LF: Welcome To Amerika: Family Fined, Threatened With Jail for Building a Sand Castle

Title: Welcome To Amerika: Family Fined, Threatened With Jail for Building a Sand Castle
Source: Free Thought Project
URL Source: http://thefreethoughtproject.com/we ... il-for-building-a-sand-castle/
Published: Apr 1, 2017
Author: Matt Agorist
Post Date: 2017-04-01 14:32:49 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 20069
Comments: 146

Panama City Beach, FL — In the ostensible land of the Free, cops claim the legal authority to extort money from you, or even kidnap you for a slew of activities which have no victim. Window Tint, smoking a plant in you own home, not wearing your seatbelt, walking across the street, sagging your pants, and even juggling — can and will get you extorted, kidnapped, caged, or even killed. Now, as a recent case in Florida illustrates, we can add building a sand castle to that long list of victimless “crimes.”

Bryant Rylee and his family were at the beach last week building an awesome sand castle when they were confronted by police. The officer, who was ‘protecting society’ by patrolling the beach for illegal sand castles, told the Rylees that their sand castle was in violation of the law.

At first, Rylee thought the officer was joking. After all, he and his son were harming no one while building their most epic castle. In a Facebook post, Rylee explains that it is ‘illegal’ to build a sand castle with a hole deeper than two feet. However, he explained that their hole was only one foot deep, so there was no way it was in violation.

It wasn’t the hole from which the cop was protecting society, though — it was Rylee’s son’s equipment that was criminal. According to their obscure ordinance, only plastic tools are allowed on the beach, and they had some metal ones.

It is important to note that the officer explained to Rylee that she would let him off with a warning if he simply filled in the hole. But Rylee wasn’t buying it. He wanted to know what ordinance he was violating.

It was Rylee’s questioning of authority which led to police escalating the call. When her authority was put into question, the officer brought in backup.

Before the officer could tell Rylee which ordinance he was violating, the family was surrounded by police. In fact, four patrol units would show up and sit there for 20 minutes before any of them could produce the law which said metal beach toys were illegal.

After it was all over, as Rylee explains, the construction of a sand castle cost him $25 and could’ve cost him $500 and up to 60 days in jail.

When building a sand castle becomes a criminal act, it is high time we question where this ostensible Land of the Free is headed.

This is the sand castle that cost me a $25 fine & could have cost me up to $500 & no more than 60 days in jail. Incase you didn't know, at Panama City Beach you can't dig deeper than 2ft & not exceeding 2ft long on the beach & you can't use any metal tools. I've been going to PCB for spring break for over 13 yrs, we've always built things digging with metal tools. So be sure you study your ordinances before you make a trip. My big mistake was asking the ordinance number & asking to see the ordinance. Apparently the beach patrol lady didn't like that so she called for back up...

That's when three other units arrived on the scene. One officer said, if I'd just cover the castle, I wouldn't get a ticket but if I must inquire or see the ordinance, I will receive a ticket. It took them 20 minutes to find the ordinance & it's not exactly the way they quoted. It said "2ft deep" but it didn't say "not more than 2ft long" & since I had dug only about 1ft deep, I was only ticketed for my metal tools. I do support law enforcement & pray daily for their protection. And I do believe that "we the people" have a right to ask what ordinance number or to see the ordinance. So... How many cops does it take to shut down a sand castle bandit & his son? The answer is 4! Be careful out there!

Well, here we go again. As far as I'm concerned, anything that happened after he refused a reasonable offer is on him. Asshole.

Yeah sure - he should have just bent over and taken it. That's what you'd do, right paulsen?

You'd never question any cop or ask to see the ordinance that you are supposedly violating.

For politely asking what law he had broken and asking to be shown a copy of the ordinance?

You mean set up a mini-courtroom on the beach to present evidence and call witnesses? You sure you want the police to do that, not a judge?

This may come as a shock to you, but it's actually in the best interests of the police to maintain a good relationship with the general public, and taking a kind rather than militant approach to people having fun on a public beach who don't know that they *might* be violating an ordinance can go a long way to promoting those good relations.

