Walking at Night is Now Loitering and Prowling? I am John Galt.

This video started out somewhat innocuous in that it seemed to be just another oath breaking cop out breaking his oath over loitering. However, when you look at what’s really going on, it should flat PISS YOU OFF!

The uneducated out there continue to blindly support the police no matter what, but only because they refuse to see how much they have diluted the constitution, and the oath they swore to uphold.  I used to be one of those people for over half a century…in redneck country. I believed that only bad people got treated like bad people. Then I educated myself. I learned it isn’t about rights. It’s about how the police can work to get around them. They are no different than the “criminals” they purport to be defending us against.

This was submitted to CopBlock.org via the Submissions page by C.J. Lowery from Consensual Interaction

Saint Johns County Sheriff’s Office
904-824-8304 Main Office
Matt and I walking down the road at night only to be harassed by the monopoly on force and violence. Everything else is covered in the video. Saint Johns County Sheriff’s Department just doing their jobs.
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

Here, we have a perfect example. A couple of guys walking in a public space, not bothering anyone, and a cop finds a way to make them criminals. NOT that they actually ARE criminals, but simply due to an arbitrary gut feeling, this deputy is allowed to “legally” treat them like criminals. In Florida, there is a statute called “loitering and prowling”. Sounds pretty underhanded and creepy, doesn’t it?

856.021 Loitering or prowling; penalty —

(1) It is unlawful for any person to loiter or prowl in a place, at a time or in a manner not usual for law-abiding individuals, under circumstances that warrant a justifiable and reasonable alarm or immediate concern for the safety of persons or property in the vicinity.

(2) Among the circumstances which may be considered in determining whether such alarm or immediate concern is warranted is the fact that the person takes flight upon appearance of a law enforcement officer, refuses to identify himself or herself, or manifestly endeavors to conceal himself or herself or any object. Unless flight by the person or other circumstance makes it impracticable, a law enforcement officer shall, prior to any arrest for an offense under this section, afford the person an opportunity to dispel any alarm or immediate concern which would otherwise be warranted by requesting the person to identify himself or herself and explain his or her presence and conduct. No person shall be convicted of an offense under this section if the law enforcement officer did not comply with this procedure or if it appears at trial that the explanation given by the person is true and, if believed by the officer at the time, would have dispelled the alarm or immediate concern.

(3) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

So, it appears that the wasteful sounding “loitering” and the seedy sounding “prowling” comes down to any cop defining what he perceives as “not usual”. The whole idea that we are free to travel goes only as far as some cop wants to allow it. The constitutional RIGHT to privacy has effectively dissolved into whether that cop’s gut allows you to have it. In fact, the simple act of trying to exercise that right can automatically give them reason to determine your guilt.

Remember, these guys were just walking in a public space. Just because it’s midnight doesn’t automatically make it “not usual”. Maybe HE wouldn’t do that, but how does he get to decide when just walking is a crime worthy of forced identification?

While watching this video, pay attention to what this deputy uses as justification. Things like the age old “People have been breaking into cars” as the reason he needs their ID. Absolutely NO suspicion they have done anything, but simply that it (may have) happened. The fun “make sure you’re not a wanted murderer from Iowa” as another reason. Not that he suspects it. Pre-crime identification so if something happens he’ll have their names. The head scratching “To make sure you are who you say you are”. None of this actually involves a crime, or even the expectation that any crime is actually in the works.

Just some oath breaking cop who gets to be Judge, jury, and executioner on the side of the road.

Also, nice reference to Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged”.

Walking at Night is Now Loitering and Prowling? I am John Galt. is a post from Cop Block – Badges Don’t Grant Extra Rights