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To: GregoTX
Thanks for responding. Your response doesn't make me mad. I'll tell you what, My opening remarks to him as he walked on my property, and I quote were: "Hello, This is private property, can I help you?"

And that was because I truly didn't know who he was, I've had people walk on my property, right past the signs just like he did to get down to my creek and fish and what not, found used condoms and plenty of beer cans. Run off a few kids smoking dope. One of the pleasures that goes with being on a back road in a wooded area.

His response was "do you want to get arrested, tonight?"

There was nothing calm about him, funny thing is he didn't even tell me to put the fire out nor inspect it, just took off after giving me the summons. Left the real police to watch me and my neighbor to sulk back up to my house.

I have a general respect for the law, treat them with respect and you usually get it back, I have good friends that are cops in the same county he is, good people. It was pure ego trip on his part, maybe he was having a bad night. Family and friends in the federal area of law enforcement as well.

However the fact that I was asked for ID in this manner on my property irks me, to no end. And btw I didn't refuse to produce my id, I asked to see his first, which I thought was reasonable and with in my rights. Also I found out when he called me that he wasn't a beat officer, he was a detective. I don't know if that makes any difference in ego trips or not. He did the right thing by apologizing and I accepted it. But he was itching to arrest me from the get go and he would have if I lost my cool, but I knew that. I'm one of the most laid back people you could ever meet, however if my wife was there, she would have been arrested in a heartbeat. >{? Buses on federal property? Maybe I can accept it if it's a base or campus. Curious does this also include the interstate? How about any street in DC?

I still say things are getting a bit crazy with this ID check thing, it's personal now for me.

If you haven't seen this thread and you have time, I'd like your opinion.Deputy Police Chief Frank Fernandez said officers might, for example, surround a bank building, check the IDs of everyone going in and out and hand out leaflets about terror threats.

96 posted on 11/29/2005 8:13:30 PM PST by CJ Wolf (BTW can someone add 'zot' to the FR spellchecker?)
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To: CJ Wolf
I appreciate the discussion we are having.

If his opening statement to you was "do you want to get arrested tonight?", then that sets the stage for a confrontation, which is fine for Johnny Bad Guy, but not Joe Family Guy, that is usually a rookie mistake, not a detective, oh well, it happens sometimes.

As to laws on Federal Property on in DC, I would only be guessing. Your guess is as good as mine.

I do have a few long time friends that are Officers for a Transit Authority, that includes buses. Here in Texas, there all kinds of governments that have authority to pass laws that are unique to their area. For instance, a City will have City ordinances that are unique to just that City. Park boards may have Police Officers that not only are Texas Peace Officers, but they are hired to enforce rules of the park. You will see this on School P.D.s also. Transit Authorities are governed by elected or appointed officials that pass law enforceable ordinances also. On their buses they will have rules and laws. Rule violations may result in having riding privileges revoked, and violation of laws may result in citations or arrests.

In the post, from the line "Rusnok said the federal officers in Colorado told him the policy of checking the IDs of bus passengers and others entering the Federal Center began shortly after the April 1995 terrorist bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City."

I take that as showing ID is a rule, or a policy, not a law. From reading the story she refused to follow the rule (or policy). A guard is not able to enforce laws, only rules and policies, and she violated a policy. she didnt break the law until this point...

"The guard told her she had to leave the bus, but she refused. Two officers with the Federal Protective Service were called."

The guard represents the bus line, has authority to tell people to leave the bus. She refused. So she is now trespassing, that is a violation of law, so the guard called Officers, and she was arrested. The way I see it, she refused to show ID, so the bus refused to provide her with a service. She refused to leave, that when Officers were called in, because she refused to leave. Thats my take. Im to tired to read the whole thing again to see if there was anything else.

On the other link "Deputy Police Chief Frank Fernandez said officers might, for example, surround a bank building, check the IDs of everyone going in and out and hand out leaflets about terror threats."

I dont know how they did that, I cant say enough about what a bad idea that is. I only know Texas law, not Florida. In Texas, you must have probable cause to a crime to check ID. Some States make an exception for that for certain traffic enforcement such as DWI checkpoints ect. They were checking ID's of bank and Hotel customers. Handing out literature is fine, if the property owners dont mind. Checking ID's of everyone going in and out in of a private business? No way. If the Bank, or the grocery store, or whatever business wants to see your ID, fine. Show the bank or the hotel your ID if they want that, or you can go somewhere that doesnt require you to show your ID. That is between you and the business. But LEO's asking for ID at random I personally see as going to far. I am comfortable with Texas law that gives LEO's authority to ID a suspect or witness to any crime great or small, but not like this Florida Chief that was choosing people at random in the name of security.

"They that would give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin

101 posted on 11/29/2005 10:17:49 PM PST by GregoTX (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
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