Open Container violation in Prospect Park

Whats with the racist nonsense?!?

Minority here, and as stated above I've never gotten a ticket for all my years of drinking in the park (in plastic bottles)...

hey wait a second!!!, maybe I didn't get a ticket because I AM a minority!
now I'm mad! damn racist evil segway riding po po.

As far as use of segways, they are pretty lame, unless ummm.... you are lame, in the can't walk kind of way. I think the police would be better served with pogo stilts, a shoulder mounted auto aiming-canon, and a face shield, perhaps something that looks similar to boba fett's.

Yeah, I don't really understand the debate. The original poster got caught doing something illegal. The cops were kind of jerks about it, although not all that bad. What else is new?

I had a soccer ball taken from me in Central Park by a cop. He was kind of a jerk about it. My fine was $60! I had to pay it, because I was in the wrong.

Hamilton wrote: I have two questions:

1-How many disability claims will there be due to falling off these retarded devices
2- how many cops does it take to write a ticket

1. there was a major recall of segways a while ago due to gyroscope problems causing people to get thrown off. I'm not sure what the resolution was.

2. 6, one for each letter

Hamilton wrote: 1-How many disability claims will there be due to falling off these retarded devices

The cops using them actually get special training, FYI.

Hamilton wrote: I know I spoke with one of them, but I think they are putting the officers at risk by using these devices.

How do you feel about them using cars, motorcycles, bicycles, horses and quads?

Hamilton wrote: I'd rather see them on foot.

What about the argument that they can cover much more ground and respond quicker utilizing these vehicles?

mention that the cop was ignoring people openly consuming alcohol around you.

bad idea. what others were doing isn't relevant to, and doesn't excuse or justify, your own conduct. saying that isn't gonna get you anywhere with a judge and is more likely to piss him or her off.

Yeah the cop is an asshole, but whatever. Just pay the ticket. And don't talk to cops. Ever.

Watch this video. If you doubt me, he will convince you.

eggcream wrote: Yeah, he's an asshole for doing his job.

No, he's an asshole for being an asshole.

Everybody should be allowed to do whatever the hell they want. Next time ya need one don't bother calling.

Next time?

Non sequitur.

Are the park rules posted in a place where people in the park or outside of it can view them? How are people supposed to follow the law if we don't know what the law is? I know that we are not allowed to bring glass bottles into parks, but I don't know how I know that. Is it just common sense (broken glass + feet = blood)?

raw wrote: Are the park rules posted in a place where people in the park or outside of it can view them? How are people supposed to follow the law if we don't know what the law is? I know that we are not allowed to bring glass bottles into parks, but I don't know how I know that. Is it just common sense (broken glass + feet = blood)?

Um, ignorance of the law is no excuse? Look it up, yer on the interweb. Ask a cop, or a park ranger type. Perhaps I could buy this is if it were some weird rule, like no hats on Tuesdays or something. It does seem reasonable that there might be a rule prohibitting alcohol that one might check into though.

FYI: Prospect Park specific: http://www.prospectpark.org/visit/plan/safety
NYC Parks General: http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_about/rules_and_regulations/rr_rules_regulations.html

Glass, 1-04-d

Restrictions on Glass

The Commissioner may, in his or her discretion, designate certain parks, or portions thereof, as restricted areas wherein no glass bottles or other glass containers will be permitted. Failure to comply with such restrictions shall constitute a violation of these rules. This subdivision (d) shall not apply to glass bottles or containers used in the care and feeding of infant children.

Alcohol, 1-05-f

Alcoholic Beverages

(1) Except where specifically permitted by the Commissioner, no person shall consume any alcoholic beverage in any park, playground, beach, swimming pool or other park property or facility, nor shall any person possess any alcoholic beverage with intent to consume or facilitate consumption by others of same in any park, playground, beach, swimming pool, or other park property or facility.

(2) It shall be a violation of these rules for any person to appear in any park under the influence of alcohol to the degree that he may endanger himself or herself, other persons or property, or unreasonably annoy persons in his or her vicinity.

Carnivore wrote: [quote=eggcream]Yeah, he's an asshole for doing his job. Everybody should be allowed to do whatever the hell they want. Next time ya need one don't bother calling.

Next time?

He's an asshole for selectively doing his job. Enforce the law consistently or don't enforce it.
Bullshit, it was reported that the cops said they were going to write up everyone. But then they left. Your supposition appears to be that they were full of crap about writing up everyone. The truth could be that a call about an assault or something more pressing came in that they had to attend to, preventing them from citing the rest of the law breakers.

Given that an officer may be called away, what is he to do when faced with say four groups of low level law breakers? Ignore it, because there is a good chance that he won't be able to cite them all? Or just pick one and start with them, and hope that he can get around to citing them all before something else comes up?

In any case, I would argue that ignoring a crime because too many people are doing it to be able to cite them all is probably not the best practice. It happens all the time on the roads. Four people are doing 90MPH. A cop generally can't pull all four over. So should he ignore it, or just grab one and do the best he can? I'm for grabbing one. Speed that excessive is dangerous to the general populace, and while only citing one out of four may not nail everybody, I _do_ believe that it has a deterrent effect. Just as a suspect this particular incident not only probably had a deterrent effect to those witnessing it at the park, but also to those of us hearing about it later.

But yah, fuck tha police comin' straight from tha underground.

daver wrote: Speed that excessive is dangerous to the general populace, and while only citing one out of four may not nail everybody, I _do_ believe that it has a deterrent effect.]

Lame analogy. A couple of people having some wine in the park is not dangerous to the general populace (if 8 of them were indeed sharing 1 bottle, there's no way any of them was even going to be remotely intoxicated). The OP, at least according to his/her account wasn't bothering anybody, menacing passersby or posing a threat to anyone in any way. The prohibition against public drinking is a blue law, plain and simple, but if the police are going to selectively enforce it, they should look for violators who might actually pose a threat to others. There are plenty of examples of drinkers like that in the park.

This is like the highway cop pulling over the guy going 56 mph with traffic and ignoring the guys weaving in and out at 80 mph passing everyone.

On the other hand, I do agree with Obamanut's original point that the double standard between wine and beer open containers is bullshit, and that wine and beer should be no different in the eyes of the law. It's the behavior surrounding the drinking that should determine who gets the ticket.

But there's no question those cops were assholes. That organ donor comment? C'mon.

One argument is calling for impartial enforcement of the Law, while others want selective enforcement. The point is, that drinking alcohol in the park is illegal unless theres an event permit. The laws are not required to be posted. Very rarely in NYC are there signs posting the Laws and Rules for Society to follow. The Police also can use discretion, and are not required to summons every violator of the Law. Sounds to me like the smug attitude may have played a role in one of the Officers comments and the issuance of a summonses. "ummmm Officer, they're drinking over there too, why aren't you giving them a ticket"?.... " hey it's just wine, why don't you bother the real criminals"...... "my taxes pay your salary"