Power Sellers Unite

cohibastore.com · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 4908

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904787404576530520471223268.html

"If you are the lucky owner of a 1920s Martin guitar, it may well be made, in part, of Brazilian rosewood. Cross an international border with an instrument made of that now-restricted wood, and you better have correct and complete documentation proving the age of the instrument. Otherwise, you could lose it to a zealous customs agent—not to mention face fines and prosecution.

John Thomas, a law professor at Quinnipiac University and a blues and ragtime guitarist, says "there's a lot of anxiety, and it's well justified." Once upon a time, he would have taken one of his vintage guitars on his travels. Now, "I don't go out of the country with a wooden guitar."

cohibastore.com · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 4908

Here's some more, but citzens fight back!

http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/article/207550/250/FHP-sued-for-giving-out-illegal-tickets

Class action suit says Florida Highway Patrol illegally tickets motorists who warn others about speed traps

elgato · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 17240 Location: Texas

"Florida Highway Patrol illegally tickets motorists who warn others about speed traps"

In Texas, it's called impeding the duties of a peace officer which is illegal per the Texas transportation code. IE if I see an officer sitting alongside of a roadway and I think they might be doing radar and I flash my lights at oncoming vehicles I'm guilty of impeding the officer from doing his duty, traffic control/stops.
Each state has different laws to regulate this.

cohibastore.com · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 4908

elgato wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")"Florida Highway Patrol illegally tickets motorists who warn others about speed traps"

In Texas, it's called impeding the duties of a peace officer which is illegal per the Texas transportation code. IE if I see an officer sitting alongside of a roadway and I think they might be doing radar and I flash my lights at oncoming vehicles I'm guilty of impeding the officer from doing his duty, traffic control/stops.
Each state has different laws to regulate this.

IMMHO, it's got to be covered under freedom of speech. If I hold a sign or announce it, it's covered, the flashing the is communication, so it much be covered too.

CS

xbaystores · Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 562

cohibastore.com wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")elgato wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")"Florida Highway Patrol illegally tickets motorists who warn others about speed traps"

In Texas, it's called impeding the duties of a peace officer which is illegal per the Texas transportation code. IE if I see an officer sitting alongside of a roadway and I think they might be doing radar and I flash my lights at oncoming vehicles I'm guilty of impeding the officer from doing his duty, traffic control/stops.
Each state has different laws to regulate this.

IMMHO, it's got to be covered under freedom of speech. If I hold a sign or announce it, it's covered, the flashing the is communication, so it much be covered too.

CS
That's really stretching...
Is it also freedom of speech if you tell a fugitive the police are coming to get him?
This is where freedom of speech is so often distorted. A very vocal minority fight a "obstruction" type of citation like this, and it leads to many other necessary laws being removed.

cohibastore.com · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 4908

http://www.policeone.com/news/71292-Flashing-Lights-to-Warn-of-Speed-Trap-is-Free-Speech-Judge-Rules/

Flashing Lights to Warn of Speed Trap is Free Speech, Judge Rules
By The Associated Press

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) -- A judge dismissed charges against a driver who flashed his headlights to warn others of a police speed trap, saying his actions were protected free speech.

"It's my constitutional right to blink my lights," Harlie "Bill" Walker said after Monday's decision by Judge Russ Heldman. "I'm overjoyed this ended in my favor."

mojavelyn · Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 12:44 pm Post subject: Re: Goverment abuse of the day!

elgato wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")"Florida Highway Patrol illegally tickets motorists who warn others about speed traps"

In Texas, it's called impeding the duties of a peace officer which is illegal per the Texas transportation code. IE if I see an officer sitting alongside of a roadway and I think they might be doing radar and I flash my lights at oncoming vehicles I'm guilty of impeding the officer from doing his duty, traffic control/stops.
Each state has different laws to regulate this.

I don't see how it is impeding the officer in any way of sitting on the side of the road, having coffee and donuts, writing his reports with the radar on automatic.

This is a lifelong curtesy of driving on the roads, in my 40 year driving history taught to me by my father, another long time driver.

Oh yeah, remember when CBs were the craze? smokey taking pictures?

added... doesn't most cities have camera radar guns like the redlight cameras that automatically send a ticket to the car's owner?

elgato · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 17240 Location: Texas

cohiba "FRANKLIN, Tenn"
Not sure what the laws are in Tenn but in Texas, the police do enforce the issue of warning other drivers of an upcoming speed trap. Trust me, many years ago I got caught doing the same thing. :roll:

MO, not all peace officers eat donuts and drink coffee while on duty. Radar units in the PO's cars or trucks do nto alert the PO of an offense, merely monitor oncoming traffic and they speed. If the officer should take note of the traffic and it's speed it's his or her own decision whether to make a traffic stop or let it go. Most PO's I know allow for 10 OVER the posted speed limit.
One must realize depnding on the dept.'s policy, many sheriff depts don't even have radar monitors in their vehicles. DPS or also known as your state troopers are responible for traffic laws, IE speeders, wrecks and roadside assistance.

cohibastore.com · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 4908

I think someone simply needs to sue over it because according to the Texas law, someone sitting in their home blogging about speed traps in Texas would violate that law. In fact, nearly anything, including in-action, could be construed as impeding an officer.

