Man Flips Off the Police Then Sues

[CJ1145]

I don't see what the big deal is. The fat man didn't do anything wrong, the cop was being a dick. The cop shouldn't have given him a ticket because he was well within his rights. The first amendment as we all knows clearly states that you can insult anyone of authority as much as you want and they have to sit there and agree.

Phew. For a moment I thought you were serious. This fat man is an idiot, and his still on the video before you load it even looks smug. I hope he loses, and in a double-whammy the court rules he is to be flipped off by every police officer he meets.

 

[mornal]

While my knowledge of what the first amendment extends to isn't great or anything, I'd assume he's covered.

Though I hope to *insert deity here* that I'm wrong, because he deserves those tickets.

 

[gim73]

Why would he want people to stand up to the polices authority?! What does he have against the people who go out everyday and risk their lives for our safety? I have no respect for this man. He deserves the tickets and I hope he losses.

Risk their lives for our safety? This is oregon we are talking about. All cops do here is pick on the little guy and screw him every chance they get. Cops are not here to get the dangerous criminals, they are here to get the safe ones that do harmless crimes. In a state with lots of legal weed use for medical purposes, they are still cracking down on all use because they don't know what to do when their number one 'easy' crime goes away. And now these punks are pulling over people for flipping the bird? I don't know what I would do if I couldn't tell every asshole that was driving like a moron where to shove it because he doesn't know the difference between a yield sign and a merge sign. And cops deserve it on a daily basis because we DON'T approve of their draconian measures to screw us over on a daily basis.

Yes, pointless lawsuits should be IMMEDIATELY thrown out, but baseless tickets like this crap should never happen period. There should be a common sense judge that gives them both a slap across the face and sends them packing for wasting taxpayer dollars and eachothers time.

 

[SmartIdiot]

I think that's hilarious. I can't figure out if it's because the guy was obviously trying to get a reaction or if it's because moving 3 of your fingers and your thumb one way and extending the one that's left can be taken so seriously or the fact that he got more than he bargained for and is now trying to counter it.

Also freedom of expression etc. etc. Who honestly gives a shit?

 

[CyanLink]

I think this guy just wants attention.

 

[aPod]

Its easy to quickly jump to the officers side because the guy was being a dick, but that does not mean the officer had the legal right to issue a ticket for this.

This should be interesting and i hope the guy wins.

 

[Cinnonym]

People have an excuse for everything, it's maddening... He deserves the tickets for acting like a child rather than a grown man. Take responsibility and pay up--the police force needs the money more than that asshole.

 

[CommyGingerbreadMan]

Its easy to quickly jump to the officers side because the guy was being a dick, but that does not mean the officer had the legal right to issue a ticket for this.

This should be interesting and i hope the guy wins.

If he wins ALL HELL BREAKS LOSE. I'm sorry, but freedom of speech is Nice, but I wish everyday these people would THINK about what their doing. Do this in China, to an official. chances are we would NEVER know about it. He deserves to lose.

You hope this guy wins because it favors freedom of speech, I hope it looses because, frankly, im sick of people doing this. He is most likely not in for this, but aggressive driving. And I hope to the universe he pays.

 

[DustyDrB]

It's called "disturbing the peace" and that's what this guy did...he had no reason to give them the finger all willy nilly. I say he should have to pay for his stupidity.

no to mention reckless driving 10 and 2 people 10 and 2!

12 and 7! 12 and 7!

 

[aPod]

Its easy to quickly jump to the officers side because the guy was being a dick, but that does not mean the officer had the legal right to issue a ticket for this.

This should be interesting and i hope the guy wins.

If he wins ALL HELL BREAKS LOSE. I'm sorry, but freedom of speech is Nice, but I wish everyday these people would THINK about what their doing. Do this in China, to an official. chances are we would NEVER know about it. He deserves to lose.

You hope this guy wins because it favors freedom of speech, I hope it looses because, frankly, im sick of people doing this. He is most likely not in for this, but aggressive driving. And I hope to the universe he pays.

Why so dramatic? Why would all hell break loose? Anyone who thinks that is way off base. I should have the right to flip off whoever i want to. A Cop cuts me off i should be well within my rights to flip him the bird?

flipping off cops does not = end of society as we know it.

 

[Klepa]

I'd consider it extremely petty and unprofessional to pull a guy over, for waving a middle finger.

If you write a song/book that was disrespectful to the authorities, you're not going to get fined, nor persecuted. So obviously disagreeing with the police is not a crime. I don't think this guy deserves a ticket, just because his way of portraying his disapproval was extremely childish, bordering retarded. In my opinion, you can't fine anyone for being a tool.

Seeing as this guy wasn't putting anyone in danger, I'd say the tickets were fairly unjustified.

 

[CommyGingerbreadMan]

Its easy to quickly jump to the officers side because the guy was being a dick, but that does not mean the officer had the legal right to issue a ticket for this.

This should be interesting and i hope the guy wins.

If he wins ALL HELL BREAKS LOSE. I'm sorry, but freedom of speech is Nice, but I wish everyday these people would THINK about what their doing. Do this in China, to an official. chances are we would NEVER know about it. He deserves to lose.

You hope this guy wins because it favors freedom of speech, I hope it looses because, frankly, im sick of people doing this. He is most likely not in for this, but aggressive driving. And I hope to the universe he pays.

Why so dramatic? Why would all hell break loose? Anyone who thinks that is way off base. I should have the right to flip off whoever i want to. A Cop cuts me off i should be well within my rights to flip him the bird?

flipping off cops does not = end of society as we know it.

Yes it does, it means basically, I could go outside your house EVERDAY with a megaphone and yell obscenities at your family. Then I could claim freedom of speech. Forget disturbing the peace, because I was excersising my freedom of speech.

