Things are getting Nasty in Dayton, Ohio.....

[liberalnurse]

I got a speeding ticket.......told to not attend local Kerry/Edward events with identification of party support....Cars being towed!

I've been given a speeding ticket on my home street! At 7AM and going to work... I was going down the street, residential, and about 10 houses down, I pass a cop....he was just sitting there....then at the stop sign I see these light going off....cop said I was going 30 in a 25 zone......He kept looking at all my bumper-stickers such as Democratic Underground, Kerry/Edwards and Code Pink, Women for Peace...

Please note that there is a yard sign war on my street. The cop was parked by a Bush/Cheney sign! I always look for who is a neighborhood repuke.......I have two well positioned Kerry/Edward signs in my yard...I was the first and many have followed.

Also, I'm going to an Edwards town-hall meeting. I was instructed by Head Quarters to cover-up my stickers or use another vehicle as the repugs are having known Democrats cars towed!

[KurtNYC]

1. Thats outrageous

did the cop say anything about your stickers? How fast were you going?

[liberalnurse]

6. He said he clocked me.....

but my radar detector was silent.....said I was going 30 in a 25. Democratic Head Quarters wanted me to protest it.....I just paid the thing.

[Radio-Active]

11. next time

ask to see his radar gun.

[trogdor]

32. I wouldn't have.

I would have made about the biggest stink I possibly could. You're probably not the only one getting harrassed by the cops - possibly that particular cop, and if enough people show up in court to complain, the shit will hit the fan.

Bottom line: 30 in a 25 is bullshit. That kind of stuff gets thrown out in New York State all the time, even in the back woods.

[Bran Bal]

82. Why do you have a radar detector?

In all fairness they can clock you with a laser device.

If he made those comments that was wrong though.

[liberalnurse]

7. He kept moving along side and behind my

Ford Explorer....several times, starring at them and trying to look in the back....tinted windows....hahahahah

[jumpstart33]

45. When you get to the meeting let Edwards know about it and let the Kerry

campaign know about it. And by all means make sure you have a camcorder handy. A miniture one that can be hidden would be great!

[obiwan]

67. Yeah, cameras really piss em off....

... I'll bet you a dollar he would say something like, "Turn that thing off!"

[girl gone mad]

2. You should fight the ticket.

30 in a 25?

I've never heard of anything like that.

[GainesT1958]

3. First get the ticket thrown out...

And then the next time you see him on your street, hand him a sheet of card-stock paper and tell him not to forget to register to vote!:D

B-)

[AgadorSparticus]

42. no. if he is a repuke, we don't want him to vote. let him be petty

and ballotless. i have one neighbor who can't seem to stop regurgitating all the RW talking points. i didn't want to engage in a battle of the wills so i acquiesced and told her that i hope she doesn't vote this year if she thinks that kerry is no better than bush. i told her to make her statement and just not vote. i'd rather they stay home then go to the polls thinking bush is the only choice they have.

[CrispyQ]

4. Well, something's not right here, cuz

our pResident is a uniter, not a divider, don't ya know?

Sheesh! I'm sorry to hear that! It is very sad how this adminsitration has split our country. I wonder how bad it will be after the election when Kerry wins?

[rainy]

5. The opposite happened to me, I was pulled and the cop

went back to write me up. He sat in his car a long time. Then he came out, stopped purposefully and looked at my sticker which said: Bush Lies Who Dies? Then he came up to me and said he was giving me a warning this time. I swore at the time it was because of my sticker. I was very happy.

[liberalnurse]

8. I didn't have such good luck.....

;(

[FunBobbyMucha]

9. Still, sounds more interesting than when I lived in Dayton.

In the late Eighties, til about 91. Boring, apolitical town back then.

Now I'm in SC where political discourse is essentially "When Jesus comes back to personally hug *, will He have long hair or short?"

What part of town do you live in, if you don't mind me asking? I had a great little place in Oakwood way back when.

[liberalnurse]

10. Englewood......

It's appears split on who supports who ...There is a huge christian group of wing-nuts here....Salem Church of God. Lots of money, private school......Those are the bushies....the rest of us are true Kerry supporters. Yard sign wars are on at the moment.

