Pete, Ademo and I were on our way home from a ‘know your rights’ presentation we put on to help inform local citizens of how to stand up to oppressive city ‘authority’. After the program, we were given an immediate opportunity to once again test ourselves against the illogical power trips of the armed local badge-wearing gang. I was stopped by an Officer Rode and an Officer McCloud as Rode attempted to extort $25 in the form of a citation for skating on the sidewalk. They were unsuccessful in their attempts.
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78 Responses to “Greenfield Police Are Unsuccessful In Extortion Attempt”
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[...] July 18, 2011 in Libertarian, Opinion with 0 Comments // You’re trying to say “nobody got hurt” so you shouldn’t be held accountable for whatever the infraction is. By that logic – You probably feel the punks in Worcester shooting the gun at the park should be left alone because nobody got hurt. People who drink and drive as long as they don’t hurt anyone should be left alone. Hell – when someone is in the crosswalk as long as you don’t hit them you shouldn’t have to stop! I think you guys have the right idea about catching instances on tape – but if you’re wrong… you’re wrong. A lady recently was killed by a skateboarder who couldn’t stop – I’m sure he didn’t think he’d ever hurt anyone either. I don’t necessarily agree w/ the by-law but if it’s there … sorry you’re at fault not the cop. You’re lucky he does his job – maybe when and if someone goes to your house and steals that expensive skateboard – that same cop will say… well nobody got hurt! – Denise, on a CopBlock post about anti-skateboarding rules [...]
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I feel like I’m watching 24. But a 24 in an alternate universe where a ragtag band of good guys fend off attacks from the bad guys. Kudos and thanks for the video.
we enforce the laws… we have no choice, we are doing our job
what a dick
He’s misguided. Insults won’t help him change. They will only cause him to feel resentment and make it look like he has the moral high ground.
those aren’t laws they are Administrative Statutes. Too many cops enforce immoral “laws” instead of using their brains.
The war on skateboards continues…
I’m glad they left Beau alone too but why thank the cop?
I am a fan of George Donnelly. But possibly more cynical. The officer is misguided and insults will not help him change. However,I don’t think most cops will change until they or someone they care about is treated unjustly by the system. The footers of that thin blue line are set in concrete.
This is conjecture on my part but the reasons he let you go with a warning and does the “right thing”? He was on camera and you claim not to have id. Pretty tough to write a citation without any information. Question authority and keep fighting the good fight.
I just found copblock a few days ago. You guys are fucking super heroes. Almost everybody I know complains about how bullshit law enforcement is, and how little you can do about their abuse of power. The time an resources required to challenge them makes it impossible for some, and hardly worth it for others. If more people took your stance, roles would be reversed. Keep up the good work!
I use to live in Greenfield for many years…I was around when the NO RIDING ON THE SIDEWALK IN THE BUSINESS DISTRACT bylaw started…it has been around for at least a few years…And the cops had every right to write the citation…The only reason that he got away with a warning is because he had no id…By all right that guy on the skateboard should have gotten that citation if not gotten the skateboard taken away…These guys should know the bylaws of the city of Greenfield and live by them…The cops are only doing their job and enforcing the laws and bylaws of Greenfield…I stand up for the Greenfield Police department and the job that they do…
Robyn,
What about the point that when there’s no victim there’s no crime, therefore there should be no action required by the law of the police? In other words, the law is violating the person’s rights & is therefore wrong.
“Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law,’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.”
Thomas Jefferson
The police have no rights, except the same ones you and I already have. Can you write the cop a citation for parking wrong or shining a light on the sidewalk at night? No one can have more rights than you unless you voluntarily cede some kind of authority to them. That’s where we get into the “show me the contract” part. You know, the part where the cop shows where you ceded that authority to him. Doesn’t exist
What happened to due process? Beau’s possession can’t simply be stolen on the spot like that? There has to be some due process, at a bare minimum.
Sorry… but ignorance of the law doesn’t mean you’re right! You’re trying to say “nobody got hurt” so you shouldn’t be held accountable for whatever the infraction is. By that logic – You probably feel the punks in Worcester shooting the gun at the park should be left alone because nobody got hurt. People who drink and drive as long as they don’t hurt anyone should be left alone. Hell – when someone is in the crosswalk as long as you don’t hit them you shouldn’t have to stop! I think you guys have the right idea about catching instances on tape – but if you’re wrong… you’re wrong. A lady recently was killed by a skateboarder who couldn’t stop – I’m sure he didn’t think he’ld ever hurt anyone either. I don’t necessarily agree w/ the by-law but if it’s there … sorry you’re at fault not the cop. You’re lucky he does his job – maybe when and if someone goes to your house and steals that expensive skateboard – that same cop will say… well nobody got hurt!
Bylaws, statues, “black letter law” are required to be in line with the constitution. Obviously anti skateboarding statues are not.
