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Blogs by Blondie Clayton
Crossing While Black: Are Railroad Authorities Targeting Minorities 9/18/2006 1:07:52 PM
Are government officials and policing authorities taking advantage of ordinary citizens with hidden laws, restrictions and violations? The over zealous robo cop jumped out of his truck confronting a black man: "Do you want to be arrested? Do you want to be arrested?"
The man, puzzled about what offense he had done, said, "Not today."
Did you know crossing the railroad track is a jailable offense?"
The man calmly said, "No, I did not".
"Do you see the sign?" pointing to a sign hidden behind overgrown bush, near the ground.
"No, sir, I did not see the sign on this side crossing, nor coming back. I just crossed over to go to the shopping center there to pick up something at the hardware store."
"Well, it's there."
The young eager police of the railroad tracks said, " I could take you to jail and you would have to spend a$1000 to get out, not to mention fines and my cost for appearing in court, which is about $1200."
The gentleman remained calm, followed him back to his truck while he was writing out the warning. The man looks inside the truck, there is a shot gun with shells visible. The young man sits inside his truck while the gentleman he just approached in an aggressive tone leaned on the truck by his door while he wrote the warning.
Had this been a real criminal, this in itself would not have been a good idea but I guess he didn't know.Careless move on his part. If you are going to act like a cop, you should take all the precautions of a police officer.
Later, the man was sharing the story with several of his white associates who live along the railroad track.
One guy said, "I have always crossed the railroad track. I still do it. My home is behind the railroad track and so is my business. I cross at least two to three times a day. I have never heard of such nonsense."
Isn't it interesting that laws do not govern all of us equally?
How many times have you encountered a fine for something and you wondered when did that law go into effect; like in my State you have to change lanes now when there is a police vehicle stopped on the side of the road.
My husband told me. I didn't read it in the papers. Don't recall seeing it on T.V. News.
I personally think that we should receive a telephone greeting from our governing bodies to alert us to when something changes that ordinary citizens may not have been privy to be notified.
When our government officials keep us in the dark for profit, I have a problem with that. Yet this past election I got several calls from political candidates, didn't you? Why can't the governmental bodies use the same method to notify us of laws that impact us.
Because we don't complain to them. We pay the fines and keep quiet. If you were to ask: "When did that notice appear?" the answer would be, "Oh, we ran that in Uncle Tom's Cabin," some little tiny community newspaper.
I know of another City where they raised the Occupational License fees of their businesses, almost tripled them without proper notification, and the opportunity to protest. The officials didn't care. Their attitude was, pay it or close up shop.
The business people didn't complain, made that City a few million dollars.
It is underhanded and an unjust way to make money butif no one complains, oh, well.
By the way, I haven't seen a sign up along the highway yet stating that when a police vehicle is stopped along the highway that we should change lanes.
The worse part is we allow our governing bodies to stick it to us because we feel we can't win. I don't believe that. I still believe that even one person can make a difference if they are willing to take a stand.
Today, I'm standing for justice for all citizens. We, the people, deserve to be treated with respect, even though you are a policing authority.
You have no right to treat a non-aggressive citizen like an aggressor, or a criminal, threatening them with jail when you had to point out a sign that had grass grown up over it, sitting near the ground, not even at eye level.
Railroad police, do your job but don't target certain citizens.
The next time you stop what you consider a violator, do not let them stand near your vehicle.
Railroad officials, your people need traing.
The sign does not say crossing a railroad track is jailable, or punishable by a fine.
But you must do everything you can to make sure that signs are visible to passing citizens, not covered with grass.
Put the signs up at eye level. Put a chain, attached to two post,with a sign hanging on it but don't hide it and threaten ordinarily law abiding citizens.
Thank you! I feel better now! I hope that man never has another encounter like that.
