New York wants to make it a felony to annoy a cop.

[boochi]

http://www.nysenate.gov/press-release/senate-passes-bill-making-harassment-police-officer-crime

This is going to get abused BIG TIME.

 

[lagokc]

You mean it isn't already?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGMTm3QRwEc

 

[Kadarin]

You can damned well bet that the definition of "annoy" will be greatly expanded over time.

 

[buckshot24]

You mean it isn't already?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGMTm3QRwEc

That's what she gets.

 

[Double Trouble]

That seems really crazy and over the top, rife for abuse. Then again, New Yorkers apparently love government control of their lives.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

That seems really crazy and over the top, rife for abuse. Then again, New Yorkers apparently love government control of their lives.

We haven't any choice. Democracy is a joke here since all options are alike. The political machine own us.

 

[piasabird]

What does annoy mean? Looking at a cop could annoy them.

 

[PottedMeat]

What does annoy mean? Looking at a cop could annoy them.

at the very least probably video recording them = harrasment

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Being that the word "annoy" is used exactly once in the link, and that the rest refers to physical aggravation, I'm going to guess that it's some legal definition of the word contrary to how ATPN laymen understand it.

 

[glenn1]

That seems really crazy and over the top, rife for abuse. Then again, New Yorkers apparently love government control of their lives.

Sounds good to this non-New Yorker. It will really be a shame if cops have to billy club some villainous felons breaking this law. "Don't taze me bro" indeed.

 

[Dari]

This will be thrown out by the courts. Who's paying you, Senator Griffo?

 

[lagokc]

at the very least probably video recording them = harrasment

Looking at them disapprovingly = annoying
Video recording them = assault of a police officer

 

[irishScott]

Well on the bright side, the streets of New York will soon be free of annoying, blaring rap music.

 

[lagokc]

Well on the bright side, the streets of New York will soon be free of annoying, blaring rap music.

Even if all the NY cops are annoyed I don't think there enough to stop that. :\

 

[woolfe9998]

You can damned well bet that the definition of "annoy" will be greatly expanded over time.

The word "annoy" is in numerous harassment statutes and has been for a long while. Whatever it means, it isn't the simple act of irritating someone. In any event, I see no evidence of it "expanding over time."

 

[michal1980]

its Bloomberg, anyone surprised with that nutcase.

 

[Double Trouble]

We haven't any choice. Democracy is a joke here since all options are alike. The political machine own us.

True, at this point there's not much that can be done, you're pretty much screwed with both parties there.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

The word "annoy" is in numerous harassment statutes and has been for a long while. Whatever it means, it isn't the simple act of irritating someone. In any event, I see no evidence of it "expanding over time."

Why does it have to expand? It's already there.

We need to make it very clear that when a police officer is performing his duty, every citizen needs to comply and that refusal to comply carries a penalty.”

MLK would be doing time for a felony.

 

[woolfe9998]

Why does it have to expand? It's already there.

Yes, but he said it would expand, AND you didn't reply to the second part of what I said. Whatever is meant by "annoy" it isn't merely to be irritating.

It is in fact illegal to do this to anyone BTW. I think what's new here is making it a felony when you do it to police.

 

[woolfe9998]

its Bloomberg, anyone surprised with that nutcase.

This was passed by the NY State Legislature. Bloomberg is mayor of NY City.

 

[rudder]

at the very least probably video recording them = harrasment

Probably true... but it seems if it did go this far in New York.... they will be spending a lot of money defending lawsuits.

 

[Attic]

You mean it isn't already?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGMTm3QRwEc

That chicks, the bubble blower, attitude = D:

Pretty sure she posts on P&N.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Yes, but he said it would expand, AND you didn't reply to the second part of what I said. Whatever is meant by "annoy" it isn't merely to be irritating.

It is in fact illegal to do this to anyone BTW. I think what's new here is making it a felony when you do it to police.

There was little point in discussing expansion when the penalty for annoyance is a felony. I suppose it could become a death penalty issue but I haven't seen that suggested. It would be interesting to see thousands of Wall Street protesters charged with felonies. What about someone who doesn't pull over fast enough to suit a policeman who's going to issue a traffic ticket? What's the check on that? I'd ask under what circumstances would someone not be subject to a potential felony charge? The author of the bill seems keen on disrespect being a serious criminal violation. Maybe you see his statements differently?

 

[gevorg]

at the very least probably video recording them = harrasment

Bingo!

 

[her209]

Why do cops get special privileges that the rest of the populace doesn't get?