pissed on.

Has anyone else had similar experiences?

Please let me know if you have.