It looks like skateboards have thrust themselves onto the transportation scene, and that’s a good thing. No fumes, no high speed crashes, no loud obnoxious music(usually).
The question is, how do we fit this mode into the picture, without getting everyone’s nose out of joint?
Some constructive comments from places where this has happened would be of value.
I have seen many skateboarders on the UMass campus in Amherst, and as far as I can tell, there are no problems there.
Bear in mind, the cops don’t make the rules, but they are expected to enforce them. The town government makes the rules, usually under pressure from business. I think that’s where you want to focus your attention, and make movies.
You people are pathetic get a job get a real job…you are a burden on all of society.
If you don’t have ID or can’t be identified you can be detained until you are identified. This includes being taken in to be printed if needed.
You were wrong for riding your skateboard on the sidewalk. It’s a safety issue that was addressed with a muni code. The cop isn’t getting the money. Nor would he be stealing you board.
Follow the rules like everyone else. Don’t be a dick.
And the officer showed discretion. You didn’t win. He chose to let you go with a warning.
It’s only a safety issue when done irresponsibly. Beau was obviously not being irresponsible. This is a form of pre-crime where potentially dangerous actions (and those that appear to be similar to some) are outlawed ahead of time by the ruling gang. The ruling gang then benefits because it ostensibly justifies their jobs and enables them to steal money and possessions under color of law.
Irresponsible skateboard use is a safety issue. Responsible skateboard use is *not* a safety issue. This goes for almost everything. To outlaw skateboard use altogether is a simpleton’s solution, made necessary because of the size of government, where rule-makers and rule-enforcers are separated by too much distance.
“Follow the rules.” It’s such an easy thing to say. But whose rules? Why? Who makes the rules? Where do they get the authority to do so? “Follow the rules.” is another simple thing to say. My version is, “Follow those rules which are legitimate and make sense.”
Not everyone follows the rules, either. For one very simple example, see cops who park where regular people aren’t allowed to.
Mike, who where they hurting exactly? I don’t know about you, but I’m not comfortable living in a world where I can be fined for just about anything.
Who says they were “hurting” anyone. This group seems to want to be able to do anything they want when they want – to video tape anyone that might disagree with them – and then post it and “impose” their own sense of Justice against those that decide to record. Why is it their right to video tape others that might be in the back ground and criticize others(the government for example) for doing the same thing. Everyone has their own horror story about select individuals. to say “ALL” anyone is just wrong. There are good and bad everything. I think you should go video tape people that don’t know what YIELD on the highway means! People like to bash the cops – until they need them. Then they can’t be their fast enough or do enough for you… if you’re so great – then so being part of the problem and get a job where you can be the ones that change the laws… stop complaining do something about it – and not create more drama where there really isn’t any! Until they change the law – there is one that says no skateboard in the down town area in Greenfield. Now that you know – you should be fined…
“Impose their own sense of justice”?! It’s called forming and expressing an opinion! You are free to engage in this intellectual activity as well, Denise. In fact, you yourself are already doing it in your comments here. How ironic.
Even “the law” states that no one has an expectation of privacy in public. So *everyone* has the right to record, not just them.
I don’t think CopBlockers claim that all cops are bad. Structurally, the way police services are provided now leads to bad things happening because natural incentives and channels of accountability are twisted or blocked.
“The law” is a facade for one inside group to control large numbers of people. Change the law? No, change the law system. Enable everyone to make their own law (rules) on a voluntary and non-exploitive basis about those things that pertain to them. Why does one small clique get to make all the rules for my life? That’s not fair or right. I control my life. No one else does.
Killer: “You people are pathetic get a job get a real job…you are a burden on all of society.”
Translation: “Become a part of the corporate wage slave class, one that eats up all your time in return for a piddling and stop asking so many hard questions!!”
Speaking of Greenfield, apparently their jail isn’t very pleasant:
http://www.wcax.com/story/15097237/vt-inamtes
[i]Greenfield, Massachusetts – July 18, 2011
Twelve Vermont inmates are facing felony charges for their alleged roles in a prison riot at the Greenfield Jail in Massachusetts.
The sheriff there says 14 inmates, 12 of them from Vermont, refused to go into their cells on July 7 as part of a protest over certain rules.[/i]
This whole no victim no crime is a bit overcooked for my taste – and the longer the flame keeps flaming, the more it is getting charred. If I drop my drawers and start jacking on the sidewalk in front of your house, I’m not really hurting anyone – but common sense prevails and most people know to do such a thing, is – not okay. This is why we have violations in existence – to keep the morons who can’t figure this out in check. I’m all for accountability of police, but sometimes, you guys just look and engage in the stupidest shit ever. If anything – a police officer shouldn’t engage in the very dangerous practice of picking and choosing what he/she thinks is personally right or wrong….again – COMMON SENSE – and, lest anyone forgets, there are probably citizens in Greenfield who complain to the police about the skateboards. As such, you are effectively flipping those taxpayers the bird that you don’t care about their concerns. But none of you want to hear that – you have an answer for everything and justify anything if there is even a hint of support towards “them”
Matt, you made your own rebuttal. Common sense prevails. And when was the last time someone dropped their drawers in front of your house? Or anyone’s house? It happens so infreqently that there doesn’t need to be a statute on the books.
