Police Abusing Power

Law enforcement in this country is beginning to believe that they don't have to follow either the Constitution, or any other laws.  Recently in North Carolina, a black Dodge Charger was filmed driving erratically on the freeway, but according to news reports, The Secret Service owns the care and the was acting "...in an 'official' capacity"?  I call this bullshit. 





The Secret Service has no authority on the roads.  Yet another example of too much police power at all levels of government.  Too many cops don't think that any laws are binding upon them.  "Law Enforcement" has run amuck with police all over the country arresting people for filming them.

Recently in Chicago, police arrested a journalist for filming them.  The cop was caught on camera saying, "your 1st Amendment rights can be suspended..."  Homeland Security needs to be abolished along with the DEA, ATF along with Federal Security Police.

Maryland Police Say Its Illegal to Tape Them In Public

There's a debate that's beginning to heat up here in the Police State of Maryland.  Police officers here are telling people that it's illegal to tape them in public.  Unfortunately, it's permissible for police to tape YOU on their dashboard cameras.  However, several legal organizations say that's wrong,

"For the government to be saying it has the power to prevent citizens from doing that is profoundly shocking, troubling, and particularly in the case of Maryland, simply flat-out wrong," said David Roach, ACLU.

And then there's this,

"When you tell me to turn it off because it's against the law, you've proven to me that I'm not secretly taping you," said law professor Byron Warnken. "He doesn't have the right to say, if you don't stop recording me, I'm going to arrest you."

Delegate Sandy Rosenberg, D-Dist 41, Baltimore City, is pushing the Maryland Attorney General to render an opinion on whether or not it's "permissible", as if an AG can say you have a right that's already implied under the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution, and has been ruled such in a number of states already.  But if the AG advises otherwise, Mr. Rosenberg plans to introduce legislation the specifically permits such recordings in public of public officials.

Welcome To A Police State, Maryland Edition

I ride a motorcycle and have been known to...weave through traffic because often times I can get away with it.  When I used to manage a breakfast restaurant, I got to know many, if not most of the cops who patrol my area.  Moreover, they came to know what vehicles I drive/ride and basically left me alone. 

That being said, the guy riding the motorcycle in this video deserves the reckless driving/speeding ticket he got for his imbecility.  On the other hand, the cop should be suspended as he was in a "not state" car, nor was he uniform.  I suspect that the Cop was off duty and got pissed at the stupidity and antics of the rider.  I sure would have, mainly because I'm smart enough not to pop wheelies at 70+ MPH!




But all that being said, the off duty cop was way out of bounds...Here' from the Winds Of Change 

WTH is with the officer exiting the car and immediately drawing his firearm - before identifying himself as an officer? That's outrageous on several levels. The rider had done nothing to justify the application of deadly force, and all it would have taken in this case is for the rider to have reached for his wallet for this to have turned into a tragedy. His commander's excusing this behavior would deeply trouble me if I lived in that jurisdiction; someone there needs to get a politician to remind the officers that they work for us.


Finally, he's being sued for filming and recording a conversation that took place in public, on a roadside?? You ought to be kidding...but sadly, aren't.

We have two choices here in America; we can become the UK, where subjects have few rights and the authorities have many (but are democratically elected!) or we can be something different - where those who work for the government don't automatically get a giant bushel of rights denied to the rest of us.

Not a difficult choice to me...

Nor is it for me.  I live in Maryland, and the idea that I can't video tape in a public area...police misbehaving is outrageous.  I will be contacting my state delegates and senators to voice my protest of this bullshit law.