[Mountainman]

16. I used to live in Englewood, Moved to CA in 1981

I divorced my wing nut in-laws and wife and moved to someplace where I didn't have to conform to the neighbors.

[liberalnurse]

31. This area has the christian fundies form

the Salem Church of God.......real snobish. My daughter is a Northmont Cheerleader!

[obiwan]

68. One of the new bumper stickers I got says...

" Did you forget about Jesus? Isn't it time you did?"

[CityDem]

12. Fight the ticket in court

However, don't test these red neck cops. You might end up in jail under some phony charges.

[fugue]

13. I'm a Centerville refugee

My condolences.

I could not wait to get out of Republican Central and never went back. Oddly, my most liberal friend now lives about a block away from where I grew up.

Come to think of it, so does my most conservative friend. . . .

[AngryOldDem]

26. Tell me about it.

Also from Centerville here. Might as well rename parts of it Freeperville. But there is hope -- in my precinct there are some pretty strong pockets of Kerry supporters.

[liberalnurse]

30. This area is truely divided......

hard right or hard left! Centerville is mixed too. Lots of medical professionals are democrats and live there....I use to live there but moved to Englewood in 2000.

[fugue]

36. Well, I left twenty years ago . . .

Centerville was pretty solidly Republican then. Of course, it was the height of the Reagan era, too.

[obiwan]

73. Centerville was the setting for Frank Zappa's "200 Motels"...

... his line about Centerville was something like:

"Centerville...churches, churches, churches... and LIQUOR STORES!"

[DBoon]

84. "its a lot like Glendale"

eom

[wtmusic]

14. Thank him for helping to channel your energy

into electing Kerry.

Bastard. :grr:

[henslee]

19. That Parlock kid is one ugly puppy.

[wtmusic]

20. They're inbred with the Bushes

there is a passing resemblance. ;-)

[Chiyo-chichi]

21. your Parlow photo

is priceless!

[Chiyo-chichi]

23. Parlow, Parlock, Pisspot...

whatever his name is.

[VolcanoJen]

15. Hey liberalnurse... please post this down in the Ohio Forum, too!

I'm sure our Buckeye Dems will be very interested to hear of your experience.

Absolutely outrageous.

[liberalnurse]

34. Okay.....

I just got back from Head Quarters...got my "one" Edwards town hall ticket.....I did some paper stuffing work while I was there.....

[w4rma]

17. You shouldnt have paid that. With a lawyer that would have been fairly

easy to get rid of.

[Bluzmann57]

18. How can they tow cars?

Are there clearly "No Parking" signs? If it is not a private lot, and you are parked in a legal parking zone, then I don't see how you can be towed. If it is on private property and the owner has put up signs, then I can see it, but otherwise, no. I mean, the street belongs to the taxpayers, or it should. And if the local Dems have their own lot, then they should make it a no parking zone for anyone with a Bush/Cheney sticker on their vehicle.

[Lerkfish]

22. can you give more clarification, re: kerry identification?

was it the cop who told you to not attend Kerry event?

its unclear from the way you worded it. If you have been told by a cop not to have identifying marks, OR if you know someone who HAS gotten improperly towed or similar, let someone at the dayton daily news know...

If you DON't have direct proof or instance of badgering, don't contact them...but if you DO have or know someone with proof of that...:

contact them...

[liberalnurse]

38. No, the cop just stopped me for no other reason

but being a strong Kerry supporter.

Today, I was talking with two of the Coordinators of Ohio's Kerry Healthcare Team; I'm just a worker bee team member, and we are preparing for the Edwards Town Hall Meeting here on Friday. I was warned about the cars being towed at these events if you have Kerry ID's on you vehicle. There have been several complaints from Toledo and Springfield that cars have been towed; all had kerry bumper stickers. The warning was very firm!

So, I'm taking my ex-husbands truck....if it gets towed them I won't be too upset....hahahahaha He does not have any bumper stickers yet.....We might just keep it that way since all the mess around here.

