Michigan Officials Infracting People for Annoyance...the yanks have lost it.

Raverist

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/18318880/detail.html

BRIGHTON, Mich. -- Since when did being annoying become a crime? Since Brighton City Council approved a public conduct code Monday night, which includes fining someone up to $500 for being annoying.

One section of the bill 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."

The bill also states it's unlawful for anyone to insult, accost, molest or otherwise annoy any person in public.

The ordinance was modeled after one in Royal Oak, where the Brighton police chief previously worked.

The Livingston Daily Press & Argus reported that two council members expressed concerns for the language of the ordinance, but voted for it anyway.

Brighton officials said the ordinance would be subjective and the call will be made by police officers.

The amended ordinance takes effect Jan. 17, 2009.
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Oh, good gawd...doesn't the council realise that life ain't a damn forum? This amused me.
 
I'm going to sue the council for being annoying by passing that law. They have repeatedly written down sentence that serve no legitimate purpose other than to annoy me.
 
The bill also states it's unlawful for anyone to insult, accost, molest or otherwise annoy any person in public.


Isn't that already illegal?
 
Brighton officials said the ordinance would be subjective and the call will be made by police officers.
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Well that is certainly a problem. I can see that "discretion" being used to serve all sorts of purposes.
 
I just saw "Infracting" and thought it may be relevant to me.

Anyway, this is pretty much one of the dumbest ordinances I've ever heard of. Protests are annoying, for example.
 
I imagine most examples of frivolous use of the law - e.g.:
Person: Officer, is there a problem?
Policeman: Your voice sounds weird and annoys me, FINE OF $500
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would get shot down if you contested them. For example, asking "Officer, is there a problem?" serves a legitimate purpose, and is therefore okay under the bill.

It's still a stupid law, but I imagine it won't get used much. The problems will be borderline cases, though - like protesters.
 
I know the first 3 guys who should be fined for this:

Detroit's Big 3 Auto Manufacturers.

Stealing my tax money to continue their failed legacy plans and union graft is very annoying.

In fact, since that probably annoys tens of millions of taxpayers, why don't they give us back 5 Billion?

Repeat for every scum-sucking trough feeder with HQ in Michigan.
 
unless you are retarded or display overtly disruptive behavior to be annoying this bill is a joke. no officer would be able to say "you're being annoying, here is a 500$ fine" out of animosity and win a case if it was challenged.
 
jamespicone said:
It's still a stupid law, but I imagine it won't get used much. The problems will be borderline cases, though - like protesters.
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Um, that's frightening. Arresting protesters for "being annoying" completely demolishes the First Amendment. That's where I see this ordinance headed.
 
Things that annoy people can vary greatly from person to person even without manipulation out of contempt. This sounds far too easily exploited to stand.
 
jamespicone said:
I imagine most examples of frivolous use of the law - e.g.:


would get shot down if you contested them. For example, asking "Officer, is there a problem?" serves a legitimate purpose, and is therefore okay under the bill.
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You shouldn't have to contest them; that wastes your time and, if you think you need a lawyer, money as well.
 
Obviously this will turn into a ridiculous waste of resources and is ripe for abuse. How such an admittedly subjective law serving no legitimate purpose was passed is rather beyond comprehension.

Still, I cannot help but feel some twinge of regret that Deck Knight does not live in Brighton. I find his opinions quite annoying.
 
Im not quite sure how i feel at the same time, i can see some reasoning in it, i also dont see it as necessary.I guess a feeling of neutrality.
 
Just goes to show how fucked up my state is. =/

But this prevents those stupid idiots that try to pawn stolen watches to me!
 
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