from the protected-class dept
Oh, so we’re still doing this, huh. Despite pretty much every effort of this type being rejected by courts as, shall we say, constitutionally-improbable, legislators continue to believe that cops should be protected from the people they serve by laws that allow them to violate the rights of the people they serve.
Here’s the latest effort. Fortunately, even if passed, its effect is limited to residents of Long Island, who are probably used to this sort of marginalization.
Nassau County lawmakers want to make it illegal to stand within 15 feet of cops and other emergency workers — but critics say the “buffer zone” would be unconstitutional.
Civilians who enter the “zone” for police, firefighters and other first responders during an emergency would be slapped with a misdemeanor and a $1,000 fine — with the possibility of up to a year behind bars, according to a new bill introduced by Republicans in the county Board of Legislators.
I appreciate this depth of reporting from the New York Post, the cop-friendliest publication in the city. It went so far as to note the bill was introduced by Republicans, which is helpful, if unnecessary. Of course it was introduced by Republicans. This is the sort of thing they do when they can’t get a book ban bill into committee.
It’s a hobby. It’s fun for hobbyists and annoying for everyone else. I may enjoy the sound of piercing guitar feedback in my music but I’m not asking for a minimum feedback-per-minute rate over government-funded airwaves. Nassau County Republicans may desire to free cops from the constant menace of being recorded while engaged in their public service efforts, but that’s the sort of kink that should stay within the walls of their domiciles, rather than splattered across the legislative docket like it’s actually a serious bit of lawmaking.
Supporters of the bill claim this will protect “emergency responders” from threats, harassment, and interference. And yet, supporters can’t explain why it’s always cops complaining about this sort of thing while their “emergency responder” brethren are always given the time, space, and opportunity to render their public services.
Three guesses and two of them wrong will lead you to the only conclusion: the cops like to work in the shadows where they can do they stuff they want to do without worrying about being caught doing it. The other responders actually just want to help people.
Besides, there’s already a law on the books that does what this law does — one that covers cops, even when they’re pretending to be “first responders.”
State law already punishes people who interfere with first responders with up to a year in jail, three years of probation, or a $1,000 fine.
So, despite the misuse of the phrase “emergency responder,” this bill is all about cops. It only wants cops to have a moving 15-foot halo in which to do their cop business, which generally isn’t being the first wave of emergency response. And because it’s a moving halo, all a cop has to do to generate a violation is move closer to the person they want to arrest for violating the law.
It’s a garbage proposal and hopefully it will die a quick death when offered up for a vote. But we know how politicians love cops, even when their love has been proven irrational time and time again. This is a special right just for law enforcement officers that’s had the usual “first responder” gloss applied to it. This sort of thing has rarely fooled courts. If it’s signed into law, there’s little chance this one will be the one that finally convinces a court cops should be considered more equal than others.
Filed Under: halo law, nassau county, nassau county police, police misconduct
