This isn't the good old days, freedom doesn't exist anymore.
Nice one. America has lost independence and freedom. Maybe you should leave America and go to some place where absolute freedom still exists? Like Somalia for example.
Topic: A Cop just told me, "Freedom doesn't exist anymore." (Read 2164 times)
He's so right, money has put humanity second.
I'm also curious what the 'other discussions' mentioned in the OP were that went on before he made the comment?
I just want to clarify that you didn't come up to him throwing up gang signs and saying "wha wha mother$*#$, I know the law $*#*$, get out of my face!" and had some level of respectfulness?
In any case, I would hope this is an isolated incident... I'm not sure how old you are, but it sounds like the cop might have been a newer police officer?
If it were me, as long as I am within my legal right to do so, I'd be out there the next morning leaf blowing, with a recording device and/or witnesses, but would still have a level of respect in the situation... the same level of respect I would give to any person, not just a cop.
I just want to clarify that you didn't come up to him throwing up gang signs and saying "wha wha mother$*#$, I know the law $*#*$, get out of my face!" and had some level of respectfulness?
In any case, I would hope this is an isolated incident... I'm not sure how old you are, but it sounds like the cop might have been a newer police officer?
If it were me, as long as I am within my legal right to do so, I'd be out there the next morning leaf blowing, with a recording device and/or witnesses, but would still have a level of respect in the situation... the same level of respect I would give to any person, not just a cop.
I was very calm and nice actually. It wasn't a heated discussion from my end at all. I was just shocked that he said that.
I have spoken to my neighbors and apparently this is the 3rd police run in this week. I guess there have been some property disputes between two of my neighbors and police were just called the day before because one of them complained that the other was storing boxes of leaves and then throwing them on his property in the night (true story). It is quite possible that they were checking up on the situation and mistook me for one of the neighbors involved in the dispute. That makes more sense to me as to why he would threaten to take me to jail for using a leaf blower. Still not cool, but at least I don't feel like I was randomly selected to be harassed and threatened by police.
I was blowing leaves off of my property this morning when a police officer confronted me. He told me that I was breaking the law (where I live the noise ordinance is from 10pm-6am and this was well within that time frame). When I let him know the law and asked what law I was breaking along with some other discussions, he responded by saying, "This isn't the good old days, freedom doesn't exist anymore." He had a straight face and was dead serious. It is a sad day when not even the police believe in freedom anymore or respect the laws. I just wish I had been recording the interaction as it would have been youtube gold.
He just married a woman cop and is finding out that she wears the pants in the family.
Again, time of day had nothing to do with it. Weird that people are so focused on that. Perhaps most people don't understand the need to get yard work done early when it will be 115 degrees outside. I'll say it one last time, this was not an issue of noise or had anything to do with the time of day. If it was something so trivial, I wouldn't have felt the need to post it. This was a cop probably 10 years younger than me who made a bad judgement and used the threat of jail to cover his tracks and intimidate. I just wanted to highlight that. If you want to take the police officer's side for why I'm at fault for clearly not breaking any laws, I'd venture to say you are what is wrong with America. Even police officers have to follow the laws and can't threaten people with jail based on their opinions.
Edit: I was blowing dust off my driveway which a rake wouldn't help. Quite normal in the desert. I heard 2 neighbors do it this morning at roughly the same time I did. It is so common that me being confronted by police for doing it and then urged to install cameras on my property gave me such a strange feeling I felt the need to post it online somewhere.
Did you get the impression he actually thought you were breaking the law and got aggressive when you corrected him? or do you think he was just making up a false charge just to harass you? ....I guess the latter is what I thought you were saying with the OP, but the bolded statement makes sense to me and this is definitely not a good reaction to the situation by any police officer, or human being for that matter.Edit: I was blowing dust off my driveway which a rake wouldn't help. Quite normal in the desert. I heard 2 neighbors do it this morning at roughly the same time I did. It is so common that me being confronted by police for doing it and then urged to install cameras on my property gave me such a strange feeling I felt the need to post it online somewhere.
I'm also curious what the 'other discussions' mentioned in the OP were that went on before he made the comment?
I just want to clarify that you didn't come up to him throwing up gang signs and saying "wha wha mother$*#$, I know the law $*#*$, get out of my face!" and had some level of respectfulness?
In any case, I would hope this is an isolated incident... I'm not sure how old you are, but it sounds like the cop might have been a newer police officer?
If it were me, as long as I am within my legal right to do so, I'd be out there the next morning leaf blowing, with a recording device and/or witnesses, but would still have a level of respect in the situation... the same level of respect I would give to any person, not just a cop.
Again, time of day had nothing to do with it. Weird that people are so focused on that. Perhaps most people don't understand the need to get yard work done early when it will be 115 degrees outside. I'll say it one last time, this was not an issue of noise or had anything to do with the time of day. If it was something so trivial, I wouldn't have felt the need to post it. This was a cop probably 10 years younger than me who made a bad judgement and used the threat of jail to cover his tracks and intimidate. I just wanted to highlight that. If you want to take the police officer's side for why I'm at fault for clearly not breaking any laws, I'd venture to say you are what is wrong with America. Even police officers have to follow the laws and can't threaten people with jail based on their opinions.
Edit: I was blowing dust off my driveway which a rake wouldn't help. Quite normal in the desert. I heard 2 neighbors do it this morning at roughly the same time I did. It is so common that me being confronted by police for doing it and then urged to install cameras on my property gave me such a strange feeling I felt the need to post it online somewhere.
Edit: I was blowing dust off my driveway which a rake wouldn't help. Quite normal in the desert. I heard 2 neighbors do it this morning at roughly the same time I did. It is so common that me being confronted by police for doing it and then urged to install cameras on my property gave me such a strange feeling I felt the need to post it online somewhere.
I'm sorry I misunderstood the severity of the conversation and certainly didn't realise he'd threatened you with jail! He sounds like a nasty piece of work
.You're right, it would have gone viral by now if you'd recorded it, it's shocking.
Again, time of day had nothing to do with it. Weird that people are so focused on that. Perhaps most people don't understand the need to get yard work done early when it will be 115 degrees outside. I'll say it one last time, this was not an issue of noise or had anything to do with the time of day. If it was something so trivial, I wouldn't have felt the need to post it. This was a cop probably 10 years younger than me who made a bad judgement and used the threat of jail to cover his tracks and intimidate. I just wanted to highlight that. If you want to take the police officer's side for why I'm at fault for clearly not breaking any laws, I'd venture to say you are what is wrong with America. Even police officers have to follow the laws and can't threaten people with jail based on their opinions.
Edit: I was blowing dust off my driveway which a rake wouldn't help. Quite normal in the desert. I heard 2 neighbors do it this morning at roughly the same time I did.
Edit: I was blowing dust off my driveway which a rake wouldn't help. Quite normal in the desert. I heard 2 neighbors do it this morning at roughly the same time I did.
Fair enough mate, I think it's insane that a cop wasted the time and effort to lecture you about 'breaking the law' (even though you didnt) for making noise on your own property. Not sure what it's like in the US but in the UK the cops have to make a certain amount of arrests/stops per month (though they don't admit it publicly) so they tend to go for the easier violations than go after the real criminals.
Again, time of day had nothing to do with it. Weird that people are so focused on that. Perhaps most people don't understand the need to get yard work done early when it will be 115 degrees outside. I'll say it one last time, this was not an issue of noise or had anything to do with the time of day. If it was something so trivial, I wouldn't have felt the need to post it. This was a cop probably 10 years younger than me who made a bad judgement and used the threat of jail to cover his tracks and intimidate. I just wanted to highlight that. If you want to take the police officer's side for why I'm at fault for clearly not breaking any laws, I'd venture to say you are what is wrong with America. Even police officers have to follow the laws and can't threaten people with jail based on their opinions.
Edit: I was blowing dust off my driveway which a rake wouldn't help. Quite normal in the desert. I heard 2 neighbors do it this morning at roughly the same time I did. It is so common that me being confronted by police for doing it and then urged to install cameras on my property gave me such a strange feeling I felt the need to post it online somewhere.
Edit: I was blowing dust off my driveway which a rake wouldn't help. Quite normal in the desert. I heard 2 neighbors do it this morning at roughly the same time I did. It is so common that me being confronted by police for doing it and then urged to install cameras on my property gave me such a strange feeling I felt the need to post it online somewhere.
What's the potential solution then?
However this doesn't seem to apply to the dustbin men who regularly make lots of noise outside my house at 7am. Still I'd rather that than not have my rubbish collected .
.The reason they collect so early is so they don't hold up traffic in the road. It's even louder when they're collecting the recycled glass bottles (used to live near a pub where I'd hear this on a daily basis
) I was blowing leaves off of my property this morning (granted 7:30am might have been a bit early) when a police officer confronted me. He told me that I was breaking the law (where I live the noise ordinance is from 10pm-6am). When I let him know the law and asked what law I was breaking along with some other discussions, he responded by saying, "This isn't the good old days, freedom doesn't exist anymore." He had a straight face and was dead serious. It is a sad day when not even the police believe in freedom anymore or respect the laws. I just wish I had been recording the interaction as it would have been youtube gold.
