Are out-of-state cops targeting Colo. drivers over pot laws?

DENVER - A Colorado man says police across the country are targeting drivers with license plates from his home state in hopes of making an arrest for marijuana possession, reports CBS Denver.

According to the station, the man, who was not identified, filed a lawsuit against the Idaho State Police accusing a trooper of presuming he had marijuana simply because his plates were from Colorado. He claims he was pulled over three times for no apparent reason.

Colorado is one of two states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use.

Another Colorado man, Mark Jennings, claims he was stopped three times by Illinois State Police as he was driving to Ohio to take care of his sick father, according to the station.

Of his three stops, Jennings says he only received one written warning. During one of the stops, the officer reportedly told Jennings his air freshener was obstructing his view. Jennings said that in itself seemed strange, but when he was asked to get out of his car he knew something else was going on.

"I believe it was either three or four other state troopers pulled up in other vehicles," said Jennings.

Jennings says he waited in the police cruiser for 45 minutes while officers searched his vehicle. He claims they removed everything inside and even ripped off part of his door panel, reports the station.

"The Colorado license plates didn't hit me until I was sitting in the car and watched the other vehicles pull up. Then at that point I knew for sure it was absolutely them thinking I was taking drugs from Colorado into another state," said Jennings.

When officers didn't find anything, he was allowed to go. But just two miles away, he was stopped again, according to CBS Denver.

"The third time I had to explain to the officer that his comrades behind me had just searched me," said Jennings.

While Jennings says he was never told what officers were looking for, he's certain it was because of his Colorado plates.

"It was actually very traumatic. I just don't want to see anybody else have to go through this," said Jennings.

The Illinois State Police could not be reached for comment.