Current Events > Annoying a cop might soon be subject to a $5,000 fine here

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/local-news/press-conference-regarding-police-harassment-bill/

Despite controversy and public backlash, Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo says she intends on signing the police harassment bill into law.

A statement from Monroe County spokesman Jesse Sleezer Friday:

The County Executive plans to sign the legislation. It was passed by the County Legislature, is supported by law enforcement, and she believes in the intent of the proposal.

The bill defines harassment broadly including everything from annoying a first responder, to assaulting one. Punishments include jail time and/or an up to $5,000 fine.

The United Christian Leadership Ministry and Community Justice Advocates held a press conference Friday to speak out against the Monroe County Legislatures bill on harassing police and first responders.

This is a ridiculous and reprehensible piece of legislation, said Rev. Lewis Stewart.

The bill passed in the Legislature last week, sparking some debate in the community.

I dont see the need for it, but then you look at the language of it the word annoy, I can annoy people, said Monroe County Legislator Vincent Felder (D-22). Its a subjective thought process that you put into the hands of a police officer.

The bills loose language has led some opponents to question its legality.

Im trying to figure out why theyre trying to pass a law they know is unconstitutional, Felder said.

If signed into law, it will be a step backwards, Rev. Stewart said.

Although the bill passed in the Legislature, it did not do so with unanimous support. County Legislator Rachel Barnhart (D-21) has publicly requested that current county executive Cheryl Dinolfo not sign the bill into law.

Speakers at Fridays press conference also addressed the request by local law enforcement agencies Thursday that would halt the states new criminal justice reform laws from going into effect.

There is no evidence that bail reform will result in a dramatic loss of life, Rev. Stewart said. The people that are to be released are low-level, non-violent offenders.

The new criminal justice laws are set to take effect January 1, 2020. Officials also asked for Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature to address their serious concerns of the laws.

I should note here that Dinolfo lost to a Democrat on election day
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Sounds ridiculous. But theres nothing more frustrating when youre investigating someone and somebody wants to start purposely being difficult and make your day harder
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darkprince45 posted...

Sounds ridiculous. But theres nothing more frustrating when youre investigating someone and somebody wants to start purposely being difficult and make your day harder

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darkprince45 posted...

Sounds ridiculous. But theres nothing more frustrating when youre investigating someone and somebody wants to start purposely being difficult and make your day harder

Yeah I'd love to be able to humiliate and jail anyone who annoys me.

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that is unconstitutional

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"I dont want to be held accountable for my actions" Bill
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Thanks for posting this. I saw this news a few days ago and wanted to post it. New York is getting crazy. The police state is in the beginning stages of cracking down on the state hard

spudger posted...

"I dont want to be held accountable for my actions" Bill

And cops wonder why people don't like them.

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I'm guessing the plan is to say recording a cop counts as annoying them?

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I can see this law being abused to hell.
Just requires a cop with a stick up their arse to find someone not complying withing 0,2 seconds to a vague command amounting to them being annoying.
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why do troublemakers want to annoy cops?
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thronedfire2 posted...

I'm guessing the plan is to say recording a cop counts as annoying them?

I can't speak to what the lawmakers have in mind, but that is 1000% how this will get used in practice.
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Thompson posted...

I can see this law being abused to hell.
Just requires a cop with a stick up their arse to find someone not complying withing 0,2 seconds to a vague command amounting to them being annoying.

This is exactly what will happen.
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Don't Record Police with your cameras that may annoy the cops and get you arrested

Nothing to worry about unless youre an asshat
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Chicken posted...

Nothing to worry about unless youre an asshat

being an ass hat is subjective and not a crime.

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nothing to worry about unless the cop is having a bad day!

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better start some "peaceful protests" to put a stop to the government oh wait....

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Tmaster148 posted...

spudger posted...

"I dont want to be held accountable for my actions" Bill

And cops wonder why people don't like them.

exactly.

you know they will use this to shut down any cell videos
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"Did you know why I pulled you over?"

"...no?"

"Annoying an officer? You just got a heavy fine, bud."

that movie Queen and Slim shows exactly why you can't just let cops decide who is being annoying or "difficult"

So basically filming an arrest/police interaction will be labeled annoying behavior and then the only footage we'll have is the body cams that conveniently fall off/"malfunction".
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Theres a city in Maryland that could probably benefit from this.

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This is completely unconstitutional, isn't it?

This.....feels like something that could be abused.
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darkmaian23 posted...

This is completely unconstitutional, isn't it?

where in the constitution does it say you have the right to annoy cops
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GarbageApe posted...

where in the constitution does it say you have the right to annoy cops

1st amendment

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Blatantly unconstitutionally vague. Like this is textbook overbroadness and vagueness. Not to mention a violation of the first amendment under a rational reading.
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