On my way to the grocery store yesterday evening I tried to extort a cop.
He was parked in a turn lane, well half of his vehicle was. After I had passed him I turned around and pulled my truck behind him. I turned on my hazard flashers and got out. I walked up to his open driver side window and looked in at him. I asked "are you having a medical or mechanical issue? Do you need some assistance?"
He replied that he was not having either and asked me why I had asked. I told them that I had noticed his car was parked in a turning lane in front of a no parking sign and wanted to find out why. I told him it is a nonmoving traffic violation to park a vehicle where official signs dictate. It is another nonmoving violation to park within a turn lane and impede or obstruct traffic.
He agreed that those were violations but argued that "I am allowed because I am a cop". I replied, "funny thing is your occupation doesn't grant you any special privileges or rights beyond anyone else."
He laughed.
I pulled a small notebook I carry with me and he asked what I was doing. I told him I was issuing him a warning for the parking in the turn lane but would have to issue a citation for parking in front of the sign. He laughed and said I couldn't write tickets.
I handed him the notebook paper with my scribbling on it. $273 and a warning.
He looked at it and asked if he could keep it. I said sure. The payment is due within 30 days to the clerk of court. If he could not pay within this time frame he can apply with the clerk for an extension.
He was really laughing at this.
I asked him what was so funny. He said that this is the first time anyone has ever pulled this stunt on him. I said "Sir, you realize that what I am attempting to do to you is exactly what you do to others every day and in fact what you were parking your car here to do tonight? You hassle these people who are trying to get home to their families and kids; denying kids the time to play catch with their dad or learn to cook or read with their mom. Stealing money from hard working people. And here you are scoffing at the idea, thinking that you are above all of that because some idiot decided you should have a costume and push debt onto people to be paid to the State. Most of what you do is punish people just trying to live their lives as best they can and you go around and hassle them into paying undue money for victim-less crimes."
I stepped back as he got out of his patrol car. I continued. "You cannot truthfully say that what I have cited you for and warned you for is exactly what you would have used to do the same to someone else."
He agreed but then tried the "just doing my job" bit. I stopped him before he got done. "If your job requires that you use force and intimidation to extort money from peaceful people for violating politicians scribbles and cannot clearly identify a victim, then you need a new job."
"How about this, we both know you think this is a joke, and we both know you have no intention of paying that fine."
He shook his head and muttered a "Yeah."
"So here is what we can do, I am going to give you a book. It is short and to the point. I will also write down the title and author of another book. All that I ask is that you read them and honestly think about what they say. Is that fair enough?"
He agreed.
I took the slip of paper from him and wrote down "Anatomy of the State by Murray Rothbard" and I added that he can download a free copy from Mises.org. Then I went into my truck and pulled out a copy of Adam Kokesh's book "Freedom" and handed it to him.
He said thanks and made his way back into his car.
To my surprise he was sitting out in the parking lot of the store when I came back out. He had called another cop over while I was inside. I didn't think this was good. His buddy asked me if what his friend had said was true. I said yes. We talked for a few minutes afterwards and I told them that it was good that they can take this so well. We talked while I put my groceries in the truck. Before I got into my truck the first officer came up and put out his hand, he wanted a handshake... or was this a ruse to handcuff me??? Nope, just a handshake. I told him that when he is done with the books be sure to pass them around. He smiled.
Planting seeds, with a twist.