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Annoying ordinance passed in Brighton
Livingston Daily ^ | December 19, 2008 | Jim Totten

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: annoy; brighton; conduct; sign
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To: Past Your Eyes

Is this Michigan? It took me 10 minutes to figure out at the source.


41 posted on 12/20/2008 6:38:20 AM PST by Doohickey (The more cynical you become, the better off you'll be.)
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To: Snurple
???
42 posted on 12/20/2008 6:38:46 AM PST by Chode (American Hedonist -)
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To: Past Your Eyes
Annoying ordinance passed in Brighton

Ordnance-worthy ordinance alert.

43 posted on 12/20/2008 6:42:23 AM PST by snarks_when_bored
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To: Past Your Eyes

Evangelizing, Salvation Army bells, pro-conservative discussions and criticizing That One will certainly be subject to this ‘law’.


44 posted on 12/20/2008 6:43:34 AM PST by polymuser (Bye, bye Miss American Pie.)
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To: Doohickey

Did that annoy you?


45 posted on 12/20/2008 6:56:17 AM PST by Past Your Eyes (All points of view tolerated...as long as they agree with mine.)
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To: polymuser

Look at the bright side - they have outlawed dadaism.


46 posted on 12/20/2008 7:00:17 AM PST by patton (Vista malware delende est - Norton Antivirus)
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To: Past Your Eyes

Naw—I’ll give you a get out of jail free card on this one—LOL! It has made for some interesting conversation.


47 posted on 12/20/2008 7:02:54 AM PST by basil (Support the 2nd Amendment--buy another gun today)
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To: Past Your Eyes
“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.”

Good!

This means we now have a way to fight Liberals.

48 posted on 12/20/2008 7:20:12 AM PST by Gritty (Hell on earth is made by those who try to make it heaven - Friedrich Holderlin (1770-1843))
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To: basil

Brighton is in Michigan, about an hour’s drive West of Detroit, and a little over half an hour East of Lansing.


49 posted on 12/20/2008 7:24:40 AM PST by Lakeshark (Thank a member of the US armed forces for their sacrifice)
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To: Paladin2

I believe “Mt.Brighton” is a garbage heap........


50 posted on 12/20/2008 7:27:31 AM PST by Lakeshark (Thank a member of the US armed forces for their sacrifice)
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To: AndrewB
I fell down laughing at the "Ministry of Silly Walks" skit the first time I saw it. Those guys were really funny.


51 posted on 12/20/2008 7:37:40 AM PST by Marauder ("I won't be wronged, I won't be lied to, and I won't be laid a hand on." - J.B. Books)
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To: Lakeshark
I think it's a sand pit, dug out and piled up - though there could be some garbage under there, there's no methane wells.

Mt. Trashmore is south of Detroit.

52 posted on 12/20/2008 8:12:53 AM PST by Paladin2 (No, pundits strongly believe that the proper solution is more dilution.)
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To: jedi150

Yep, its a Brave New World.


53 posted on 12/20/2008 9:43:26 AM PST by GingisK
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To: Past Your Eyes
“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.”

Not sure why so many FReepers are against this.. they have effectively banned the democrat party.

54 posted on 12/20/2008 9:53:46 AM PST by douginthearmy
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To: Tenniel2
"miserable hole"

Really? That's not what my English-born and raised wife says. She visited them, especially the ones in Cornwall, regularly as a child. Her memories are all fond. I look forward to seeing the jewel of English seaside resorts, Blackpoole, sometime in the near future. Great Yarmouth was pretty good, so we'll see if Blackpoole can outdo it.

55 posted on 12/20/2008 11:11:46 AM PST by driftless2
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To: Past Your Eyes

A little. But I got over it being Christmas and all.


56 posted on 12/20/2008 11:53:28 AM PST by Doohickey (The more cynical you become, the better off you'll be.)
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To: Springman; sergeantdave; cyclotic; netmilsmom; RatsDawg; PGalt; FreedomHammer; queenkathy; ...
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.

Big fish, little pond syndrome, so common in the mitten

57 posted on 12/20/2008 2:06:21 PM PST by grellis (I am Jill's overwhelming sense of disgust.)
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To: PalmettoMason; Past Your Eyes
City Manager Dana Foster said enforcement would be a subjective call made by police officers.

Um...doesn't that make the ordinance void on its face, since it can't (won't) be applied equally to all?

Yep, that'll work real well...

Another "No Lawyer Left Behind" bit of legislation.

58 posted on 12/21/2008 5:49:18 AM PST by MaggieCarta (We're all Detroiters now.)
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To: VRWCtaz
My favorite is:
Maaaaaaawwwwwmmmm...He's looking at me.

Well, stop looking at him, and you won't know whether or not he's looking at you.

59 posted on 12/21/2008 5:54:13 AM PST by MaggieCarta (We're all Detroiters now.)
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To: douginthearmy
Not sure why so many FReepers are against this.. they have effectively banned the democrat party.

Giggle. All the more reason to strike it down, now. Thanks!

60 posted on 12/21/2008 6:01:37 AM PST by MaggieCarta (We're all Detroiters now.)
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