From the article: "It is important to note that the officer explained to Rylee that she would let him off with a warning if he simply filled in the hole." But the asshole refused.

I'd fill in the hole. After I went to the store and got some concrete and stuck her head in it.

Now, after you did that, I assume you would then organize an effort to repeal all these stupid beach ordinances and allow metal rakes and shovels, holes 10 feet deep, glass bottles, alcohol and animals on the beach.

No, you probablly wouldn't. Changing the law is just too much work. Besides, I'm guessing the vast majority of the people asked for these laws to begin with. You're in the minority. So sad.

Perhaps you can find a beach more suitable to your anarchistic philosophy. Here ya go. Use your rake to clear a spot:

If you lived in Germany in the 30's you would say it was the law the Jew were gassed. They should have lobbied and changed the law.

If you were alive during the revolutionary war. You would have said revolution is illegal and someone might get hurt.

There is nothing immoral about prohibiting deep holes, metal shovels, glass, alcohol or animals on a public beach. Other people have rights, too. Or do you you think the U.S. Constitution was written only for you?

You are one selfish individual, thinking that the world revolves around you and you can do anything you want. Society's rules are for other people, right?

I would suggest that you pack up your belongings and move above the tree lne where you're on your own and can do anything you want. You obviously don't fit in any organized society.

Isn't violating a valid, constitutional law immoral? Isn't it immoral to teach your children to violate a valid, constitutional law? Isn't it immoral to violate the rights of others?

You don't even live there and you're going to tell the citizens of Panama City Beach what's moral and immoral and how they should live their life? Who are you to do that?

Why? Because it's easier to strike back at law enforcement than it is to change the stupid law? Change the law, idiot!

For example some asshole coming down the beach and harassing people for playing in the sand.

That should read: A law enforcement officer coming down the beach and enforcing city ordinances. You don't think city ordinances should be enforced?

Maybe you can find it in your heart to somehow cut him a little slack….just a a tiny bit, maybe.

Ole Bryant was just “youth ministering” on this particular Sunday morning…. like a good old youth minister from Moundville, Alabama, should be doing.

Well now, it appears that Bryant Rylee believes in "do as I say, not as I do". Can I get an "Amen"?

Upon arriving at the scene, an officer told Bryant to simply fill the hole and remove the metal hoe from the beach.

It is quite obvious that Bryant communicated his desires and intentions very clearly to the officer.

“We the Police” did not in any way deny Bryant that right….they graciously complied with his insistent request.

So what we now have here, folks….is a showing that Bryant got his 15 minutes of fame and all the libertarians, anarchists and cop-haters, who wanted to do so, got the opportunity to once again bash law enforcement..

I’d say the asshole, Bryant, is lucky that he dealt with some really benevolent cops.

For, no doubt some officers would have taken action to see Bryant pay a $500 fine and spend up to 60 days in jail….the maximum sentence.

The judge should throw the case out on the basis that you can't charge someone just as punishment for asking what statute or ordinance they are trying to enforce.

The cops should know their ordinances before they enforce them. Particularly this officer who was assigned specifically to stop people from building big sand castles.

I also think that the beach rules should be prominently posted or judges should be pretty lenient. The public should see a big sign or receive a handout telling them specifically what they can and can't do on the beach.

Chicken shit tactics by the cops. The judge should not reward their laziness and ignorance of the ordinances they are empowered to enforce with guns and violence (if needed).

It was Rylee’s questioning of authority which led to police escalating the call. When her authority was put into question, the officer brought in backup.

It seems pretty obvious that she escalated and he got the ticket for insisting on knowing the ordinance. And she called backup and stalled for a while until someone figured out which ordinance they were trying to enforce. Then they wrote the ticket.

But first he was offered the chance just to fill in the hole even though he was no less guilty of an ordinance infraction whether he filled the hole in or not.

According to the headline, he was threatened with jail for building a sand castle. How's that for a ridiculous charge?