Suit Over Hwy Patrol Ticketing for Warning of Speed Traps

Thought I would post this because I've always thought of this happening to me or anyone of us that warns others of cops waiting in the "knoll." A LOT of tickets issued man, hope this guy wins his case. Cops should have better things to do. Can we list a few other tasks? A little bit of a turn from the norm here in the Courthouse. Course, this could have been talked about in past months.

http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/art ... al-tickets

This same kind of case has been fought multiple times, and every time the cops lose because it's a First Amendment/Freedom of Speech issue, and they can't ticket you for exercising your right. I think the cops are on shaky ground.

Agreed. It even said in the article that this particular type of twist on the law was shot down back in '05. When will they learn? Over ten thousand tickets though before someone said something. Goes to show that there's a small percentage of people that are willing to take what they get from officers without really thinking about whether it's legal or not. Not just for warning of speed traps, but for all sorts of things like illegal search and seizure. What a head shaker.

Jekyll wrote: Agreed. It even said in the article that this particular type of twist on the law was shot down back in '05. When will they learn? Over ten thousand tickets though before someone said something. Goes to show that there's a small percentage of people that are willing to take what they get from officers without really thinking about whether it's legal or not. Not just for warning of speed traps, but for all sorts of things like illegal search and seizure. What a head shaker.

Yeah, some GOP politician was trying to confiscate cameras at a town hall the other day to shut down coverage... They're hauling him into court too for confiscating personal property with no authority, and using the cops to do it... One day they'll learn.

"They" as in politicians? Cause they're all crooks, even if they convince you they aren't.
Really though, as far as I'm concerned with law enforcement, there's plenty of good cops out there, but there's also the good one's that are overwhelmed by crooked and bias enforcement of policy and procedure that just go along with the rest of the crew. Like the seizure of cameras? Hard to believe that ALL of those officers supported doing that, but the one's that didn't blended with the rest as to avoid being singled out as traitors I suspect.

Hope the police lose again, but sometimes you find a stupid judge.

More dangerous is when police shut down the filming of officers on duty.
We need more observation of police instead of less.

Good for this guy- it seems like they can write 1000's of tickets before they write that ticket to the guy who will stand up for his rights.

The other thing that happens alot (and it's happened to me) is that the DA or Judge will drop a charge if someone tries to fight it. This happened over and over for years before someone in the courts screwes up and finds a case guilty - and that case get appealed.

I guess I'm that one in a thousand because I'll fight unconstitutional tickets.

Good for this guy- and I hope he wins so we have this issue settled once and for all.

Yes, Steve Chabot was who I had in mind.... After reading it again, I don't think they're hauling him into court, but it appears that the next meeting that he held was covered by the local news stations, who basically dared him to try to confiscate THEIR cameras....

Rep. Steve Chabot Criticized By Tea Party Activists For Seizing Cameras From Democrats At Town Halls

WASHINGTON -- After banning and confiscating cameras at his town hall events, Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) is taking heat from all sides -- including from Tea Party activists Eric Odom and Judson Phillips.

At a town hall meeting on Monday, a Chabot staffer directed a Cincinnati police officer to seize video cameras and cell phones from two Democratic activists who were attending the event.

This is the first report of cameras being confiscated at Chabot's town halls, although he has been banning them since at least June.

Chabot spokesman Jamie Schwartz said the policy was meant "to protect the privacy of constituents," saying there were "multiple instances where constituents voiced their concern about being videotaped when asking a question that revealed private information."

Members of the media were also filming at Monday's event, but their cameras were not taken.

The progressive advocacy group Americans United for Change sent out a press release Wednesday about Chabot's event. "At Steve Chabot’s recent Cincinnati town hall, Chabot took an extraordinary step, banning constituents from filming the town hall and asking questions directly," the group wrote. "What didn’t he want people outside the event to see? Perhaps his defense of tax cuts for billionaires and Wall Street corporations."

We now return you to the original thread about cops giving tickets to people who warn others of speed traps ahead....

I believe in always going to court over a ticket. My DH went in one time (had followed a cop's instructions on how to get somewhere and ended up on the HOV) and the prosecuting attorney asked him why he was there. DH said wasn't my fault, explained and the charges were dropped.