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"Which is among the most bizarre reactions ever. I'm amazed how many people have the delusion that they are going to defend themselves with a gun despite the clear evidence that it almost never actually happens"

Actually, it happens multiple times every day. The thing is, unless someone actually dies or gets arrested, it doesn't make the evening news. And if nobody is hurt and the bad guy runs away, most people don't go calling the cops after the event is over and done, there's no point.

This is one from last night... http://www.wbaltv.com/news/pol...

Yeah, except the one guy who was paid to read the summary didn't.

Maybe he is from Baltimore and died several months ago? I heard they taught zombies to sign their names there.

Correct. Maryland is one as well, and MD police used the anti-wire tap law as an excuse for years to prevent people from videotaping their actions before the Supreme Court finally called them on that perverse interpretation. Even now, MD police hate to be recorded.

for example say you have an unfavorable opinion of the government. perhaps that unfavorable opinion has been discovered and lets say the G20 or G8 is coming to your neighborhood. You've printed off a few dozen peaceful protest signs and plan to head to the streets, when Mr Doe and Mr Cardholder show up at your door with a few questions and you're 'detained' for them. I guess we missed the protest now, didnt we? now what if all your friends enjoyed the same fate?

This has already happened at a few school board meetings. In one case a guy was asking questions at the end of the meeting and the school board had him arrested. He was charged with assaulting a police officer. A few days later, they dropped the charges and cut him lose. But he had missed the opportunity to address the school board. man arrested

Well let's see what other folks have done under similar circumstances. By and large people don't lie under oath but sometimes...

Marion Jones http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Jones Star Olympic Athlete

On October 5, 2007, Jones admitted to lying to federal agents under oath about her use of steroids prior to the 2000 Summer Olympics and pled guilty at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York (in White Plains).[4] She confessed to Judge Kenneth Karas that she had made false statements regarding the BALCO case and a check-fraud case. She was released on her own recognizance but was required to surrender both her US and Belizean passports, pending sentencing in January. Although a maximum sentence of five years could be imposed, the prosecution recommended no more than six months as part of Jones' plea bargain.[21]

Here's a Police Seargent from Baltimore.

A Baltimore police sergeant was convicted of perjury for lying to get a search warrant used for a pre-dawn raid.
Sgt. Dennis Workley, convicted Friday by a Baltimore judge, used the warrant to lead a pre-dawn raid on an east Baltimore home.
Workley was later charged with lying about that, which resulted in Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge John Howard finding Workley guilty of perjury and malfeasance.

Mark Fuhrman (OJ Simpson Trial 1 fame)

Fuhrman, the detective who reported finding a bloody glove at Simpson's estate and whose racist past became a focal point in the nine month criminal trial, reached a settlement with the California attorney general allowing him to avoid a possible four-year prison term.

Under the agreement, Fuhrman pleaded no contest to perjury and was sentenced to three years of probation. He also was fined $200.

Two police officers there and there's more, but they're sworn to uphold the law.

I'm not saying this guy lied but without corroborating statements from other witnesses or physical evidence it's his word against Ballmer's and I'll bet every other CEO has probably gritted their teeth at their competition as well and probably wished they were out of the way.

It makes sense if the revenue collected actually goes to fix the problem you describe. In Maryland's case, the State fought tooth and nail to make sure that it doesn't have to. There is no designated fund or trust for this massive amount of money being collected from MD taxpayers, which means that, as is evidenced by decades of historical precedent, only a tiny fraction of it (if any) will actually be used for what it's supposed to be used for. See also the blatant theft from the MD Transportation Fund by both parties for decades as further proof of what WILL happen to this new revenue. As a Marylander, I'll gladly pay to "Save the Bay!" if that's what they actually did with my money . . . but this is yet another scam in a long series of scams foisted on the MD taxpayers.

I might ask a cop for directions or report a traffic light being out, because that's something that is immediately useful.

You sure you want to do that?

Also, in case anyone's interested in what happens when Baltimore, one of the cities cited as a success story in this article, simply tries to enforce its truancy laws, you can see an article about it here. The short answer is a 27% increase in attendance, although they don't give many specifics about the increase.

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/25195725/detail.html Apparently he still thinks that a police officer can have a private converstion with another person in the middle of the street. Just makes no sense, WTF?

That may be the dumbest thing I've ever seen on Slashdot ever. Seriously. Wow. Let's break it down line by line.

You quote someone who has absolutely no clue. "I'd like the flu please! If I get an immunity to swine flu I want to suffer through the illness rather than get a shot. I want to work for it and maybe die! Or at the very least spread it around some so others can share in my joy."

Then, you use Maddox as a reference.

Finally, you wrap up by saying that you need to have a "basic concept of immunology" to comprehend your brilliance! And you top it off with a flourish by preemptively yelling at the mods.

Jesus. Wow.

And your argument is to divide my post and comment segments without any substance? You want to prove to me that swine flu is worse than regular flu? Go ahead. Make my day.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316101,00.html
http://www.wbaltv.com/news/14804724/detail.html

I don't live in the suburbs and I was riding the bus till this stuff started happening. I was born and raised on the mean streets of Baltimore city and that's where I bought my house. I hate driving to work but I like my safety more than I hate driving.

They need to fix this problem before I'll even consider riding the bus again. Maybe it takes a cop on every bus. At that point are you really saving anything with mass transit? You need to pay someone 65-80k a year to babysit students on every bus?

The success of mass transit depends on the riders adhering to the social contract (mainly not beating the crap out of people) and they simply don't so mass transit won't work here for anyone except people that have no other choice.

So blame it on the whiteness and snobbery suburban white people if you like, but I blame it on retards that beat their fellow passengers up. Lets be realistic and stop blaming the victims. They didn't create the atmosphere of fear where you take your life into your hands by simply getting on a bus.

You think a soccer mom is getting on a bus, or letting her kids ride one, where this happens if she can drive her SUV? No fing way.

-Viz

but after ten years time the system is working very effectively from West Virginia all the way to Maine. And it's convenient.

Sure, it's 'effective' at extracting tolls, though there are issues...
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061128/NEWS/611280319
http://www.wbaltv.com/news/11080847/detail.html

However, you didn't address the parent's concerns:
1: As a tax for keeping roads up, it's very inefficient. Over 50% of the money goes towards servicing the toll collection system; not the road the toll's for.
2: These tolling companies, by and large, are European, and from some quick research are expecting 15-20% back on their investment annually. That's BIG profits - going right overseas.

I'd add a #3: Most tolls I've seen, including the EZPass, require slowing your vehicle. This both reduces the capacity of the road, increases travel times, and increases fuel usage; pollution and CO2 emission. Traditional pay cash booths are the worst, of course, normally requiring a full stop. But most electronic pass ones still require the vehicle slow down substantially.