Originally posted by Vision: Personally, I visit local elementary/middle schools and pass out macanudo hyde parks to all the children during recess. It gets frustrating because the first and second graders don't have the thumb strength to work the zippo. But I help them.
Yes its a thin line between being a good citizen and being a jerk. Should add much to the budget though. I mean with all the false suspicion calls they will have to investigate.
"Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God" -Thomas Jefferson
"The tree of freedom must be nurtured from time to time with the blood of its patriots" -Thomas Jefferson
"When the Government Fears the People, There is Liberty; When the People Fear the Government, There is Tyranny." - Thomas Jefferson
Posts: 6711 | Location: Reggio di Calabria, Italy / New York United States | Registered: July 12, 2007
In the interests of full disclosure, I am a retired Trooper (22 years)
What do all of you think, (especially the lawyers) about two of the Circuit Courts saying that annonymous phone calls are not Probable Cause to stop a vehicle (the original cases were involving DUI's). How does that square with these new annonymous ways to report suspicious activities?
Good people sleep at night knowing there are rough men ready to do violence on their behalf
Posts: 2152 | Location: Connecticut | Registered: November 19, 2004
Originally posted by SAXON9075: In the interests of full disclosure, I am a retired Trooper (22 years)
What do all of you think, (especially the lawyers) about two of the Circuit Courts saying that annonymous phone calls are not Probable Cause to stop a vehicle (the original cases were involving DUI's). How does that square with these new annonymous ways to report suspicious activities?
I think an annoyances call to report anything is not probable cause for anything. If your such a concerned citizen leave your name if not take a hike. What's the purpose of annoynoumus anyways what do you have to be afraid of. The police are there to protect you.
"Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God" -Thomas Jefferson
"The tree of freedom must be nurtured from time to time with the blood of its patriots" -Thomas Jefferson
"When the Government Fears the People, There is Liberty; When the People Fear the Government, There is Tyranny." - Thomas Jefferson
Posts: 6711 | Location: Reggio di Calabria, Italy / New York United States | Registered: July 12, 2007
The LAPD changed their motto from; "to Protect and Serve"
to; "We'll treat you like a King"
"How is it that you don't smoke ? A cigar is not just a pleasure, it is the crown and hallmark of pleasure. Ah, this is life ! - Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina
...and D.U.I. checkpoints don't remind us of Orwellian tactics? Or maybe communist Russia or East Germany.
Forget the absolute need to get drunk drivers off the road - that's a given.
But does the "govt" have the right to stop everyone traveling down a particular road, check their ID, run their names for warrants, look for vehicle violations, find out who you are-where you've been, and where your going, etc?
Sounds like a Communist State, Or not?
________________________________________________ -The most under appreciated artist, is the one who did not create. -The most under appreciated painter, is the one who never painted. -The most under appreciated writer, is the one that never wrote. -The most under appreciated, is the one who never did.
Originally posted by TexasLine: ...and D.U.I. checkpoints don't remind us of Orwellian tactics? Or maybe communist Russia or East Germany.
Forget the absolute need to get drunk drivers off the road - that's a given.
But does the "govt" have the right to stop everyone traveling down a particular road, check their ID, run their names for warrants, look for vehicle violations, find out who you are-where you've been, and where your going, etc?
sounds like we share the same thoughts in this matter
quote:
Originally posted by Vision: Personally, I visit local elementary/middle schools and pass out macanudo hyde parks to all the children during recess. It gets frustrating because the first and second graders don't have the thumb strength to work the zippo. But I help them.
I can say from experience that when I was assigned the desk (taking calls) we did get a lot of genuine annonymous calls reporting dangerous behavior (possible DUI's, weapons in cars, domestic assaults) and people do not want to give their names and become witnesses)
Here in CT we had a UCONN football player stabbed and killed at a school dance and now students are receiving e mails, twitters, and facebook's saying they will be sorry if they give cell phone video's or photos to the police showing the murder.
On the other hand how may drug stops were the result of a "valid" infraction, unsafe lane change, failure to stay within te lines.
Good people sleep at night knowing there are rough men ready to do violence on their behalf
Posts: 2152 | Location: Connecticut | Registered: November 19, 2004
What do all of you think, (especially the lawyers) about two of the Circuit Courts saying that annonymous phone calls are not Probable Cause to stop a vehicle (the original cases were involving DUI's). How does that square with these new annonymous ways to report suspicious activities
Two different things. The cases disallowing anonymous calls to be the basis for probable cause are pretty well thought out. Basically anyone with an axe to grind could call to report someone and without anything else, it's a pretty slim basis for probable cause, which as a defense lawyer, I completely agree with and understand. I'm a left-wing liberal so I have mixed feelings about the LAPD "public service" orientation to i-watch. But legally ( which was the question) the difference here is that it gives law enforcement something to investigate and potentially gather enough evidence to make an arrest. I say "mixed feelings" because paying attention seems like a fairly intelligent thing to do these days. Bus I have far to often seen law enforcement overreact to such "information" and the results are difficult to remedy.
Posts: 178 | Location: Chicago, IL, USA | Registered: December 29, 2003
Rick--you are right, I was not precise n my terms. Annonymous calls often lead to bigger and better things but are just the startng point, not PC as we know it. (Although I have seen some pretty thin PC signed off by States Attorney's and judges, that I was not comfortable serving the warrants)I once did a dwi warrant and when the judge saw the person had been at a Grateful Dead Concert he did not even finish reading the warrant and told me to get blood to check for LSD!
Here in CT an annonymous call to Child Welfare (DCF) results in them opening a case and a visit to the home and they make it clear they will get an administrative warrant (less PC required) if you do not let them examine and interview the child. I wonder if this will change.
I think that if people can't give annonymous information then a lot of bad crimes will go unsolved or not prevented.
Good people sleep at night knowing there are rough men ready to do violence on their behalf
Posts: 2152 | Location: Connecticut | Registered: November 19, 2004
Originally posted by TexasLine: ...and D.U.I. checkpoints don't remind us of Orwellian tactics? Or maybe communist Russia or East Germany.
Forget the absolute need to get drunk drivers off the road - that's a given.
But does the "govt" have the right to stop everyone traveling down a particular road, check their ID, run their names for warrants, look for vehicle violations, find out who you are-where you've been, and where your going, etc?
Sounds like a Communist State, Or not?
I don't have a problem with DUI check points but all my paper work for my vehicle and self is in order. This is coming from a Trooper. If you have a license and insurance you will be on your way within a minute of meeting me. No warrants check are conducted unless you don't have insurance or license.
Posts: 72 | Location: Alabama | Registered: July 30, 2007
