Apparently "fed up" has no problem with selective enforcement or doesn't understand what it is.
When officers allow privileges for themselves (whether they are distributing candy to kids in a "drug war" PR effort or selling tickets to the policeman's ball) that others get cited for--that is an "attack" on the basic right of equal protection under the law. The demand that ordinary citizens follow (absurd) laws that police feel free to ignore is an attack First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Selective enforcement is the application of laws to some and not to others, selectively. Get it?
In Santa Cruz, some poor people are getting $162 citations for sitting less than 14' from a building. Some political activists are getting similar citations for "blocking the sidewalk". The amount of allowable sidewalk space for ordinary people has dropped to less than 5% of the sidewalk.
Police, on the other hand, can apparently use whatever part of the sidewalk they want, whenever they want it, for whatever they want.
If those the merchants don't want show up, they are subject to legalized harassment at the whim of police or merchant.
The point of this example is that is a crystal clear case of police violating their own laws one day and three days enforcing them against activists that they or the merchants they serve don't like.
Do the words "equal treatment under the law" ring a bell? If not, "Fed Up" might do well to invest in a hearing aid.
It's sad when personal rancor can make one deaf to the click of police boots on the street.
Unclear on the Concept?
Date Edited: 02 Nov 2002 03:07:47 PM
When officers allow privileges for themselves (whether they are distributing candy to kids in a "drug war" PR effort or selling tickets to the policeman's ball) that others get cited for--that is an "attack" on the basic right of equal protection under the law. The demand that ordinary citizens follow (absurd) laws that police feel free to ignore is an attack First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Selective enforcement is the application of laws to some and not to others, selectively. Get it?
In Santa Cruz, some poor people are getting $162 citations for sitting less than 14' from a building. Some political activists are getting similar citations for "blocking the sidewalk". The amount of allowable sidewalk space for ordinary people has dropped to less than 5% of the sidewalk.
Police, on the other hand, can apparently use whatever part of the sidewalk they want, whenever they want it, for whatever they want.
If those the merchants don't want show up, they are subject to legalized harassment at the whim of police or merchant.
The point of this example is that is a crystal clear case of police violating their own laws one day and three days enforcing them against activists that they or the merchants they serve don't like.
Do the words "equal treatment under the law" ring a bell? If not, "Fed Up" might do well to invest in a hearing aid.
It's sad when personal rancor can make one deaf to the click of police boots on the street.
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