So cops should turn off their conscience and just do what other people tell them? Sounds like a recipe for exploitation and disaster. “I’m just doing my job,” didn’t work for the Nazis and it definitely doesn’t work for 21st century cops.
Beau showed by his actions that he *does* care about people’s skateboarder concerns. He was going very slowly and moving in a straight line. No birds flipped.
Comparing most of these police interactions with nazism is an insult to anyone who had to experience the Holocaust. If this cop on the video were anything like a nazi, Beau would have been thrown on a train with no food, water or any hope of a life afterwards. His camera, cash, MARV and every other possession would have been for the officer’s personal benefit. Don’t play stupid. As far as Beau skating in a straight line, I wasn’t there, and correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think you were either. And even if he was skating in a straight line with the best of intentions, all it takes is one 4 year old to bolt around a corner or a store front and get whacked. Since many kids on skateboards can, at time, be reckless, I can only assume there have been problems and hence, a bylaw to curb that type of sport on a sidewalk. A cop driving by cannot possibly know what Beau’s intentions were or what not – and I see no problem in his discourse to tell him about the bylaw. As far as persons jacking off – well, what can I tell you, there DOES exist other forms of media that report on things other than the exploits of Pete and Ademo. The 9 year old Hasidic jewish boy who was hacked to death and dismembered last week isn’t something that happens everyday either – but that doesn’t mean we as people shouldn’t be prepared to deal with such inhumanity
George Donnelly I don’t know what you’re so bitter for you are also a pathetic burden on society.
Actually, drinking and driving when no one is hurt isn’t a crime. In a free society, crimes are supposed to be an extremely rare and narrowly defined subsets of civil law torts. One of the symptoms of a police state is when the boundaries of criminal law exceed the civil law. Someday we’ll get back to the common law, and a mere DUI without a victim will not be a crime anymore.
Adding to _not_a_lawyer’s point is the fact that many of these victimless violations, like DUI & skateboarding downtown, are in reality another tax. The govt uses them as sources of revenue. The justifications given for these kinds of laws are all just smoke & mirrors hiding the ugly truth, they want to raise more money.
George – yes I have my opinions as do many. But just because they can doesn’t mean they should. Does this group focus on any other group of individuals or do they focus primarily on Police and seek out issues where they can engage them to video tape them. All you’re doing is encouraging them to not do their job. Basically you want them to “look the other way”… When do you draw the line? when do you want them to pay attention? After someone actually gets hurt – then they’ll be pointing the finger saying… see… there are laws and they don’t enforce them – that poor person wouldn’t be hurt or dead if they did their job. Do you also believe that there should be no posted speed limits? How about drinking, sex, driving?? They all have laws pertaining to them – but in your world it seems like there should be no age limit or law… as long as “nobody gets hurt” or more importantly caught! There are many laws that are stupid. There are many things that I feel are to strict and others that aren’t strict enough. Why doesn’t this group start focusing on the law makers and if they follow the rules they make for the rest of us? I’m all for an eye for an eye… can you imagine how many people currently in jail wouldn’t be a burden on society anymore? But unfortunately – in todays world there is no Innocent until proven Guilty… Anyone can make accusations – then it’s up to the accused to prove themselves innocent… And live I said before – you all may squeek because the cop is trying to enforce a law that the kid might not have known about (but I doubt it) and he let him go… but if someone broke into his house and stole all his stuff and his skateboard – or someone decided to take that bus on a joyride – they would be looking for the cop to do something – even though – NOBODY GOT HURT! they’re all material things… but nobody got hurt!
@notalawyer – DUI laws have been on the books forever – and if you think the day will come when it is no longer a punishable offense, then nothing you say can be taken even remotely serious. In regard to Darren’s opinion – they are not a tax either – they are a consequence – and the consequence is a hit in the pocketbook, which is where it usually hurts most. I assume people must understand this concept, because I see alot of people on this website commenting to Pete and Ademo “lawsuit” and “sue them” all the time. You people act like these small town governments are little sub-communities of the deathstar. The local government consists of people who live within the community too – they pay taxes, they shop there, dine out, get arrested, have kids who go to school, coach etc etc. The 25 dollar fine for skateboarding isn’t going into the cop’s wallet, or the mayor’s, or the janitors, or..or…or…or…. While it is true fines are budgeted as a means of revenue, the money almost always goes towards something that benefits the community as a whole, whether it is matching funds for a paving project, a new liner at the town pool, a new playground somewhere etc etc.
Denise – everything you say are points that I agree with, including your doubts about “the kid” (aka 25 year old Beau) not understanding the rule about skateboarding on the sidewalk. In this video, Beaus claims “I don’t understand that, no”, when, after explanation by the cop, is asked if he understands he can’t ride his little wittle skateboard on the sidewalk – as if it is a completely foreign concept to him. Either Beau is a complete and utter traveling idiot, or, he is a filthy liar.
Burden on society argument = Totally ridiculous, if society wasn’t giving it away for free there would be no burdens in the first place. Charity is voluntary not mandated. The system is it’s own burden. If you want to point fingers at burdens on society point them at the banks.
What about beaus common law right to travel? Just because some bad apples skateboard too fast doesn’t make it right to punish beau. I didn’t see him skateboarding fast. This is the essence of war on skateboarding. If he was menacing people. That would be one thing but to take away his right to travel for nothing he has done wrong.
I doubt anyone reading this would want to give up their cars because someone else crashed their car.
You know what’s funny, even though you think you won, you still kind of lost. Yes, you didn’t get the ticket (and really you shouldn’t have anyway), but I noticed you didn’t even attempt to get back onto the board… at least while you were filming. Did you ride your board again down the street that night, or carry it the whole way?
Think about the pedestrians for a second. They are using the oldest form of transportation in existence. Walking predates cars, bikes, and skateboards.
They cannot go into the street, or they will be struck by vehicles, and possibly killed.
They are safe on the sidewalk, where cars, for the most part, cannot go, and are not allowed.
Bicyclists, in most downtown areas, are not allowed to ride on the sidewalk, though they can ‘walk’ their bike there. Bicyclists must ride through downtown areas on the street.
And outside of downtown areas, you will normally see bicyclists on the street, as the streets tend to be better-maintained than the sidewalks. Motorists have forcefully urged to make room for bicycles on the roadways. It hasn’t been perfect, but it is getting better.
Now come the skateboarders, demanding a place on the sidewalk, and challenging local police, and intimidating them with their cameras.
Is there any attempt to work out an acceptable arrangement short of a civil rights campaign? It seems that, to the skateboarders, everyone else is wrong, and only the skateboarders have got it right.
I guess the question is, is a skateboarder closer to a pedestrian, or to a bicyclist? That decision will dteremine where the skateboarders eventually end up travelling.
In my town, separate lanes have been provided for bicyclists through the downtown area. Why would these lanes be unacceptable to skateboarders?
Because they want to “ride” on the “SIDEWALK”… They should take their chances and “ride” in the road w/ all the other vehicles w/ wheels! Who do they believe has the right of way on the sidewalk? the skateboard or the pedestrian. This whole situation – be it a bit amusing to me – is a waste of taxpayer $$. if you want to tote the responsiblity to your actions – then learn the laws – ignorance of the law is not an excuse. If there is no law about your issue then do whatever you want. Hey jump off the bridge… someone might follow you – I don’t think anyones written a law against that. There are some cops that are bad apples – but this whole website is primarily focused on instigating them to see if you can get them to be reactive to your ignorance. Someone told me about this website – and they were right – I find it entertaining… And again – I say you’ld do more good looking for the individuals that are doing wrong (be it your version of wrong or societies)… and helping the police vs hindering the due process – and accountability that I think is what you want for EVERYONE… RIGHT?
Why do you put your URL in the middle of the screen? It’s horribly distracting, completely unnecessary, and makes it look amateurish. If you must have it in front of the viewer every second at least put it at the bottom of the screen, or in the bottom right hand corner.
“Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law,’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.”
Thomas Jefferson
Thank you Darren!
Greenfield is not Amherst or Northampton and we are not a bunch of liberal college kids. Greenfield is run and owned as always by a select few, seniors by now. We have a whole new crowd of individuals coming to town because the bigger city’s around here are becoming to unattractive.they are becoming that way because cops have to do the job they are being paid to do and the greenfield cops are finding they are having to do the same. when “un”-locals show up in a yellow bus promoting “down with the cops”, what do you expect?
Robyn,
Never mind that it’s a victimless crime. There are two salient points here for anyone who knows anything about the law.
First, citing someone for breaking that particular bylaw in that instance is completely outside the spirit and intent of the ordinance. Clearly, to outlaw skateboards in the business district is by definition an attempt to prevent people riding skateboards during business hours. To enforce the law after business hours have concluded is a violation of the intent of the people who wrote the law. Cops need to think about the spirit of the law, not just the letter of the law.
Second, the law is unconstitutional. The city has no right to arbitrarily mandate that one mode of transportation is more or less legitimate than another. That would be like passing a city ordinance saying that the citizens of the town don’t like suv’s, so nobody in town can drive one – and then applying that ordinance to harris, detain and cite some poor sap who’s just passing through.
