Houston woman arrested for asserting her constitutional righ

[recaffeination]

Article says 'walking in a roadway when a sidewalk is present.' So, apparently she had parked her bike and was standing out there with her homemade sign. This is the transportation code she was breaking http://law.onecle.com/texas/transportat ... 06.00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They should arrest the firemen standing in the street asking for donations.

[jimlongley]

Article says 'walking in a roadway when a sidewalk is present.' So, apparently she had parked her bike and was standing out there with her homemade sign. This is the transportation code she was breaking http://law.onecle.com/texas/transportat ... 06.00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They should arrest the firemen standing in the street asking for donations.

They usually have permits.

[Katygunnut]

Article says 'walking in a roadway when a sidewalk is present.' So, apparently she had parked her bike and was standing out there with her homemade sign. This is the transportation code she was breaking http://law.onecle.com/texas/transportat ... 06.00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They should arrest the firemen standing in the street asking for donations.

They usually have permits.

I'm shocked to learn that this is illegal in Houston. I moved here about 5 years ago, and I routinely see people walking between cars that are stopped at intersections (asking for money). In fact, it is common to see people standing in the middle of two lanes while cars are zipping by on both sides of them in certain spots. The south access road for I-10 at the Gessner intersection is one place where I see the latter happen all the time. I have never seen a LEO enforce this, and yes I have seen LEO's drive right by such people.

At first I thought it was weird, but after seeing how people in Houston drive, I've just decided that people here place very little value on their lives.

[emcee rib]

They're practicing for a Darwin award.

[Keith B]

This has now made national news. Looking at the roadway, I can't see that she would have been standing in the roadway. However, hopefully there is dashcam video to show she wasn't. HPD is refusing to comment, so sounds like this may be a case where she will end up riding a new Cannondale Evo instead of that old beater she was riding.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/speed-trap- ... 00521.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[WildBill]

Article says 'walking in a roadway when a sidewalk is present.' So, apparently she had parked her bike and was standing out there with her homemade sign. This is the transportation code she was breaking http://law.onecle.com/texas/transportat ... 06.00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They should arrest the firemen standing in the street asking for donations.

They usually have permits.

I'm shocked to learn that this is illegal in Houston. I moved here about 5 years ago, and I routinely see people walking between cars that are stopped at intersections (asking for money). In fact, it is common to see people standing in the middle of two lanes while cars are zipping by on both sides of them in certain spots. The south access road for I-10 at the Gessner intersection is one place where I see the latter happen all the time. I have never seen a LEO enforce this, and yes I have seen LEO's drive right by such people.

At first I thought it was weird, but after seeing how people in Houston drive, I've just decided that people here place very little value on their lives.

There are hundreds of people every Sunday selling the Houston Chronicle while standing on the dividers and walking into the street.

[philip964]

Whoa. Story made Drudge Report. Way to go little lady.

You elect a Lesbian mayor and peoples constitutional rights are still violated.

Freedom of speech is our most cherished of rights.

[Katygunnut]

Whoa. Story made Drudge Report. Way to go little lady.

What is it you, elect a Lesbian mayor and peoples constitutional rights are still violated.

Freedom of speech is our most cherished of rights.

I disagree. Just like I told my 4th grade teacher when she asked me the question - "the 2nd ammendment is the most important becasue without it, the rest of the bill of rights is meaningless". She didn't like that answer very much. I think she was hoping that all the kids would say it was the 1st ammendment.

[chasfm11]

This has now made national news. Looking at the roadway, I can't see that she would have been standing in the roadway. However, hopefully there is dashcam video to show she wasn't. HPD is refusing to comment, so sounds like this may be a case where she will end up riding a new Cannondale Evo instead of that old beater she was riding.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/speed-trap- ... 00521.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If she was railroaded on this as it appears, I hope that she does end up with a new ride courtesy of the good people of Houston. I want to give LE the benefit of the doubt but if she truly wasn't doing anything more than holding up that make shift sign, HPD needs to have an officer or two less. I have no truck with the abuse of power and trumping up a charge for standing in the roadway (assuming she wasn't) is just that.

As always, the news story might only have a portion of the facts. I hope, for the sake of the HPD, there is a lot more documented than we've seen.

[philip964]

Whoa. Story made Drudge Report. Way to go little lady.

What is it you, elect a Lesbian mayor and peoples constitutional rights are still violated.

Freedom of speech is our most cherished of rights.

I disagree. Just like I told my 4th grade teacher when she asked me the question - "the 2nd ammendment is the most important becasue without it, the rest of the bill of rights is meaningless". She didn't like that answer very much. I think she was hoping that all the kids would say it was the 1st ammendment.

Cherish - tender, hold dear
Important - having much significance, consequence, or value

I stand by my choice of words.

[Valor]

...As always, the news story might only have a portion of the facts. I hope, for the sake of the HPD, there is a lot more documented than we've seen.

There often is, but!

[Katygunnut]

Whoa. Story made Drudge Report. Way to go little lady.

What is it you, elect a Lesbian mayor and peoples constitutional rights are still violated.

Freedom of speech is our most cherished of rights.

I disagree. Just like I told my 4th grade teacher when she asked me the question - "the 2nd ammendment is the most important becasue without it, the rest of the bill of rights is meaningless". She didn't like that answer very much. I think she was hoping that all the kids would say it was the 1st ammendment.

Cherish - tender, hold dear
Important - having much significance, consequence, or value

I stand by my choice of words.

So are you saying that you agree the 2nd is more important than the first?

Personally, I hold no ammendment more dear than the 2nd, so I still disagree with you. However, I do also cherish the 1st ammendment, so I fully respect your right to say that you cherish that one more then the 2nd.

[gigag04]

Nobody is losing their CHL over class C Transportaion Code violation, which is what she was arrested for.

My advice to te officer and the woman, is to pick your battles carefully.

[thenick_ttu]

My advice to te officer and the woman, is to pick your battles carefully.

So you're saying the woman made an unwise tactical decision in using her right to Freedom of Speech? As in, she should have known that expressing her rights would land her in jail for a "bogus" charge by a LEO? I understand all you LEO type like to stick together but this seems to be a pretty clear case of police using their authority to get "revenge" on a civilian for no darned good reason... I would think any self-respecting LEO would be appalled by this type of behavior and yet this is at least the second time you have blindly supported an LEO when it seems the LEO was clearly out of line. This is the perfect situation for a :facepalm: smiley.

[croc870]

I didn't take the comments as blindly supporting, just an observation of reality. I cherish freedom and I applaud those who take risks to ensure it, but that doesn't mean this particular case was worth the cost. Zd