Citation for Badnarik 4 President sign

Well folks, today was an eventful day!

I made my sign yesterday, it's white with blue letters, and says...

No Bush!
No Kerry!
Vote Badnarik!
www.BADNARIK.ORG

With traffic flowing today at about 35 cars/minutes and peaked at 50 cars/minute, I got 35-40 Honks, 4 Middle Fingers, and several waves/fists.

Also about 10 minutes before I was going to leave, I got a visit by a SHERIFF.

She wasn't the nicest one, I'll tell you that. She layed on her horn, (I didn't see her) which made me jump a little, the commanded me to stand in front of her car.

I asked what the problem was, she replyed "Stand in front of the car!" She then demanded my papers.

I told her I would identify myself to her, after she asked me a couple more times she gave up.

Some how the two Sheriffs and State Trooper that drove under my sign 40 minutes before she visited me had no problems with the sign, because they didn't come and see me.

She kept saying that my sign was "disrupting traffic", I asked "How is this any different then a billboard?"

She ignored my question, and kept asking "Are you going to leave?" and "You were here last night too right? We came looking for you last night but you left."

I responded at first with no reply, but then I couldn't hold it in, I told her "I left because it got dark."
(I fell into her trap there, damn it.)

She asked "What's your problem with authority?" in a nazi-like manner. I said nothing, thinking to myself, "Hmmmm....I wonder what my problem is....MAYBE PEOPLE LIKE YOU!"

I then asked, after she got done ringing my name in the computer, "Am I free to go ma'am?"

She replied, "No you stay right there."

"Am I being detained, ma'am?" I asked. "No, now stay right there."

"So I'm free to go? Ok." I say, and start walking towards my car. "I SAID STAY RIGHT THERE!" She yelled.

"Your not under arrest, but I'm questioning you, and if you keep this up you might be." She said.

"So then I'm being detained, huh." I clearified.

"Yes, I'm am holding you." (or something along those lines) She answered.

She then kept asking some dumb questions, yada yada.
Then said, "I called my Sgt., and we are going to go have a talk down by your car."

She got in her car, and backed up, at my walking speed, to my car, she also yelled, "Keep that sign down, or i'll write you the ticket right now."

I placed the sign under my car, and she told me to stand against the back of my car. I did, she then backed her car behind mine, and sat talking in her car.

I blew my nose, put on some chap-stick, waiting for her to let me go.

She came out of her car, saying "Here's your CITATION for 'Display of unauthorized sign', your court date is yada, yada, and the fine is for $181.00 dollars. "

(The Sgt. never came)

She continued, "Come back here again, and i'll write you for 'disorderly conduct', do it again and you'll be arrested, after that, if you do it while on bond, you'll be arrested again for violating your bond."

She started walking towards her car, saying I should get in mine and leave, I said, "Ma'am, I have I question."

"Just get in you car." she said with a angry tone.

"I don't understand the citation, what is 'Display unauthorized sign'? I asked.

"Your not the D.O.T. are you?" (I forgot to notice she answered me with a question)

I said nothing, she said, "Now get in your car and leave."

I stood there, reading the WHOLE citation, making her wait. Then I got in my car, and she left. I followed her, and pulled off into a gas station.

Then came home to tell all you wonderful Badnarik supporters.

INFO ON THE CITATION:

Wisconsin Statutes
346.41 (1)

HA! Read it!
346.41 Display of unauthorized signs and signals prohibited.

(1) No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any highway or at or in view of any railroad crossing any unauthorized sign, light, reflector, signal, marking or device which:
(a) Purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles or may be mistaken for an official traffic sign or signal or railroad sign or signal; or
(b) Attempts to direct the movement of traffic; or
(c) Hides from view or by its color, location, brilliance or manner of operation interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic sign or signal or railroad sign or signal.

folio.legis.state.wi.us...

*Changed my mind* I am going to make a media firestorm.

If you have any comments, or suggestions please send them to me at:

[email protected]


[edit on 8-1-2004 by BeingWatchedByThem]

You little radical you!

The citation is creative, I'll give you that. But why just go to court and fight the charge quietly. Why not contact your local media, especially one of those "consumer rights" guys? While they normally take on companies who screw customers - they love government against its citizen causes. It will also get Badnarik's name on the local news.

Also you never defined your defense - explain "in properia persona"

This little story is the kind of thing that really makes my blood boil. I admire you for remaining so calm in the face of it all - well done!

When you were displaying your sign, you weren't blocking any traffic signs, were you? If not, you've got the citation beat. The spirit of the law was obviously intended to stop people from chaning official traffic signs, not limit commercialism or political speech...

I agree with Bley's recommendations about alerting the media. Did you happen to get the Sheriff's name, or could you maybe find it on the web? Sheriffs are usually elected officials, and it would be fun to put a stake into her re-election campaign this fall if she's running.

She must have been a Kerry supporter she don't want those votes for Badnarik to steal votes from Kerry. j/k

But Seriously fight that ticket you got it beat IMO. That was some creative ticket writing on behalf of that Sheriff.

That Sheriff has let her political biases act in an abuse of power.

Seems to me like you met one of the leading recruits for the brown shirts! Like others have said: Make a stink about this!