The law is also clearly intended to stop kids from creating an unsafe condition by practicing ollies and rail grinds while people are trying to walk there – not to stop an adult from using a skateboard in a safe and prudent manner sa means of conveyance.
We don’t do ourselves ANY favors as a society by saying “cops have a dangerous job and they protect us from the worst of society, so let’s just do whatever they say whenever they say it.” That’s why they have the piss poor attitudes that they have now. They know they’re free to abuse their power and violate our civil rights because most people will side with them, or at least give them the benefit of the doubt, because the police union can afford better lawyers than you and I ever could and because judges will always have the cop’s back.
We need to hold cops to a higher standard BECAUSE we give them so much power. We have to insist on more education, more and better training, accountability standards, continuing education requirements and the rational and reasoned application of the laws being enforced. And this might mean that we need to pay cops better frankly. Just like teachers, paying them more will attract a better quality candidate for the job. We pay these people less than the average bartender makes and then we wonder why we get so many idiot automatons who are on a permanent power trip from being teased in high school. The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way and expect different results!
As to my last comment, I’m certainly not saying that all cops are idiots with complexes from getting picked on. Most cops are dedicated professionals. But I think we can all admit that there is an uncomfortably high margin of the idiotic automaton variety these days.
Russ
And, by the way, to the person who said “let them take responsibility for their actions and ride in the street with the rest of the vehicles” – you’re a moron! Taking responsibly for their actions would be using the skateboard in a safe and prudent manner, not crashing into children and giving grandma s friggin coronary, and getting off the thing when the sidewalk is crowded like a rational human being, and paying the price for careless operation and reckless endangerment just like those driving
Again, a lot of it has to do with the type of use or misuse of the conveyance. Doing ollies, jumps, rail grinds, etc., when people are trying to walk is no different than a driver doing brake stands and donuts on the street while others are trying to drive. It’s wrong, it’s dangerous, it’s unreasonable and it’s a violation of the rights of others trying to get from point a to point b safely, and there need to be consequences for such actions. But using the skateboard in a prudent manner as a
means of transportation is quite another matter. Can we at least practice a modicum of intellectual honesty and admit that?
An aspect that libertarians usually don’t think to bring up in situations like this one is the issue of who is prohibiting the action in question & their authority to do so. One reason we object to laws like this skateboarding one is that we don’t see the govt/ police as having the power (morally speaking) to do anything but directly stop people from hurting others or stealing. When they are cast as our supervisors simply regulating our harmless behavior, as in this case, they exceed their bounds.
Any libertarian will tell you that the owner of private property can prohibit skateboarding on their property if they so choose. At a mall, for example, skateboarders can be asked to stop skateboarding. Anyone choosing not to follow the rules can be escorted off the property. We do not see security at malls behaving the way these cops did.
The bottom line here is that the cops have no morally legit authority to enforce a no skateboarding law nor to take away anyone’s skateboard. The problem originates from the fact that we have govt owned streets rather than private ones. The problem will only go away when that situation is rectified.
Well Russ – nice to know that because someone has a different opnion than you… they are a Moron! I see kids riding their skateboards in the street all the time – the cut out in front of cars etc etc… just like Jaywalkers (I suppose that’s a bad law too – after all people get hit in crosswalks all the time!) So the skateboarder is suppose to receive a “do what you want, where you want, when you want pass??? … what about every other type of vehicle? In your world the “nobody got hurt theory” … seems to let people do whatever they want – who decides then what is truly “hurt”??? Is it physically, mentally? Why don’t those of you that feel so offended about this particular by-law do something about it? Sign a petition.. to get it removed… and maybe you can get a new one written that anyone that wants to be on the sidewalk – can be there! Then it would be a moot point. Instead you take and focus on the Cop that receives complaints about skateboarders and is doing his job…. the kid didn’t get a ticket – didn’t get his little skateboard taken away – and to me personally looked like an idiot saying he didn’t understand what the cop was saying… and continued to deny understanding the english language… maybe he isn’t smart enough to operate a skateboard safely. And because he’s trying to set an example – and if someone does get hurt because of a skateboard on the sidewalk… maybe even killed (and it happened recently)… What will the point be then? Accidents happen? The pedestrian should have gotten out of the way? There are good and bad in every area of society – Unfortunately, it’s not the cops that make the laws – they are there to try and enforce them. Maybe your group AGAIN should go after the law makers who seem to find themselves “above” the laws they make? I don’t disagree w/ you that there are bad cops – but I don’t believe they are the majority.
Say it again, Tristan. Cop was just enforcing a town ordinance, you have a problem with that, try doing a little work and having the statute changed by gathering signatures on a petition and/or forcing a vote in YOUR town council.
Harassing a cop for doing his job is lame. Wow, is it on Youtube, too?
F*cking Skateboard Warriors, ROFLMGDFAO
Brian says: “Greenfield is not Amherst or Northampton and we are not a bunch of liberal college kids.”
Oh what are you then, a bunch of “conservative kids” working at the local Wal Mart? LOL.
Someday across America, students will be doing book reports on Paul Revere, and slave owner Thomas Jefferson and then finally, Beau…..the 25 year old man who still had fun using stickers and riding his skateboard.
Love what you guys do, but I thought link to a cop getting open carry/ID’ing right…
http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/iuiu3/we_need_more_cops_that_are_as_calm_as_this_officer/
There’s a mirrored link a bit down the page for the reddit.com link I submitted.
So….let me see if I get this correct. Greenefield created a “bi-law” stating “no skateboard riding on sidewalks” very similar to one that was on the books in my home city, Woburn, from the late 1800′s stating no roller-skating on Sunday’s. Now, suppose you weren’t from the city, or just not aware of all the silly “bi-laws” that are around. How is the public supposed to know of a wacky bi-law unless they are informed. Were there signs visible stating, “no skateboarding, $25 fine”? What if there was a silly bi-law stating no one can wear black tee-shirts on full moons? Good job in not giving up your ID…or let him search you…that would’ve been next. Why couldn’t the police-man just have informed you, “Hey, there’s not skate-boarding on sideways.” Instead he came at you confrontationally. The policeman’s superviser should’ve ripped him a new asshole for wasting your time as a tax-payer, and wasting time harrassing people who weren’t bothering anyone….I wonder how many drunk drivers were on the road while he was wasting your time?
Roth – it doesn’t matter how confrontational/unconfrontational an officer is. This cop hadn’t even put the car in park and the camera was rolling – and it is well documented that any interaction between a cop and this group, even if it is a simple hello, is met with “Am I being detained?” “Am I free to go?” “Do you like being paid by stolen money to put people in cages?” blah blah blah. As far as your DUI question – it is irrelevant to them, because DUI is a “No Victim No Crime” mantra – they feel it is okay to be DUI just so long as you don’t slam into anyone on the way home, because it’s not like its an epidemic across the entire country…no one gets killed/maimed by drunk drivers.
Sorry Buzzo we won’t let Wal-Mart into this town because the founding fathers won’t allow it. This is a retirement town and we are not college educated liberals that bilieve riding a skateboard on Main St is the smartest thing a reasonable person would do.
@ Brian and Matt, i’m amazed at how you both jump to conclusions about all of us. Brian just because you are retired, not college educated and may not be able to ride a skateboard as a form of transportation should not mean others should be fined or arrested for doing so.
Matt you say “Irrelevant to them” and “they feel”, well I am part of “they and them” and these are not my feelings so don’t lump all of us that wish freedom and accountability in to one huge pile. Matt if you would like to write a guest post for us about how victim-less crimes have victims like your quick DUI post we would be more than happy to post it. I may add my counter opinion only to make it be far but I will give you the opportunity to a final edit if you so please. You can find my direct email on the contributors tab so I do not have to post it here due to spam bots.
I jammed out ten miles on my skateboard today. In the road and on the sidewalk. Nobody got hurt or hassled. It was a little hot at 111 degrees. It was good to get out from behind the keyboard for a while.
Rob – about a week ago, there was a video posted on copblock of a group of individuals bugging the shit out of cops at some roadside checkpoint. The comments were overwhelmingly pro No Victim No Crime – as are most posts and subsequent comments on copblock’s facebook page. Not making this a checkpoint issue….just citing an example – but any reasonable person can see on copblock’s facebook page – it is not so much about “education” as it is a venting focal point for those who simply dislike police – with many comments being rather uh….violent. I am ALL for police accountability – when they do wrong. But come on – this cop in the video wasn’t THAT bad….and since the camera was rolling before he was even out of the car, I can only assume there was some convo from his car to Beau prior to him making the decision to park and get out. I think it is safe to say, that since I have been roaming this earth for much longer than Beau without nary a problem with police, doesn’t it seem simply AMAZING that this same trio of men simply can’t seem to go a couple of weeks without some sort of police interaction, that always goes south the minute they open their mouths.
Matt – The point here is to stand up to an overbearing police state. True, that in & of itself being spoken to by a cop doesn’t do harm. It’s the fishing that the cops do that is the problem. They are constantly on the look out for something to “get” people for. This has got to stop.
If the cops would respect these guys’ right to be left alone there would be no problem. The fact that they “can’t seem to go a couple of weeks without some sort of police interaction, that always goes south the minute they open their mouths” is an indication of the problem with the police. I’ve met Pete & Adam. They’re great guys, wouldn’t hurt anyone. So why do the police bother them? Just because they don’t like they’re attitude? I wish I could arrest everyone that gave me some attitude! (just kidding, but it makes the point.)
On a little bit of a tangent, one reason to oppose the police is that they live on stolen money (some call this taxation) like the rest of the govt. Essentially, this makes the idea that they protect us ridiculous since the first thing the gang they work for (the govt) does is threaten one with violence if they don’t pay up. This is a protection racket, not protection.