Its understandable you we're 'told off' for operating a leaf blowing machine much earlier than the time allowed 'to make noise' where you live. 10am is pretty late though, is it like an old peoples retirement complex that you live in?
I've also been 'told off' for using my work equipment before 8am which is the time in the UK where I live that you are allowed to start making noise. However this doesn't seem to apply to the dustbin men who regularly make lots of noise outside my house at 7am. Still I'd rather that than not have my rubbish collected
. 
Absolutely not. The dude said that people have the freedom to not be assaulted by noise pollution in the early morning.
I asked if the same freedom applies to those on a different schedule.
You respond with some silliness about banking hours.
What's the potential solution then? I work all night and sleep until the afternoon. I know perfectly well that the majority of humanity doesn't operate with those hours. Because of that I have to put up with their noise and me moaning about it isn't going to wash because my lifestyle choice doesn't fit. That's just the way it is.
I'm not comparing them, I'm only pointing out that the rest of society doesn't alter itself to suit your personal convenience.
We weren't talking about "personal convenience", we were talking about freedom. If you just want to lump them into the same category... well, never mind.
So... you are comparing a sound ordinance enforced by the local authorities with businesses' hours of operation?
I'm not comparing them, I'm only pointing out that the rest of society doesn't alter itself to suit your personal convenience.Some of you guys have a weird understanding of "rights".
Mine is pretty clear. And others should have the freedom not to be woken up by some annoying ass buzzing first thing in the morning.
What if I work nights and sleep days? Do I get the same rights or am I a second class citizen because I have a different shift?
You are a second class freak. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
I'm almost completely nocturnal too but the majority of the world isn't so I just have to suck it up.
And others should have the freedom not to be woken up by some annoying ass buzzing first thing in the morning.
What if I work nights and sleep days? Do I get the same rights or am I a second class citizen because I have a different shift?
And others should have the freedom not to be woken up by some annoying ass buzzing first thing in the morning.
This! 
I was blowing leaves off of my property this morning (granted 7:30am might have been a bit early) when a police officer confronted me. He told me that I was breaking the law (where I live the noise ordinance is from 10pm-6am). When I let him know the law and asked what law I was breaking along with some other discussions, he responded by saying, "This isn't the good old days, freedom doesn't exist anymore." He had a straight face and was dead serious. It is a sad day when not even the police believe in freedom anymore or respect the laws. I just wish I had been recording the interaction as it would have been youtube gold.
I guess you're supposed to be happy that you didn't get the shit beaten out of you for no reason along with the many other youtube clips. To serve and protect right?
lol that's amazing.
Since it is "public service", it would be interesting if the tax payers were able to pick the slogan for government services.
I was blowing leaves off of my property this morning (granted 7:30am might have been a bit early) when a police officer confronted me. He told me that I was breaking the law (where I live the noise ordinance is from 10pm-6am). When I let him know the law and asked what law I was breaking along with some other discussions, he responded by saying, "This isn't the good old days, freedom doesn't exist anymore." He had a straight face and was dead serious. It is a sad day when not even the police believe in freedom anymore or respect the laws. I just wish I had been recording the interaction as it would have been youtube gold.
Of course it doesn't. You are on internet, you are accepting that everytime you log on to some social network, or search something. We are slaves, that's the truth.
I was blowing leaves off of my property this morning (granted 7:30am might have been a bit early) when a police officer confronted me. He told me that I was breaking the law (where I live the noise ordinance is from 10pm-6am). When I let him know the law and asked what law I was breaking along with some other discussions, he responded by saying, "This isn't the good old days, freedom doesn't exist anymore." He had a straight face and was dead serious. It is a sad day when not even the police believe in freedom anymore or respect the laws. I just wish I had been recording the interaction as it would have been youtube gold.
I guess you're supposed to be happy that you didn't get the shit beaten out of you for no reason along with the many other youtube clips. To serve and protect right?
I was blowing leaves off of my property this morning (granted 7:30am might have been a bit early) when a police officer confronted me. He told me that I was breaking the law (where I live the noise ordinance is from 10pm-6am). When I let him know the law and asked what law I was breaking along with some other discussions, he responded by saying, "This isn't the good old days, freedom doesn't exist anymore." He had a straight face and was dead serious. It is a sad day when not even the police believe in freedom anymore or respect the laws. I just wish I had been recording the interaction as it would have been youtube gold.
I guess you're supposed to be happy that you didn't get the shit beaten out of you for no reason along with the many other youtube clips. To serve and protect right?
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