[immoderate]

24. A friend of mine always has a recording device

in his vehicle. He told me it was for recording traffic stops. This type of thing is why, I guess.

--IMM

[AngryOldDem]

25. I Heard This Happened at the July K/E Rally...

>>>told to not attend local Kerry/Edward events with identification of party support....Cars being towed!>>>

...in downtown Dayton in July, right before the convention. Someone told me that rally attendees parked in a lot, and paid $5 for the privlege. When they came back after the rally, they found their cars had been towed -- owner of the lot (a Repug) said they were all parked illegally. So, they had another distinct privlege of paying a LOT more than five bucks to get their cars out of impound.

These folks were told to fight it, but I never heard what came of it.

Do we need any more proof that we are living in a police state?

(And BTW, congrats for getting an Edwards ticket. I was down at HQ working earlier this afternoon, and the waiting list for 'em was long.)

[liberalnurse]

33. I just got mine....

They came in at 5pm....I only got one.....Somehow there are 2 other nurses who need them; They were to give me 3; we are part of the Kerry Healthcare Team....I'll have to call the Coordinator and let them know I only was given one!

[Kukesa]

54. Nothing came of it, AOD -- yet.

It really DID happen and was reported to the honchos at Dem HQ. I was told it'll be taken care of "from the inside."

The lot in question was General Surplus and the owner is a big Repuke. Several people phoned and told him they'd never shop there again; he just laughed.

The tow lot is on Wayne Ave. and the owner was selling BC04 stickers and pins on the premises; he laughed, too.

:-(

[NewYorkerfromMass]

27. Jeb Bush strategy in place: Traffic stops, disenfranchisement...

Hey it worked wonders in Florida, why not export it to all 50?

[coalition_unwilling]

28. This sounds to me like a DWD ticket (Driving While Democrat)

I got one out at LAX (Los Angeles Int. Airport) a couple months ago for a burned-out tail-light. Cop sat in his car for a really long time and I know he was running my plates for anything and everything, given the anti-war bumper stickers on my bumper and 'connections to terrorism'.

Best advice I can give is to get the cop's badge # (should be on the citation) and then file a citizen complaint against him\her.

[mzmolly]

29. Similar incident happened to me in MN.

:(

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

35. This hasnt happened to me yet, but I posted the story about the button.

,,,about how someone defaced my partners Kerry/Edwards button.

But, its nice to know there are Democrats out there who are puting up yardsigns.

[Barney Rocks]

37. Fight it in

court. But don't accuse the cop of harassing you for your politics unless you can prove it. If you can find others who feel they got tickets for political stickers, that would help your case. Otherwise I would just go with the standard kind of defense--ie--I was driving safely, within the speed limit--I don't believe I was speeding--does the cop have proof that I was speeding...

[Chiyo-chichi]

43. Also, if you had fought it...

the officer would have to show up in court, right? There is a chance that he might not have shown & you'd have gotten off automatically. 5 miles over the speed limit? Ludicrious.

[liberalnurse]

47. I went and paid it.....I have to pick my battles

and this one was just about a stupid prick/repug.....not too threatening. Paying it just reinforced my work ethic to get *bush out of office. I'm much more productive doing what I do as a legislative liasion. I can take this hit......They can't stop me....

[ItsMyParty]

39. Da' Cop-I'm sick of fighting for these losers

They are muncipal employees and the repukes want municipal servants to be real servants. Time to pressure city hall to fire half of them and reduce the pay of the rest and get rid of any health benefits, etc. Time to teach Bush supporters a lesson in tough love----------otherwise known as "hahaha EAT CAKE".

[obiwan]

69. You know, most police departments profile their recruits...

... They won't hire you if you are too intelligent.

[muchacho]

40. holy shit

welcome to the riechland!

[n2mark]

41. Just wondering?

Are those being stopped by the police being placed on the Homeland Security list?

I'm concerned.

[Philostopher]

44. I'm gonna say it --

what a shitass human being! I have no doubt you're absolutely right that he was watching you because of the stickers, either.