One last thing if you’d like to explore this a little further:
Drug Prohibition: Law Enforcement Is The Problem
Ending the War on Drugs would save countless lives from being lost or ruined. An enormous drain on our economy would cease. It would be great. Ending the War on Drugs would be a tremendous first step, but then what?
The government would still have all the police powers it used to have. Perhaps they could be convinced to cut them back a bit, but we know from painful experience how hard it is to get the government to give up a power it has acquired. No doubt it wouldn’t take them long to find other laws for their bloated police agencies to enforce on us. They have to justify those big budgets somehow.
(snip)
http://theinternationallibertarian.blogspot.com/2009/04/drug-prohibition-law-enforcement-is.html
“This is a retirement town and we are not college educated liberals that bilieve riding a skateboard on Main St is the smartest thing a reasonable person would do.”
“The point here is to stand up to an overbearing police state.”
Yes, this town is certainly not full of college-educated people. I truly “bilieve” that after reading this hilarious website.
No, the point here is to be a fking skateboard warrior.
You are fking assholes. Some generations fight against wars, some against racism, this loser slacker idiot generation fights for skateboards on sidewalks. Priceless.
Darren – A typical cop has heard two sides of the coin probably far too often – either they hear “the cops did nothing” – or – “cops don’t care” “cops just eat donuts while so and so gets away with everything” – and on the flip side – you have the other camp, like your statement “They are constantly on the look out for something to “get” people for.” So which is it? Are they lazy? Are they reasonable? Are they hard asses? I don’t know. I don’t think the ordinary everyday cop knows either. Some things are largely discretionary…some cops are reasonable – some are not. Is your local postal carrier reasonable? How about the tax fed janitor…does he throw too little salt on the slippery steps, or too much?
I have no doubt Pete and Ademo are good guys. I have no doubt the cop in this video is probably a decent guy. When his day is done – he probably goes home, plays with his kids and mows his lawn just like everyone else. He isn’t a lifeless robot that is unplugged at the end of the day. Do I like to see accountability for cops? Yes. But do I think progress will ever be made by recording every fiddle farting convo with a cop? No. Cops are human – no one likes the idea that there life is going to be a goat fuck for comments on the internet for all eternity. While it is true police record dash cam stuff….they certainly don’t post it on youtube for all their buddies to smash mouth the people they deal with. If they did – they would be disciplined….and there are just as many stories of cops getting fired/disciplined/arrested for things as there are of checkpoints where one or two are a little cranky or do something phenomenally stupid. Pete or the others cannot expect to have a open and free conversation with a cop using their usual methods; I think you know what I mean.
In regard to the war on drugs – I would agree it is stupid and ineffective – but that is a topic that is far too complicated/opinionated to write about here.
“No, the point here is to be a fking skateboard warrior.
You are fking assholes. Some generations fight against wars, some against racism, this loser slacker idiot generation fights for skateboards on sidewalks. Priceless.”
but dude, I have the right to do whatever I want! This is America land of the free and home of the irresponsible, No Victim No Crime.
“wish coke was still cola and a joint was someplace to be”
Matt – My point is that the problem is institutional. There is no good way to run a bad system. Of course, not every interaction with the cops is going to result in something objectionable happening. However, the nature of the system inevitably leads to abuse & is not reformable. It doesn’t matter if cops are lazy or not they should all be laid off. Perhaps, the good ones will get jobs in the booming private security industry that would create.
yeah, lay off all the cops so Jeffrey Dahmer has nothing to worry about.
Hey, Brian, what part of “booming private security industry” didn’t you get?
what part of cops for hire? cops without a badge and nobody to be accountable to? jefferey dahmer with free rein? college education with no common sense?
it all eludes me
i would Not rather be ruled by cops with no badges, reminds me of the mob, Jimmy Hoffa, Whitey Bulger, Nazis. Private security industry like G.W. and Blackwater?
lets not call them cops, lets call them militiamen
Brian – It all does elude you but only because you’re not trying to find it. Forget the canard that there will be chaos without govt. It is actually the govt that brings about the chaos. There is a long history of private security arrangements of different kinds working very well. There is also a history of govts failing to protect & even being the criminals:
Responsive Law Enforcement: Community policing is seen as responsive to local needs because it is relatively decentralized. Law enforcement in Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries was even more decentralized and responsive because the private sector provided for public safety and the enforcement of contracts. When Britain’s Bobbies (public police) later came on to the scene, they were jeered not praised.