Originally posted by Bleys
Also you never defined your defense - explain "in properia persona"

Isn�t that the same language as �in somnis veritas� ?

I agree with them.

Dont just fight it get the media involved it will help your case and give Mike much needed press.

You could get more milage out of this than the sign......LOL


The lil Nazi done you a favor

.
Does it state on the citation EXACTLY where you were? If not the little NAZI b*tch could lie. Juries and Judges probably tend to believe officers of the law. If you have clear proof of where you were, I hope you kick her *ss.

I don't know what is wrong with Cops and many other law enforcement officers. It's a tough job demanding intelligence and ability, if they can't measure up they should be replaced.

Some people [especially cops] get excited when anything is 'out of the norm' instead of looking at it intelligently as to whether or not it is actually creating a problem.
.

Fight the power!

We need to get Badnarik's name out there! Great work!

The little Natzi BI__H had no right to do what she did. Be aware pigs lie like rugs in court and the judges believe them over you. It is another sad sign that America is no longer the land of the free.

Hi all, thanks for replying.

I talked with Ed Thompson today about it, the Wisconsin Libertarian Party Chairman, and we are going to make a media storm.

About me calling her a Sheriff, I meant she worked for the Sheriff's Dept. Sorry I forgot that/ or didn't make it clearer.

I might scan the ticket and paste it on the web (edited of course), I am still debating that.

I will keep all of you posted, and thanks for your support.

-BeingWatchedByThem-

NAZI B*A*S*T*A*R*D*S!! Female cops for the most part have been very good to me, but it is my experience that if you get a female judge, you better BOHICA.

WRATH OF THE RISING SUN

Right on, right on!

I don�t mean this in a sexist way, but it has been my experience that female cops are ABSOLUTLEY NUTS. Excellent job at keeping your head and knowing your rights regarding detainment and questioning. Police officers can get on power trips that are fed by the ignorance of the public, and it is good to see them put in their place once in a while (even if she did end up writing you a ticket).

I don�t know how you�ll do in court, but if you can your story in the paper it will help get the word out about your candidate. Maybe her plan backfired?

You should post her name EDIT : or at least her number or station/rank etc..]. Anonymity only protects people like this, and makes it hard to identify serial offenders.

(not trying to incite a vendetta! :up






[edit on 2-8-2004 by muppet]

Keep us in the loop as you escalate this with the Wisconsin LP. We're all interested and will be rooting you on!

I'd keep sex out of it. Doesn't matter whether that copper was male or female, irrellevant. The action taken was. The sooner the better. Do it up man.

Were you on the median? I know you weren't cited for this, but in some states, it is illegal to stand on the median in the middle of the street. Some people still do it, to sell newspapers and stuff, but it's still illegal. My Dad is a retired police officer in Florida, and he says it's a law to protect against liability. Just FYI in case anyone wants to display their signs.

Don't pay. Fix it in court. She probably won't even show up. Dismissed.

Originally posted by Bangin
Don't pay. Fix it in court. She probably won't even show up. Dismissed.

I'm betting that once I make the presses, the charge will be dropped so the presses "stop".

I am trying to set it up as a media blitz to prevent them from doing that before I make news happen.

I want to make some waves in the pond before they take away my rock.

I'm trying to upload the scanned citation, but it's says it's too big (even though I should have enought Kilobytes to cover it)

Again, thanks all for your support.

I'm making plans as we speak so, i'll let you know what happens (not before either I want a secret blitz, sorry).

To Those Who Love Liberty:

This is an UPDATE to fellow liberty lover regarding my citation for "Display of Unauthorized Sign".

I have finally made a media contact who INTERVIEWED ME! A reporter from the local paper, interviewed me today (11th) about the citation, after talking to him at the City Council Meeting Tuesday August 10th.

After sending him an e-mail with the rough draft of events, a scanned copy of the citation, and the picture of myself holding the sign, he seemed quite interested in the story.

He said he will call the County Sherriff's Office and ask them questions regarding the officer, the incident, and citation. And will keep me updated on the story's progress, which I hope becomes a success.

His main concern was the editor's view on the story, if the editor saw it as me attempting to (seeing it as if I wanted the citation in order to GET attention) make news for Badnarik, the editor may shy it away. I answered that I was not expecting any trouble, because I was exercising my rights as an American, and was free to do so, and not expecting to get the citation.

I am going to try to get to the Sheriff's Dept. tommorow (12th) to file a FOIA on the officer and the citation "Display of Unauthorized Sign", and as well "Disorderly Conduct", which she threatened me with if I returned to exercise my rights. I am also going to see if there are any complaints regarding her conduct, or otherwise.

I hope I will be able to get down to the State Fair this weekend and spend some time at the LPWI booth, but I still do not know if I will be able to.

Thank you all liberty-lovers for your support, and pass the flame of libertarian enlightenment to all you meet.

That is great! I'm very happy to hear that there are people that are actually listening to you and this obvious disrespect for personal civil liberties.

You should post the article when it comes out, I'm sure everyone here is eager to read it. Let us know how the Sheriff's Dept. responds to this as well as any other outcomes!

Thanks for the great story! And remember to keep us updated!