So, what's next? Banning cameras in Long Beach?? In airports, bus stations, and train stations? Why not just ban them in any public space 'cause a person with a camera is either up to some nefarious deed or someone might be offended if they happen to be in a camera's vicinity.
And taking notes? I take notes and doodle all the time whether in an airport or a public place. I write. It's what I do. A cop demands to ask what I'm writing I'll tell him to go *&$ off. Get a warrant.
Same with taking photos.
God, this country has lost its *$#@* mind
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A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny. Alexander Solzhenitsyn
There are some things that Mr. Savage says in his post that I disagree with, most notably:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Google+ Post
My rights were in no way infringed, I was neither frisked nor asked for ID.
Earlier in the post, Mr. Savage states:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Google+ Post
LB courthouse-
Much different- the deputy sheriff was approaching me even before I could take the photograph. I snapped the uninspiring shot anyway as he approached (no aesthitic value right).
The sheriff told me I could not take photographs there.
I responded to them (by now there were two) that I could in fact take photographs from the sidewalk of a public space.
Both insisted that I could not and that a "law" had been passed that prohibits this.
I of course demurred, noting that there was in fact no such law.
They asked me to delete the photos because photography of the inside of the courthouse was prohibited (it indeed is) I declined because well... I was outside of it.
I was then asked if they could see the photographs- I declined as is my right. At this point the sergeant was called and the three of us had a quite pleasant conversation about photography, my camera which they thought was an old Leica (its not) and my bike - both turned out to be avid cyclists.
There mere fact that the police outright LIED to him (yes, LIED, they knew better) about what he could and could not do is reason enough to file a complaint.
The fact that they wanted to see his pictures, and wanted to delete his pictures, is reason enough to file a complaint.
The fact that he was unlawfully detained by the two officers while waiting for their sergeant to show up and put them in their place would be enough to get me to consider filing a lawsuit, were I in his shoes.
It's time our law enforcement officers were all put in their place, and firmly reminded that they're public SERVANTS.
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Overheard from a male TSO at a TSA checkpoint: "If she makes mine wiggle, can I give hers a jiggle?"
Welcome to modern life in the Terrified States of America. Any excess in the name of security.
Welcome to the new police state where no action of "our protectors" is subject to review and high school drop outs interpret our constitutional rights.
Dignity, health and personal rights are waived for those willing to endure travel by air.
Longbeach police policy but no training in what qualifies as apparent esthetic value.
I've had clients at ad agencies like those police!
Someone needs to plan a no esthetic value flash mob and see what they do. The person that was illegally detained needs to file suit, that is the only way that b.s. like this will ever stop!
Welcome to modern life in the Terrified States of America. Any excess in the name of security.
Welcome to the new police state where no action of "our protectors" is subject to review and high school drop outs interpret our constitutional rights.
Dignity, health and personal rights are waived for those willing to endure travel by air.
I think this policy will be eliminated the first time it is challenged in court, as courts have already ruled numerous times that this type of harassment is not legal. What I found frighting is the numerous pro-police comments in the original article. You wonder why this country has gotten to this state, this is why. People seemed to have lost all touch with reality. I think some literally think the back alleys and side streets of this nation are crawling with terrorists who are just waiting to pounce. I guess this is no different than the cold war paranoia. I remember hearing for years how the Soviets were massing troops in the national forests and that nukes were hidden in every city. At least back then the nuts seemed to have little influence, but now their twisted views are becoming the official policies of the nation.
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Posts: 9,380
Quote:
Originally Posted by clrankin
There mere fact that the police outright LIED to him (yes, LIED, they knew better) about what he could and could not do is reason enough to file a complaint.
Police lie all the time. And it's been upheld in court - lying is permitted and encouraged in "sting" operations. Lying in such circumstances has been helt to NOT be entrapment.
(Yes, there are detailed criteria that I haven't outlined above, and no, I don't agree with it)
Quote:
The fact that he was unlawfully detained by the two officers while waiting for their sergeant to show up and put them in their place would be enough to get me to consider filing a lawsuit, were I in his shoes.
I'm not sure you'd win. Courts have given LEO a pretty wide latitude - especially if the cop claims reasonable suspicion.
w -- As if that's not suspicious enough behaviour, in Long Beach one can also be detained for 