**************************************
Is law possible without the state? Surprisingly, the answer appears to be yes. Bruce Benson (chapter 6) investigates the Law Merchant: the voluntarily evolved and enforced legal system that governed trade among international merchants. The Law Merchant filled the vacuum left by the fall of the Roman Empire, when merchants themselves created a dispute-resolution system that all parties regarded as fair. Today, arbitration and conflict-resolution businesses, like the Law Merchant of yore, offer many advantages over state systems, and have even spread to environmental mediation and community disputes. Stephen Davies (chapter 7) shows how, in the 19th century, local communities and private prosecution associations provided criminal justice.
http://www.independent.org/publications/books/book_summary.asp?bookID=17
Btw, you might not have noticed that Blackwater worked largely for the govt. They were not therefore free market entities but mercenaries that the govt gave free reign to. Again, the problem goes back to govt.
Does anyone else find it interesting that not giving a skateboarder a citation gets more feedback and discussion than say a deaf woodcarver being shot by the Seattle P.D.?
Bunch of punks!!.. Take him in and tell his parents how well they did bringing up a dickhead.
Someone should have kicked these kids arsses long ago. They equate vandalizing a cruiser to riding a skateboard getting in my granmas way on the side walk.
These kids should finish high school – stop smoking pot and go to college or get a job
Pure Greenfield Punks!!
Brian says: “but dude, I have the right to do whatever I want! ”
No, DUDE, you don’t.
but dude don’t forget to quote me completely,
This is America land of the free and home of the irresponsible, No Victim No Crime.
and if this were still the 18th & 19th century we would be God fearing law abiding citizens, not punks immediately questioning “law enforcement” because they said anything to us.
Hair stylists need to have a license to cut peoples hair yet everyone has the right to cut their own hair or family members hair without a license.
Hotdog venders need a license to sell hotdogs and snow cones in a public park but anyone can bring food to a public park and give to people and to eat themselves without a license.
Corporations and using the public property for profit is what is regulated and controlled by statute, not what is a common right!
What does that tell you about the public roads and the public right of way?
there are many corporations, and officers of the law, that use bicycles for performing their jobs while they are being paid to use the public roads.
Our government can regulate such activity’s all they want to because they are regulating privileges that they have control over.
They can inspect restaurants kitchens and require restaurant employees to have food handlers permits, it is a privilege for restaurants to sell food to the public.
So why is it you can handle all the food you want to when you go to the grocery store and buy foods for your self without a food handlers card?
Is that not required by the state? no, you can buy food, transport it to your home, cook it and eat it and feed it to others, all without permission!
What does that tell you when your government writes a statute telling people they cant use a skate board in a certain public place?
Your government can regulate privileges all they want to and corporations and businesses using public property for profit is what they regulate!
Did you know there are people that are paid to use skate boards? Do you think they are “Miss applying” the law?
THis is pathetic. HE broke the law and should have gotten a ticket for it. Your giving the rest of us a bad name by acting like an idiot.
Those of you that want freedom for you to do whatever you want and a slap on the wrist when you do something that effects someone else should all consider moving to Norway instead of New Hampshire. There you can blow up a city block and go shoot and kill a dozen+ people … and only qualify for about 21 years in prison!
I think you’ve got a good idea to report injustice – but why don’t you stop focusing on a few and a specific group – why not work for the insurance companies and find all those fake workmans comp leaches? or the lazy able bodied welfare scammers?
You all may be educated individuals but you couldn’t prove it to me with your video. The cop spoke perfectly good english and to say you didn’t understand just makes you look like an idiot trying to cause problems and goad him into doing something out of frustration.. maybe if you told him you didn’t understand English – you might have looked better in the clip! Then you could have said “don’t taze me man”… LOL!!!
According to the LAW , PROOF of jurisdiction MUST be on record during All administrative actions. Google Hagins V Lavine and Google challenge jurisdiction for some really good stuff.
@Denise
Nothing like a woman’s version, common sense is hard to find nowadays. We should not have to write laws or bylaws to defend using your head for something besides a hat rack.
You Go Girl!
“Dude, way to stay strong” Really, this video is just dumb. I live is a town where they created laws about skateboards ridden on sidewalks. It was a law made for public safty and to stop skateboarders from using the sidewalks as a skate park. Which is why they then designated an area for that just like greenfield did! There is no injustic hear even if the guy got a ticket. I hope the other video’s on this site are actually worth watching and not just some stupid people trying to get the cops to screw up.
That is the war on skateboards in essence john. To outlaw all riding of skateboards to “protect” the public.
Not every skateboard rider is a menace to people. They are just trying to get from point A to point B without using a two ton gas guzzler. Of course they are now subject to ticketing not because they are a menace but because they are simply on a skateboard.
Skateboarding is nothing more than a travelers aid, just like a cane is for older or disabled citizens.
What do you think an umbrella is, it’s a travelers aid it aids the traveler to go from one place to another without getting drenched.
I am disabled and I use a cane for traveling I use it to take weight off my left side.
Since when are travelers a menace to public safety, travelers using the sidewalk ARE the public.
I have never in all my years feared for my safety from a skateboarder and I respect their right to travel using aiding devices.