Things like this can open a Can of worms

 

[HT_Black]

I've got no problem with that guy giving some beat-walker the finger a few times-- by all means, let him. I do take offense the very instant he invokes the first amendment when he gets called on it. I mean, the guy he was picking at was a cop. I've met plenty of asshole policemen in my time, but I've also met plenty of perfectly decent ones. While most of them haven't seen anything worse than a speeder in their time, they're still the effing police. While that doesn't net them any more respect than I would give to anyone else, they had to do something to convince an entire board of strangers that they were fit to carry a lethal weapon at all times.

So in short: Respect the police, because they can at any moment kill you at the expense of filing some paperwork the next day.

 

[Divine Miss Bee]

i think the bigger issue here is childhood obesity. i mean, nobody over the age of five bothers with the middle finger anymore. *eyeroll*

what bothers me most, though, is that this prick's lack of maturity and basic human decency is going to raise court costs and ticket prices, just like all senseless lawsuits. fair trial isn't free, you know!

 

[aPod]

Its easy to quickly jump to the officers side because the guy was being a dick, but that does not mean the officer had the legal right to issue a ticket for this.

This should be interesting and i hope the guy wins.

If he wins ALL HELL BREAKS LOSE. I'm sorry, but freedom of speech is Nice, but I wish everyday these people would THINK about what their doing. Do this in China, to an official. chances are we would NEVER know about it. He deserves to lose.

You hope this guy wins because it favors freedom of speech, I hope it looses because, frankly, im sick of people doing this. He is most likely not in for this, but aggressive driving. And I hope to the universe he pays.

Why so dramatic? Why would all hell break loose? Anyone who thinks that is way off base. I should have the right to flip off whoever i want to. A Cop cuts me off i should be well within my rights to flip him the bird?

flipping off cops does not = end of society as we know it.

Yes it does, it means basically, I could go outside your house EVERDAY with a megaphone and yell obscenities at your family. Then I could claim freedom of speech. Forget disturbing the peace, because I was excersising my freedom of speech.

Things like this can open a Can of worms

Well now you're confusing two different things. There is a difference between quietly extending a middle finger and grabbing a megaphone and shouting obscenities.

Ones disturbing the peace and one is a not. However, thats why cases such as these go to federal court to determine just that.

I'm not well versed in constitutional law so i'll leave it at that, my point is that this guy actually does have a case, and i actually do agree with him.

 

[asinann]

I would have tagged him with a road rage arrest.

 

[Plurralbles]

If he succesfully sues them then that will give me another reason to hate democracy.
He deserved those tickets.

... WTF, man. Parliament and monarchies have courts...

Just blame the judicial branch.


The executive was doing its job.

Though I guess if you'd rather be SHOT when messing with police officers...

 

[Plurralbles]

It's called "disturbing the peace" and that's what this guy did...he had no reason to give them the finger all willy nilly. I say he should have to pay for his stupidity.

no to mention reckless driving 10 and 2 people 10 and 2!

12 and 7! 12 and 7!

... no.

Never 12 and 7... wthell? turning a lot?

 

[ace_of_something]

Spoiler: sorry guys

Thank you. I agree this man is a bit of a twat, but what law did he break? The one where you can't hurt the police's feelings? Actually, both sides are being idiotic. Yay, society!

Are you people for real? He had every right to do what he did, he didn't break any laws and the officer completely overstepped his boundaries. If you want to walk around to world giving the finger to people, then you are allowed to, its your freedom and its how you express your self.

The proper thing for the cop to do would be to laugh and keep looking out for real criminals. Not get his panties in a bunch and use the law to punish someone who did something that the cop didn't like.

At the same time, it reflects badly on a cop to take it too personally and escalate the situation into something to make them feel better or to act out of anger. Sets a bad example for all cops. Shows a lack of discipline and lack of skills necessary for that sort of job.
This is a case that made him seem more suspicious and almost badgering in his repeated flipping off of a sheriff. At the same time, I do not think that giving out tickets and levying fines is the way to deal with it.

While my knowledge of what the first amendment extends to isn't great or anything, I'd assume he's covered.
Though I hope to *insert deity here* that I'm wrong, because he deserves those tickets.

Should the policeman find a valid law was broken by the guy then I have no qualms about the tickets issued. Even if the law is so obscure no-ones ever heard of it....

Well, it's freedom of speech. Flipping someone off isn't talking.

I thought they fixed this years ago? That "freedom of speech" does not cover fighting words. Or in this case gestures.
In any event I hope he gets thrown out of court then the police spend the next few months harassing him over every little thing they legally can.

Sorry guys you're wrong on this one. Legally speaking. Look up the supreme court case Brandenburg v. Ohio. I wanna say it was in 1969 but I can?t be bothered to look it up right now I?m sure someone will look it up in Wikipedia and oversimplify it here but I?m going to tell you what most experts on the topic say:
Intentionally inflammatory gestures and statements are NOT covered by free speech. Anything that can make most reasonable people angry and possibly commit a crime is shown with the intent to do such is not covered speech. I am getting frustrated because there s a case almost exactly like this from the late 1980?s I can?t recall the name.
One term is:
Inciting Speech, fighting words, and inflammatory speech
Examples of this are: Yelling fire in a crowded theater when no such fire is about. This can cause people to be hurt. If you keep badgering someone over and over and over, threaten them so on and so forth. It's actually a lesser assault charge you'll be given them when you clock them.
Another example is... oh hey

Using his logic I should go to a Black Pride rally and start yelling racial slurs.

Good example of said Speech fellow poster.

I also think Schenck v. United States has something to do with how you can't tell government secrets.

Oh I just remembered Terminello v. Chicago and Chaplinski v. New Hampshire also reference these things.