Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Positive Steps in Law Enforcement.

Maybe it'll spread.

Worthwhile reminder that government, and law enforcement's role, is supposed to be there to serve the people.

Oregon community reins in its police for minor infractions: Local News: The Seattle Times:
"No seatbelt? No citation. No tail light? No ticket. In too much of a hurry? Not to worry.

...the Sunriver Service District, which governs police and fire departments, voted in February to tell officers to make Sunriver's roads, which are private but open to the public, exempt from minor vehicle infractions.

So residents and the public alike can run a stop sign at will in the 5-square-mile area that makes up Sunriver.

Police there can only stop drivers for what the state calls traffic crimes, such as drunken or reckless driving.

The Sunriver police are the main patrol presence in the area. Radar units have been removed from their cars.

Sunriver Police Chief Mike Kennedy referred all questions to Sunriver District Chairman Doug Seator, who said the directives reflect the will of the Sunriver Owners Association that serves as a sort of government for the community south of Bend.

The unincorporated community has about 2,000 full-time residents, many more when its vacation homes are occupied.

Seator said the association, which owns the roads, told the district that its roads are private, but open to the public.

That means police have limited power in what they can enforce, much like in a supermarket parking lot, Oregon State Police Lt. Carl Rhodes said."
You can read the article in it's entirety for the full dose of the other side of the argument, so you can get all the requisite fear mongering and and bleating for "safety" that will surely result from the anarchy of this "dangerous" action.

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