Brian4Liberty
08-30-2010, 01:39 PM
Random searches of backpacks?
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
Associated Press writer Martin Griffith reports that this year, there has been an influx in undercover law enforcement during this years celebration.
"It's a police state out there," said lawyer David Levin, who offers legal advice to Burning Man attendees.
He said that undercover officers in costumes have asked Burning Man attendees for drugs and drug-sniffing dogs and their handlers have patrolled around the camp.
"There's very little criminal activity at the event, but they [undercover officers] cite and arrest people in order to justify their existence.
Around 300 attendees last year were arrested or cited by officers.
The Bureau of Land Management and Pershing County Sheriff's Department in Nevada said that more enforcement is needed at the event.
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/41868/
Burning Man fans say cops too heavy-handed
By MARTIN GRIFFITH (AP) 9 hours ago
RENO, Nev. David Levin represents entrepreneurs, investors and developers in his legal practice. As an aside, he's a Burning Man barrister offering free legal advice to those who run afoul of the law at the annual counterculture festival on the Nevada desert.
The Palo Alto, Calif., attorney maintains law enforcement has become so heavy-handed at the eclectic art and music gathering that he was compelled to form a legal defense team known as Lawyers for Burners to help participants who were cited or arrested.
He and other Burning Man fans accuse overzealous officers of destroying the quality of an otherwise peaceful celebration of radical self-expression to be held Monday through Sept. 6. Some 50,000 people are expected to gawk at offbeat artwork, wear bizarre costumes or nothing at all and torch the event's 40-foot signature effigy on the Black Rock Desert, about 110 miles north of Reno
Among other issues, Levin said, female undercover agents in costume have asked male Burners for drugs, drug-sniffing dogs and their handlers have roamed camps, and armed officers have "snooped" on revelers at dances. Last year, almost 300 Burners were cited or arrested by federal officers
"It's a police state out there," Levin said. "There's very little criminal activity at the event, but they cite and arrest people in order to justify their existence."
Officials from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Pershing County Sheriff's Department cite a new study by U.S. Park Police that concludes an even larger police presence is needed. The two agencies plan to have 80 officers at this year's event far below the 144 recommended in the Park Police report.
"I don't want my guys to be party poopers, but we have a job to do," said Mark Pirtle, special agent in charge for the BLM. "They're not bad people, but they like to use drugs."
Last year, 65 percent of 287 citations issued by BLM rangers involved drugs, largely marijuana, LSD, mushrooms and ecstasy, with cocaine and heroin down on the list, Pirtle said.
"So many people think they can go out and smoke dope openly, but that's not the case," he said. "Pot possession is a felony under Nevada law."
Said Pershing Sheriff Ron Skinner, "(Burning Man) could be classified as an extended seven-day rave that's infested with drugs and alcohol and all sorts of bizarre behavior. I've never heard that complaint about too many officers at it other than from those people who are anti-law enforcement and anti-authoritarian. Anarchy is not an option."
...
Burners' complaints about law enforcement spiked in 2007 and 2008 after some BLM officers were accused of conducting unlawful searches, Goodell said.
...
Lee Rowland of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada said she has received complaints that some officers are pressuring participants to consent to searches.
...
"They give consent for a search and an officer finds a bag of pot in their backpack," Pirtle said. "Those are the ones who go back and say, 'This officer pressured me.'"
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iBjQWkCA1h57xt4QY7QXq1Lxqp6wD9HTO9CO1
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
Associated Press writer Martin Griffith reports that this year, there has been an influx in undercover law enforcement during this years celebration.
"It's a police state out there," said lawyer David Levin, who offers legal advice to Burning Man attendees.
He said that undercover officers in costumes have asked Burning Man attendees for drugs and drug-sniffing dogs and their handlers have patrolled around the camp.
"There's very little criminal activity at the event, but they [undercover officers] cite and arrest people in order to justify their existence.
Around 300 attendees last year were arrested or cited by officers.
The Bureau of Land Management and Pershing County Sheriff's Department in Nevada said that more enforcement is needed at the event.
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/41868/
Burning Man fans say cops too heavy-handed
By MARTIN GRIFFITH (AP) 9 hours ago
RENO, Nev. David Levin represents entrepreneurs, investors and developers in his legal practice. As an aside, he's a Burning Man barrister offering free legal advice to those who run afoul of the law at the annual counterculture festival on the Nevada desert.
The Palo Alto, Calif., attorney maintains law enforcement has become so heavy-handed at the eclectic art and music gathering that he was compelled to form a legal defense team known as Lawyers for Burners to help participants who were cited or arrested.
He and other Burning Man fans accuse overzealous officers of destroying the quality of an otherwise peaceful celebration of radical self-expression to be held Monday through Sept. 6. Some 50,000 people are expected to gawk at offbeat artwork, wear bizarre costumes or nothing at all and torch the event's 40-foot signature effigy on the Black Rock Desert, about 110 miles north of Reno
Among other issues, Levin said, female undercover agents in costume have asked male Burners for drugs, drug-sniffing dogs and their handlers have roamed camps, and armed officers have "snooped" on revelers at dances. Last year, almost 300 Burners were cited or arrested by federal officers
"It's a police state out there," Levin said. "There's very little criminal activity at the event, but they cite and arrest people in order to justify their existence."
Officials from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Pershing County Sheriff's Department cite a new study by U.S. Park Police that concludes an even larger police presence is needed. The two agencies plan to have 80 officers at this year's event far below the 144 recommended in the Park Police report.
"I don't want my guys to be party poopers, but we have a job to do," said Mark Pirtle, special agent in charge for the BLM. "They're not bad people, but they like to use drugs."
Last year, 65 percent of 287 citations issued by BLM rangers involved drugs, largely marijuana, LSD, mushrooms and ecstasy, with cocaine and heroin down on the list, Pirtle said.
"So many people think they can go out and smoke dope openly, but that's not the case," he said. "Pot possession is a felony under Nevada law."
Said Pershing Sheriff Ron Skinner, "(Burning Man) could be classified as an extended seven-day rave that's infested with drugs and alcohol and all sorts of bizarre behavior. I've never heard that complaint about too many officers at it other than from those people who are anti-law enforcement and anti-authoritarian. Anarchy is not an option."
...
Burners' complaints about law enforcement spiked in 2007 and 2008 after some BLM officers were accused of conducting unlawful searches, Goodell said.
...
Lee Rowland of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada said she has received complaints that some officers are pressuring participants to consent to searches.
...
"They give consent for a search and an officer finds a bag of pot in their backpack," Pirtle said. "Those are the ones who go back and say, 'This officer pressured me.'"
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iBjQWkCA1h57xt4QY7QXq1Lxqp6wD9HTO9CO1