New Bill: Annoy A Cop - Get Up To Four Years In Jail

Freedom Outpost ^ | June 6, 2013 | Tim Brown

[EXCH54FE]

I guess New York hasn’t brought the hammer down hard enough on its citizens, so a new bill is moving through the State legislature which would make it a crime to annoy a police officer. Just think of the far reaching consequences of this measure.

The bill, passed by the State Senate on Wednesday, makes it a felony to “harass, annoy, threaten or alarm” an on duty police officer.

WIVB reports,

A press release from the NYS Senate originally stated, “The bill (S.2402), sponsored by Senator Joe Griffo (R-C-I, Rome) would make it a felony to harass, annoy, or threaten a police officer while on duty.” However, as the bill is written, a person would be guilty of aggravated harassment of a police officer if he or she subjected that officer to physical contact with the intent to “harass, annoy, threaten or alarm” that officer.

The bill was sponsored by local Senators Pat Gallivan, George Maziarz and Michael Ranzenhofer, as well as Senator Joe Griffo (R) .

Anyone found guilty under the bill, should it become law, could face up to four years in prison.

The bill reads in part:

A PERSON IS GUILTY OF AGGRAVATED HARASSMENT OF A POLICE OFFICER OR PEACE OFFICER WHEN, WITH THE INTENT TO HARASS, ANNOY, THREATEN OR ALARM A PERSON WHOM HE OR SHE KNOWS OR REASONABLY SHOULD KNOW TO BE A POLICE OFFICER OR PEACE OFFICER ENGAGED IN THE COURSE OF PERFORMING HIS OR HER OFFICIAL DUTIES, HE OR SHE STRIKES, SHOVES, KICKS OR OTHERWISE SUBJECTS SUCH PERSON TO PHYSICAL CONTACT.

While there is some additional language in this bill that refers to true physical contact, it also throws in the little phrase “with the intent,” which really gets to the issue of what people are thinking rather than what they are doing.

[Bravo six]

Ny should prosecute the politicians for attempting to create such a Marxist piece of legislation.....

[rarestia]

I wasn’t commenting specifically on this legislation but more generally on the state of this nation. Every state is a political microcosm. Every state has the potential to show us how bad it COULD be.

[Leaning Right]

I guess the NYPD realized that ‘resisting arrest’ was getting a little cliche as their standby charge for people they just don’t like.

I think you hit the nail on the head right there.

[762X51]

The only way to make a bad situation worse is to add a cop. I try my best to not attract their attention. I don't speak to them, I don't make eye contact with them, and I would certainly never summon them to wherever I am.

Now that is some of the best advice you'll ever get for free. I too avoid them at all costs. NOTHING good can come from an interaction with the PoPo...you only stand to lose.

[brakeemnowornever]

It’s established that the people who created government are the masters. It seems Americans have forgotten that or they cherish their hot dogs before their freedom. They forget that right to life cannot be bargained for... . Citizens, or Nationals? What is a citizen as opposed to a Citizen, or a National? Who defines me? Who defines you? We need to start the process of who we really are before the soul-less ones become victorious.

[brakeemnowornever]

Dang! ..dat look put me in da can!!!

[brakeemnowornever]

That would hurt, but remember, who is boss here? Yes, they work for an agency, but what is agency law? What, or who is trustee in any given case? What happened to original government which is the people, still is folks, don’t let em fool ya into believing otherwise.

[OA5599]

I guess the NYPD realized that ‘resisting arrest’ was getting a little cliche as their standby charge for people they just don’t like.

I've had two friends in NYC arrested recently for "resisting arrest" without any other charges. How is that even legal?

One friend in Brooklyn started filming a cop when he started asking her questions. The cop abruptly snatched her phone, twisted her arm behind her back, and arrested her for resisting arrest.

The other friend was a passenger in a car stopped for a DUI in Queens. After the driver blew 0.01 and 0.00, the cop started roughing up the driver for mouthing off. The passenger got out to see what was going on, and the cops attacked him, ending up breaking my friend's foot.

They guy with the broken foot was arrested for resisting arrest. The driver was arrested for a DUI. This happened a few days after Hurricane Sandy, and his bloodwork or lab work whatever it's called still "isn't ready." Seven months, and they can't get his BAC.

The whole reason he got tuned up was that once he blew 0.00, he thought they would let him go as he knew he wasn't drinking. But the cops told him the machine wasn't calibrated so they have to take him in for a blood sample. He flipped his lid and asked them what would happen if the "uncalibrated" breathalizer came back over the limit? That's how it all went down hill.

And the cops still have his car seven months later, plus he has over $10k in legal fees so far. Time is running out for the DA, but even if he's not convicted, he'll have an uphill battle getting his car back with those civil forfeiture proceedings.

So I guess all three of those hardened criminals would be screwed by this bill if it passes.

[Mad Dawgg]

WOW, they better be careful giving a sentence of 4 years. Some murderers get less than that and it would be hard for a cop to testify that you annoyed him if he was dead.

[MeganC]

I will never, EVER, set foot in New York City or New York State. I just can’t believe how anyone who lives in that dictatorship isn’t throwing an all-out revolution against the thugs who rule them.