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Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about poli

Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

Μολὼν λαβέ;1060645801 said:
So driving over the speed limit is a criminal offense?

I didn't know cops detained you for 12 hours for driving over the speed limit. I thought they just issued a citation and let you go.
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It should be a criminal offense.
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

Tigger said:
It should be a criminal offense.
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First off, you'd have to standardize the speed at which tickets will be given. I know you're going to say the speed limit is already there, but allow me to tell you one time when I was in court to fight a fine issued by an overzealous state trooper for where I was parked getting a nap so that I could be safe, the judge was schooling the troopers on how he didn't want anymore tickets for speed under 10mph over the limit to be clogging his courtroom...(I won my ticket as well)

If the cop can tell you not to drive the speed limit in poor weather, citing it is only a suggestion, than that should hold true in the inverse as well.
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

specklebang said:
So, where is that you are going? Real question, honest curiosity.
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Tigger said:
Probably either Iran or Pakistan.
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Do they have more harsh and appropriate punishments for violations of speeding laws committed by motorists there?
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

Another example of abuse of raw power.

Jay walking is a non-jailable ticket only offense. The only time a person is arrested is IF the person fails to appear for court, doesn't pay the ticket, or is found guilty and then doesn't pay.

Arresting her was a complete abuse of power accordingly unless she refused to sign the ticket. It is no different than would be talking someone to jail for if their car is illegally parked or taking someone to jail for having a tail-light out.
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

j-mac said:
First off, you'd have to standardize the speed at which tickets will be given. I know you're going to say the speed limit is already there, but allow me to tell you one time when I was in court to fight a fine issued by an overzealous state trooper for where I was parked getting a nap so that I could be safe, the judge was schooling the troopers on how he didn't want anymore tickets for speed under 10mph over the limit to be clogging his courtroom...(I won my ticket as well)

If the cop can tell you not to drive the speed limit in poor weather, citing it is only a suggestion, than that should hold true in the inverse as well.
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My step son was pulled over a few weeks ago by a local cop for driving 3 miles an hour over the speed limit in a small town in west Texas. He was driving 38 in a 35 mph zone. My wife was with him and explained they were in a hurry to get to the birth of her first grandchild. He just said "be careful" and let them go.

So Tigger, should they have slapped the cuffs on and taken him to the pokey?
 
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Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

Are you mocking the famed discount philosopher, Specklebang?

I suspect you are just diverting us from you real intentions of joining the Mexican Drug Cartel forces.

Tigger said:
Probably either Iran or Pakistan.
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Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

Giving lip to the cops is a really bad move. They don't have to convict you, they can punish you plenty by just arresting you. They really abuse that power but they have guns and flashing lights and much more power than you do.
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

j-mac said:
Sounds like this woman needs some help from DoJ lawyers on how to obstruct....
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Hopefully she sues the **** out of that city and wins. She has the right to exercise her freedom of speech to warn others. If she wants to warn others of a speed trap,DUI check point or what ever then that is her right and her business.
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

Tigger said:
It should be a criminal offense.
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So you want everyone in jail. I mean if you are going to go all hardline on us and everything then one mile an hour over the speed limit is criminal. The speed LIMIT is the speed limit. No leeway. Is that where you are going with this? The law is the law and it should all be criminal? lol

There aren't enough jails in the world for your world view.
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

All we need to do is apply the death penalty for any infraction. This will reduce our population to a much more manageable level and the survivors will be the really, really well behaved. No more unemployment, no more crime, parking spaces where you need them and a sense of peace and a job well done.

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Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

Seems to me like she was protesting in a way. They probably should have just pepper sprayed her and called it a day.

If she never got a permit and she was occupying a public space then why the double standard, I wonder.
 
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Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

Utility Man said:
Seems to me like she was protesting in a way. They probably should have just pepper sprayed her and called it a day.

If she never got a permit and she was occupying a public space then why the double standard, I wonder.
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I think in most areas you don't need a permit to protest on a sidewalk or street corner as long as you are sharing that area and you are not blocking anyone.
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

specklebang said:
Are you mocking the famed discount philosopher, Specklebang?
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Not at all. That's the plan, currently. It's got some roadblocks to be dealt with, but other than that it's the plan.

poweRob said:
So you want everyone in jail. I mean if you are going to go all hardline on us and everything then one mile an hour over the speed limit is criminal. The speed LIMIT is the speed limit. No leeway. Is that where you are going with this? The law is the law and it should all be criminal? lol
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No, I just want people to actually start following the law, or accepting the consequences for not doing so. It's really just that simple.

poweRob said:
There aren't enough jails in the world for your world view.
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That's why I believe most serious/felony offenses should be dealt with via a method other than incarceration.
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

CaptainCourtesy said:
Yup. Someone I know flashed their brights at uncoming traffic to warn about a speed trap. Another cop saw this and gave them a ticket for "unlawful use of one's lights", believe it or not.
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I remember that years ago a person also had a sign warning of a speed trap and was arrested for obstruction of justice. I believe both cases are wrong, and that free speech should keep anyone from being arrested for warning of a speed trap, but many police departments see it as keeping them from collecting revenue.
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

digsbe said:
I do. I'm saying that flashing one's lights and holding a sign to warn of cops is protected under free speech. I also think that speed traps should be illegal.
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What if someone learns of a law enforcement sting operation intended to catch terrorists, and that person tips off the terrorists? Is that also protected free speech? Because to me it looks like obstruction of justice.

That said ... I do flash. Fight the power!
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

joko104 said:
Jay walking is a non-jailable ticket only offense.
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This is, of course, the most important overlooked issue. Regardless of whether or not a person agrees the the legality of the action, every person should have the common sense necessary to realize that tossing a person in jail simply to make a point is the clear action of a totalitarian authority. Rabid nationalism is, in my opinion, a major factor in the desensitization of American citizens to abuses of power by their so-called "heroes". For many [ignorant] people, "heroes" are untouchable and can do no wrong (e.g. military, police, fire, EMS, teachers, etc.).

AdamT said:
What if someone learns of a law enforcement sting operation intended to catch terrorists, and that person tips off the terrorists? Is that also protected free speech? Because to me it looks like obstruction of justice.
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The alleged dangers of terrorism are greatly exaggerated in order to keep American citizens fearful and to blindly accept the police state. It (fear) has been a resounding success for many many years.
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

Tigger said:
That's why I believe most serious/felony offenses should be dealt with via a method other than incarceration.
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You want to adjust laws to merely accomodate making more jail space? You are so in the wrong country.

And why would you say "a method other than incarceration" when you clearly mean execution?
 
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Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

AdamT said:
What if someone learns of a law enforcement sting operation intended to catch terrorists, and that person tips off the terrorists? Is that also protected free speech? Because to me it looks like obstruction of justice.

That said ... I do flash. Fight the power!
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If we go by the logic of some anti-4th amendment nuts who blatantly misinterpret the 4th amendment to be a issue of privacy and not a issue of law enforcement needing a warrant, then by their logic if you are out in public street or road then there is no expectation of privacy or in the case of law enforce an expectation of secrecy. A speed trap or a DUI check point can't be a secret seeing how such operations rely on police being on a public street to conduct those operations.
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

Smeagol said:
Interesting. I would think her right to free speech would take precedent. She wasn't causing harm. In fact a argument can be made that her actions caused people to slow down (despite the reason) and possibly prevented accidents.
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PENAL CODE

TITLE 8. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER 38. OBSTRUCTING GOVERNMENTAL OPERATION

Sec. 38.05. HINDERING APPREHENSION OR PROSECUTION. (a) A person commits an offense if, with intent to hinder the arrest, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of another for an offense or, with intent to hinder the arrest, detention, adjudication, or disposition of a child for engaging in delinquent conduct that violates a penal law of the state, or with intent to hinder the arrest of another under the authority of a warrant or capias, he:

(1) harbors or conceals the other;

(2) provides or aids in providing the other with any means of avoiding arrest or effecting escape; or

(3) warns the other of impending discovery or apprehension.

(b) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(3) that the warning was given in connection with an effort to bring another into compliance with the law.

(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), an offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

PENAL CODE**CHAPTER 38. OBSTRUCTING GOVERNMENTAL OPERATION
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It's in the Texas Penal code. She got off easy just spending 12 in the tank. She could have a criminal record. With that being said, curse those scurrilous dogs and their speed traps. The town I live in has what they call ETA (Extreme Traffic Enforcement). Before they went to a trunk system radio, I used to listen to them all the time on a scanner. The ETA unit got a LoJack hit and wanted to go look for the vehicle. The supervisor told him to get back to ETA. I almost barfed.
 
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Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

Prof. Peabody said:
It's in the Texas Penal code. She got off easy just spending 12 in the tank.
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You emphasized the wrong parts. "A person commits an offense if, with intent to hinder the arrest, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of another for an offense..."

She did none of the above. She could be accused of hindering the detection of an offense, but her actions were completed prior to the awareness of any wrongdoing.

Regardless, it is a victimless crime and is morally reprehensible.
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

I personally dont agree with people warning about speeding traps, or parked officers. Or the law that police cannot hide too well because it is entrapment or anything else. If you are speeding you deserve to be ticketed or arrested. I warn no one. If someone is speeding I want them caught. Maybe if more of these idiots got caught they would slow down and our roads would be a lot safer.
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

muciti said:
If someone is speeding I want them caught. Maybe if more of these idiots got caught they would slow down and our roads would be a lot safer.
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When Montana removed the speed limits on major highways, the accident rate actually went down. The statistics show that average speeds increased only marginally. One study suggests that people will generally attempt to drive at whichever speeds they feel comfortable and safe. The existence of arbitrary maximum limitations gives certain people a sense of entitlement to force other drivers to drive at what they personally deem to be safer speeds. This actually has the effect of making roads more dangerous because of the interference between drivers.

A perfect example of road anarchy increasing safety is the German Autobahn. These have no speed limits and yet have a very low accident rate even though it is very common for traffic of widely varying speeds to travel over the same roads. One plausible explanation is that, unlike many American drivers, they do not "hang out" in the left lane. The drivers will remain in the right lane unless they are passing. In America, it is not uncommon for drivers to remain in the left lane from either ignorance or a desire to force other drivers to slow down.

Ultimately, it is impossible to legislate safety.
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

j-mac said:
Sounds like this woman needs some help from DoJ lawyers on how to obstruct....
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Read you're own article, the woman already knows how to obstruct.

Ever been hit by a speeder?

Ever seen a child or a pet hit by a speeder?

Why the hell would anyone want to stop the police from getting people to drive safely?
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

Crosscheck said:
If Fred Phelps and inbred clan can call fallen soldiers fags at their funerals then this lady can walk with a sign stating "Speed Trap".

Freedom of Speech.
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Damned straight! So sorry to the establishment if people choose to act in decent ways against it.
 
Re: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about

muciti said:
I personally dont agree with people warning about speeding traps, or parked officers. Or the law that police cannot hide too well because it is entrapment or anything else. If you are speeding you deserve to be ticketed or arrested. I warn no one. If someone is speeding I want them caught. Maybe if more of these idiots got caught they would slow down and our roads would be a lot safer.
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Velocity in and of itself is not the problem. It's large velocity distributions when there is significant traffic which causes the most problems.
 
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