I'm not going to slam police around here in general -- I'm not someone they've 'profiled' for trouble, and south of Dayton that seems to be the thing you can be ticketed for (fitting their profile) -- but every once in a while, you do run into one who has attitude to spare and abuses power. I'm sure it's the same everywhere, but they're not supposed to enforce the law depending on whether they agree with your politics or not, dammit.

Kukesa said there were problems downtown with Dayton Women For Kerry, too, finding places to park and worrying about being towed, although I don't know if anybody actually was towed. That they had to worry about it was bad enough.

Shit, I wish the cops down here would come and sit on my street and pull people over for doing anything over 30 -- they'd ticket half the neighborhood! They could cut my property taxes by a third if they ticketed everybody going five or more over, around here, and actually collected on the tickets. Which makes your case that it was 'selective enforcement' that much stronger -- I know exactly how often Montgomery County/Dayton area police pull anybody over for doing anything short of donuts on a church lawn. Sheesh.

[liberalnurse]

48. Kukesa is correct.....

I was down there earlier today and the topic came up.....Tonight was the Women for Kerry group....I left around 5:30 because I have things at home to get done....I have 3 12-hours shifts in a row coming up. I will attend the Edwards Town Hall Meeting Friday on 3 hours sleep if I'm lucky! I have to work 7pm-7am Wed, Thur and Fri...

:scared:

[democrat in Tallahassee]

46. The Local Nazi Sherrif had our Convention Party staked out in Tallahassee

The Local Nazi Sherrif had our Convention Party staked out in Tallahassee

[AngryOldDem]

79. How much more proof do we need....

...that we are now in a facist state?

This whole thread just makes me ill. Never thought I'd see this happen here. Never.

[SW FL Dem]

49. I got pulled over a few weeks ago.

for the first time in at least 15 years. I had a Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker in the back window (and more in the glove compartment to hand out). Didn't get a ticket, because of my "sterling driving record", but the asshole did give me a written warning. This is major pug territory.

[obiwan]

70. I have a K-E sticker on my rear window...

... come and get me. I'm too old to be scared of anything.

[young_at_heart]

50. I just got my bumper sticker......should I worry too?

I cannot believe this is actually happening? Please tell me this is a Twilight Zone episode.

[iwantmycountryback]

51. My mom just got a K-E sticker

Hopefully she'll be safe in blue New York though. I seriously can't believe this shit is happening. We need to come up with some kind of Republican repellant...or just fucking deport them to hell.

[Tsiyu]

52. I am so sorry you have to deal with this, liberalnurse

It is not part of a law enforcement officer's duties to play judge or jury. They are witnesses only in the "court of life." They may act in self defense, or to protect life or property, but it is not their place to pass sentence, especially with such blatant bias.

So much for the "Law of the Land" - the Constitution. Guess they don't teach that as the basis of law in some states anymore. They teach division and hatred and disregard for the Rule of Law.

It so saddens me when police officers choose to harrass and intimidate rather than serving and protecting. This behavior teaches children to fear and suspect law enforcement. It foments resentment in communities and clogs up the judicial system.

I am lucky to live where the cops are more Andy Taylor than Barney Fife. They are humane, kind and fair.

I bet that cop might wish a nurse like you would be first on the scene if he ever got hurt. But I suppose he thinks he is a little "god" who will never need anyone's help.

What a sad age we live in. Keep your chin up and remember: Repukes hate you for your freedom. And your education...and your heart......etc. etc.

[liberalnurse]

57. He didn't care.....I was dressed in my nurses scrubs...

and had my stethoscope hung around the back of my neck.....my hospital badge....He just hates Democrats I guess. The street was quite, no one behind me or coming toward me....

No provacation...But they know my car/SUV parked in the driveway with the Kerry/Edwards,DU bumper stickers on the back....I think it was new for him to see the side as that was where my Code Pink stickers are....He did a repeat double-take! They are on the back/side windows...

My house has 2 Kerry/Edwards signs that everyone looks at since I'm on a curve....I have one in direct eye shot for each direction....I guess that pissed some off....

[liberalnurse]

58. Thank you by the way for your

sincere, reflective thoughts.......:pals:

[Tsiyu]

59. You're welcome

I just hate this stuff for your sake. You are obviously a hard-working, taxpaying citizen who is now being discriminated against because some people cannot deal with a two-party system. Sickening.

And bless you with those three twelve hour shifts to look forward to....

:toast:

[blue sky at night]

53. Police Harassment

}( I am a traveling ANTI-Bush advertisement. I have Dump Bush! signs on three sides as well as Kerry stickers on front and back. I post quotes from my favorite Anti-Bush articles. Currently it is: Remember:
There are no harmless political lies about a war. The more such lies citizens tolerate, the more wars they are likely to get. Every lie that is tolerated about one war becomes an engraved invitation to launch another war. Because Americans acquiesced to Bush's blarney about his invasion of Afghanistan, Bush faced less resistance to invading Iraq. And every Bush lie about Iraq that is now tolerated by the American people increases the odds of Bush going to war against Iran if he were re-elected. I find folks reading it and often have very open and frank discussions with them, then I offer them a Kerry Bumper Sticker. I say bring it on, as I am watching my speed and am very courteous to other drivers. I am carrying my Video Camera for taping if harassed. By the way I count Kerry vs. Bush Signs and Bumper Stickers everyday as I travel across OHIO, and Kerry always wins, mostly by a wide margin.
DUMP BUSH!

[Kukesa]

55. Welcome to DU, A-B Wheels

Your advertising is wonderful, and thanks for counting those bumper stickers for us. Hope to see you down here in Dayton!



:hi:

[BBG]

56. Right On

I have been sporting pro-Kerry and anti-Bush signage for some time here also. And just completed a Washington state to Tennessee roadtrip last week with a large Veterans for Kerry sign in the window plus assorted No W signs. We had some looks in St. Joseph Missouri but no outright confrontations of any sort. In fact there were a few horn toots and thumbs-up along the way.
Have faith America, help is on the way.

[liberalnurse]

62. Welcome to DU friend.

Let me say thank you for your military service.....It's an honor to have you on my thread.

Thank you for your support and again, welcome to DU. It's home for me.



:yourock:

[liberalnurse]

60. Welcome to DU.....

You are in the right room! :hi:

I feel your passion.......

[liberalnurse]

61. If your driving down I-70, be sure to

miss the Englewood Exit...I think it is #29.....also the Trotwood Exit #26 because you have to go thru Englewood to get to Trotwood.


Just a heads up fro ya.....:scared:

[obiwan]

71. Last few weeks I was counting bumper stickers on the freeway...

... going to see my wife in the hospital. All but one "W-04" or "Bush/Cheney" stickers were on huge gas guzzling SUV's and one guy swerved over three lanes and missed his freeway exit just so he could pull up beside me, roll down his window, and yell at me. I gave him the peace sign and passionately kissed a small American flag that happened to be on the seat beside me. Boy, that really pissed him off. He floored it and disappeared into the distance at 90 mph. And this is California. Kerry is ahead by 15 points! I pity you in the Midwest. Sounds like "Deliverance" to me.

[newyawker99]

77. Hi anti-bush on wheels!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[blue sky at night]

80. reply

thanks for the welcome, I have always read but never joined. Now we all have to turn it up a notch. Thanks, and lets DUMP BUSH!
I am the Anti-Bush (on Wheels)!

[jmparks02]

63. I had a Criminal Justice professor at Clemson University a few years ago..

A former Philadelphia police officer. He said that they used to purposefully pull over cars with liberal bumper stickers just to hassle them.

What an asshole.

[liberalnurse]

64. Well, we now know where one of his proteges

live and work....Englewood, Ohio......who cruises Seville Drive at 7AM....:scared:

[liberalnurse]

65. Hey, your a newbie.....

Welcome to DU.......:hi:

[obiwan]

66. I'm in a sign war, too...

... with my alcoholic 70 year old neighbor. He has been using purloined diamond-shape road signs to sloppily hand-paint comments about Kerry and his military service. They are atrocious and hilarious at the same time, and illustrate the cowboy mentality we are up against.

