Dragaera

the pitfalls of judgemental law enforcement

Thu Jan 8 12:19:48 PST 2004

http://www.ahwatukee.com/afn/community/articles/040107d.html
-- Police have been hiding in the bushes catching
speeders along the road behind my house. Some guy put
up a sign warning of a speed trap, and they arrested
him for it. He then spent an hour handcuffed in their
car while they tried to figure out what they were
citing him with. They decided on Obstructing a
Government Operation, but this was thrown out two
weeks later on account of that article specifically
stating, Obstructing a Government Operation by Threat
or Use of Physical Violence. Putting up a sign is not
violent.

This reminds me strongly of the passage in The Phoenix
Guards (pg. 44, PB):
---
"Very well," said the Captain, "you are to enforce the
laws of the Empire."

"And what laws are these, Captain?" asked Aerich.

"Heh," said G'aereth. "Use your judgement. If it looks
illegal, then it probably is."
---

The really ironic thing is that now there are huge,
official signs along Pecos Rd. warning of "Intense
Speed Enforcement, next 7 miles." 

~Juliette Torres

=====
~-~-~-~-~-~-~
"When they say that people should bring things 
to their relationships, I hadn't thought that meant
that one person should keep a sword in her torso
and that the other one should turn into a car."
--Elena, on "Revolutionary Girl Utena"

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