I find all these types of abuse very troublesome.

I grew up with many friends/family friends who were cops and they all seemed to be generally decent guys, even if i didn't like them personally.

In the last few years, either because of the hero complex built around them after 9/11, or out of some false sense of fear, the police I have dealt with and read about in the news all seemed to be, rude, arrogant, with a neo-nazi look and attitude toward the citizens.

Between fraudulent property forfeitures, outright abuse and murder, over the top armed raids on Amish farmers selling raw milk, assaulting citizens with cameras, it's really hard to have a positive about any cop.

elgato · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 17240 Location: Texas

Cohiba: "it's really hard to have a positive about any cop."

I understand where you're coming from.
In my many years on this planet have dealt with good and bad peace officers.
Some appear to grow "taller" when they place the badge on their uniform while most I know locally merely show up for work, take the calls, deal with the abusive public and mental patients and go home to their christian familes and pray for a better world.

I've also dealt with rude receptionist. EMT medics, nurses, fast food employees, etc......With any job, when dealing with the general public it takes a strong person to deal with the abusive people who live among us.

Abusive attitude could come from lower paying income and living arrangements, former exes, kids from several different relationships, alcohol and or drug abuse, mental issues, etc.....

If most would merely take care of themselves, without the help of the federal government, take care of their fellow neighbors, look after the elderly and their family members and leave the street crime to their local law enforcement officers, life MIGHT be a bit more simple for those with less in life.
Merely my humble opinion from where and how I was raised and currently living and what I see with my own eyes on a weekly basis.

cohibastore.com · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 4908

elgato wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")I've also dealt with rude receptionist. EMT medics, nurses, fast food employees, etc......With any job, when dealing with the general public it takes a strong person to deal with the abusive people who live among us.

Yes, I agree.

But I don't have any concerns that a narcissistic receptionist or bi-polar clerk at Burger Barn will take my property, shoot my dog and beat my wife and put a gun to my head because our auto registration is expired or we purchased raw milk from an Amish farmer. (I have been having an going issue with PA Dept of revenue trying to get a tax issue sorted out. How long before they send an over zealous swat team to break down my door?)

At one time cops would have said, what the hell are we doing, 20 armed men to raid an Amish farm? Now it's just a fun day out for them. Waco and Ruby Ridge style stuff used to be incredibly rare occurrences, now it's a boring daily news side story.

CS

things4u · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 1331

most times you experience these abusive people it is because they didn't hear or weren't listening to a word you said because it is all about them and what they think and how they think it should be and because they are in a position/job where they have little or no say the result is frustration anger and being abusive as for the cops your 100% right Elgato they get taller and over zealous very few left that actually use common sense any more when dealing with some not to serious situations and are always paranoid that it will go bad if common sense was used it wouldn't go bad more often than and have a better out come. but it is often times hard to get a cop functioning on adrenaline to listen to what is being said to them they just use boot jack methods of control and isn't nessary I speak from experience, cost that officer his job you don't pull someone to the ground standing with 2 canes because they couldn't stand with out them and put their hands away from their side was he thinking ???
as for the clerks they are just frustrated that they have to work menial jobs and don't have everything they want and haven't figured that if you want everything you have to work hard for it like we do as responsible adults and we don't act like spoiled children

mojavelyn · Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 7:25 pm Post subject:

You know, I was speeding in Gladewater, TX near Longview... Yes, I was speeding, but not weaving in and out of traffic. And so were several others in the line with me. I was caught on moving radar. DPS pulled me over. Laughed about catching me on radar and asked what my hurry was. this was 1979 and I had a 74 Vega doing 80 mph. As I said, so was everyone else in the right lane. So I answered the trooper... My father has just been diagnosed as terminal at John Sealy Hospital, and my aunt is undergoing a lumpectomy at Methodist Hospital in Dallas, and I need to pick her up. And just because you caught me on radar, doesn't give you the right to laugh about it.

He sobered up real fast and apologized but wrote me a ticket anyway. Thats fine, I paid it after I got home. This is the only the 2nd experience with a rude cop I have ever had.

mojavelyn · Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 8:31 pm Post subject:

Things, sometimes the customer doesn't want to hear either. and they come in thinking and acting like everything is supposed to be handed to them.

And it really sounds snobbish to belittle anyone who is working a "menial job". its a job, its helping keep a roof over someone's head, its helping put food on the table, and clothes... it might be menial, but its a job. And it might be the only thing they could get.

things4u · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 1331

MO your reading what you want in to what I said I didn't be lilttle anyone just said the no one takes the time to LISTEN that is the reason for abuse from a clerk and nothing more as they didn't leave their private life problems at home and brought them to work it has become common place in the work place. so spin it how ever you want :roll: