Another harassment citation: found not guilty!

Another Critical Mass harassment citation resolved in favor of the demonstrator: FOUND NOT GUILTY!

On June 14, 2002, Jason Meggs was harassed and singled out by name during a Berkeley Critical Mass bicycle demonstration. He was cited by officer Torres of the California Highway Patrol, who has a history of harassing Meggs.

In the afternoon on the day of the October Berkeley Critical Mass (Friday, October 11, 2002), Meggs went to trial with his video evidence. The officer did not appear, and Meggs was found not guilty.

"I told the commissioner I was sorry that the officer was not present and that he had to miss the video evidence," Meggs told a crowd at a book release party at AK Press later that evening, after the ride. "I wish I'd had the chance to expose the officer before the court."

After contributors and appreciators of the new Critical Mass book, "Critical Mass: Bicycling's Defiant Celebration" (edited by Chris Carlsson) had given readings and extemporaneous thoughts, the video evidence was shown as a short attraction before Ted White's documentary, "Critical Mass: We are traffic".

The crowd so loved the video that it is posted here for your edification.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• chp
• critical
• mass
• san
• francisco
• berkeley
• protest
• citation
• police
• rights
• demonstration
• bike
• bicycle
• bicycling
• false
• abuse
• legal
• system
• challenge

[em2skunk2]

@illegalseed420

LOL u mad

[mdl80271]

wow! im actually pulling for a cop this time!

[androsborsato]

Both of those cops are Fucking Idiots!!!

[androsborsato]

@SeedsOfHatred Sounds to me that YOU are a Speeder! Who can't stay in his own lane while sober, and you illegally packed a gun as a youth!! Now you're a fucking cop! Not all bad...... pfffft!

[kingdobbs1]

OMG i didnt think cops could get that stupid go back to pig school if you dont know the law!

[SeedsOfHatred]

@NightSociety (Part 2) The third time, I stopped at a police checkpoint while carrying a firearm. After checking my ID, the officer(s) discovered that I was not legally allowed to carry a gun yet - something I could have been placed under arrest for on the spot. Instead, they simply handed the gun to my father and sent us on our way.

I am now an officer myself and actually work alongside two of the officers I just mentioned.

We're not all bad, my friend.

[SeedsOfHatred]

@NightSociety When I was younger, I had 3 seperate run-ins with the police. The first time I was going 30 miles over the speed limit, yet the officer knocked a few miles off the ticket to prevent me from having to be arrested for reckless driving.

The second time, I was crossing the median and was pulled over on suspiscion of DUI. Upon seeing that I was not intoxicated, the officer kindly asked me to try to stay in my lane and sent me on my way.

[chp6211]

No No No...You don't know the rules of the road. In fact, I don't think you know the rules of life. 

[blacktippydog]

smart ass like you needs to be thrown in jail

[NightSociety]

Good Cops are a few, Bad Cops everywhere, thinks they own the law. Wait until u been pulled over.

[akmrmike]

Never claim to have civil rights. I have lots of rights, not what is granted by government.

[dennis4679]

That cop should have run your punk ass over. You lowlifes find every way possible to milk the tax payer. Those cops have better things to do then give people like you the attention that you so apparently crave.