I love having a battle of wits with an unarmed Repug. I simply sit down at my computer and bang out a few dozen anti-Bush signs from my inventory of hundreds. Sunday, after he went to bed (early and drunk, I presume) I papered my driveway gate with about 4 dozen posters, including many with clever sayings from the old make-your-own-rally-sign at the Bush web site.

If I need something bigger I simply go to Kinko's and get a 3X4 foot or larger poster and hang that sucker up.

Also I keep both of my cars well supplied with anti-repug bumper stickers. I just got a new crop yesterday, so I assume he is going ballistic right now, especially the one that says, "Doing my part to piss off the religious right." Or maybe it was the one that said,
"Three purple hearts trumps two DUI's."

Whatever.

[loudestchick]

74. Sign War!!!!

Also in a sign war with my ultra-conservative Catholic next door neighbor. She has a big fabric sign hanging from her porch with a picture of a fetus in-utero. Try to explain that to a 9, 5 and 3yr old.

I put up a new sign yesterday--Love your mother (picture of the earth) vote for the earth! Vote for John Kerry!

[B3Nut]

75. That reminds me of...

...an induhvidual (thanks Dogbert!) in Fitchburg (Madison 'burb) Wis..he's got an American flag painted on his garage door and 4x8 plywood Bush signs in his driveway, including "Who do you think Osama would vote for?" (my reply, Bush of course, the choice of CIA stooges everywhere :D ) and "Flush the Flip Flop Johns". I drive past his house on the way to pick my wife up at the vet clinic where she works and when dropping her off...real piece of work.

Hopefully by the weekend I'll be able to scare up a couple of Kerry and Feingold bumper stickers, my boss wants one too. :) At least in Madison you won't get pulled over for being pro-Dem, Dane county is almost completely Democratic.

TP

[Gemini Cat]

72. Amazing.

I'm sorry that happened. They must really be scared of losing to go to such lengths.

[CBHagman]

76. Another ex-Daytonian here.

Sorry to hear about how you were treated.

Like a lot of people on this thread, I lived in Centerville (also in Washington Township). That was way back in the '70s, when we had things like Daylight Savings Time in the middle of winter. :-)

Oh, and any kid at Hadley Watts Middle School could have told you there were war crimes in Vietnam. We'd all heard about My Lai.

[fudge stripe cookays]

78. You need to find....

some more people who've had this happen to them.

If enough of you get together, you can fight it.

Do any of your TV stations have one of those muckraking features on the local news? If they do, contact the reporter. They LOVE crap like this.

Local alternative weekly paper? Contact the local news beat guy.

Public radio station? Cable access?

Failing all that, begin contacting places like 20/20 or 60 Minutes. I know Rather will be leery, but someone may take up the mantle and publicize this. Use the media blaster.

Contact all media, local or otherwise, once you have a group together. This needs to come out. The Repugs in Ohio are desperate. But they'll keep it up if they think they can. If all eyes in America are on them, they won't be able to do it without drawing attention to it.

Thanks for being so brave, liberalnurse! Ohio is a heavy duty place to be living right now!

FSC

[blue sky at night]

81. update on the rolling messages

Hey, just a quick update. Kerry won the count for me today, 138 to 78! Lots of new signs. Stopped by Democratic HQ in Akron, refilled my Bumper Sticker pile and found out my favorite 4' X 6' Kerry sign was stolen from a Front yard in Stow!! Democrats are all gathering at the Highland Theater (7:30pm in Akron) to watch the Debate together. Come join us watch the Shrub look silly. DUMP BUSH! I am the Anti-Bush (on wheels)!

[Southsideirish]

83. Weird ! When we went to the Edwards rally in conservative

"pro-bush", Waukesha, Wis. I was astounded by the number of police cars hanging out in the area. It was really strange - what the hell were they expecting? To me it was very chilling - I would never go back there.
Don't ask me what the heck Edwards was DOING there in the first place - as the only folks that turned out were some union people and the "amen chorus" types. Seemed to me like a huge waste of time.