Posted on 12/20/2008 5:08:22 AM PST by Past Your Eyes
Don’t annoy someone in Brighton city or you might get a ticket.
The Brighton City Council approved a more stringent code for public conduct, and those who violate the rules – including annoying someone else – could be ticketed and fined. The ordinance was modeled after one in Royal Oak, where Brighton Police Chief Tom Wightman previously was employed.
One of the sections reads, “It shall be unlawful for a person to engage in a course of conduct or repeatedly commit acts that alarm or seriously annoy another person and that serve no legitimate purpose.”
Another section states, “It shall be unlawful for any person in the city to insult, accost, molest or otherwise annoy, either by word of mouth, sign or motions any person in any public place.”
Two City Council members expressed concerns about the ordinance but ended up voting for it.
Council member Jim Bohn said some of the language was subjective.
“I’m not sure what alarm or seriously annoy means,” Bohn said.
Council member Jim Muzzin asked if he were to stand up and read “War and Peace,” during his five-minute limit at call to the public at numerous meetings, “would I be ticketed or fined?”
Paul Burns, city attorney, responded no.
Burns said City Council chambers are considered a “bastion of democracy” and the law provides a wide breath for free speech. Burns said there could be a situation where a ticket issued violates someone’s free speech, but he said his office would be reviewing these cases.
City Manager Dana Foster said enforcement would be a subjective call made by police officers. However, Foster said the rules are aimed at those who interfere in public areas as opposed to residents who are simply annoying for annoyance’s sake.
The amended ordinance takes effect 15 days from approval, which is Jan. 2, 2009.
Michigan ping?
I am guilty everyday as is almost everyone else that I know, but I have no money left after paying my taxes & fees. I guess I will have to be put in jail for my crimes. Sadly it seems that we are reaching the tipping point, I hope thet we can still get back to some sanity.
Oh, I’ve been to Brighton in England. I was very lucky to share the weekend I had to spend there with some sort of British biker convention. British bikers are not like American bikers-—LOL!
I bet Imams calling for the decapitation of all non-Muslim Brits won’t get a ticket.
I was wrong. It’s in the USA.
Michigan
If the poster (long forgotten by me) would have mentioned this, we wouldn't have had our nice conversation and we'd all be the poorer wouldn't we?
I love freepers!
Oh, well, it was an honest mistake. I should check links.
Tell me about British bikers!
Brighton is 40 miles west of Detroit, and 20 miles north of Ann Arbor.
A bit north of Ann Arbor. Right up US 23.
Does this include passing and enforcing stupid laws?
Brighton is in the mountains of Michigan snuggled next to Mt. Brighton.
Hey, I used to live there in the 70’s as a lad.
A crescent moon next to a fig tree.
Shouldn't there be a big red "X" across the whole thing?
I will accept 20 or more lashes with a wet noodle for not saying that this article was about Brighton, Michigan. Since most people are not annoyed, I shouldn’t have to go to gaol, should I?
From comments to the article at the source:
U.S. Supreme Court
COATES v. CITY OF CINCINNATI, 402 U.S. 611 (1971)
Decided June 1, 1971
MR. JUSTICE STEWART delivered the opinion of the Court.
A Cincinnati, Ohio, ordinance makes it a criminal offense for "three or more persons to assemble . . . on any of the sidewalks . . . and there conduct themselves in a manner annoying to persons passing by . . . ." The issue before us is whether this ordinance is unconstitutional on its face.
Declared unconstitutional in 1971.
Where is the legal advice of the city attorney????
See http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/coates.html
I've heard this conversation before.
It sounds to me like the entire City Council could be ticketed and fined under this ridiculous ordinance just for passing it!
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