Recently in Holidays Category

The holiday weekend is over, the crackdown is complete, and the statistics are coming out for review. Here's what we've learned from news reports at the Orlando Sentinel and Florida Today:

Statewide, Florida Highway Patrol issued 4,548 speeding citations, 1,928 safety belt-related offenses, and 98 DUIs arrests. In the Central Florida area, FHP issued 312 citations and no warnings. Basically, you got a ticket if they took the time to pull you over.

That pretty much confirms my thoughts that this crackdown had little to do with safety and everything to do with revenue. It's a money-making affair for FHP. Per the Orlando Sentinel's report, OPD said its officer's had discretion whether to give a warning or issue a citation. That's pretty much standard for law enforcement. So why didn't the FHP Troopers give any warnings? There's no profit in warning someone.

If it's a major U.S. holiday, you know that the cops will be out in full force with yet another "crackdown" for those of us who have the day off. The official claim is that they're trying to reduce traffic fatalities.

Bullshit. There are two reasons why cops write a lot of tickets on holidays. It's because the higher-ups recognize that a lot of travel is an excellent opportunity to earn revenue, so they make all the working cops get out there to write tickets. The working cops are pissed at the rest of us for enjoying ourselves while they work. Also, they know that they'll catch a ration of shit if they end the holiday crackdown period without enough tickets. There isn't a specified quota (that would be wrong), but the supervisor will let them know if they don't have enough tickets from such a target-rich opportunity.

While I'll believe that the average cop would rather not work a messy traffic death scene, I'm not swayed that the reason for this crackdown is safety. It's about the money. It's about sticking it to you for any infraction that earns revenue.

So please be aware that you aren't paranoid. They really are out to get you.

Most people are writing about fireworks and other celebrations today. That's outstanding and I don't fault them for it. However, I want to use the spirit of the day to remind us that our independence is under challenge and assault every day.

This clip is of Orlando Police officers denying a WFTV camera man the same basic rights allowed to other citizens simply because he carries a camera. They threaten him with arrest, even claiming they've already arrested another media person for trying to assert the same civil rights as others - to walk down a sidewalk. Clearly, the Orlando Police officers on the scene do not trust photographers and they are using coercion (threat of arrest) to prevent him from lawfully engaging in the same activity as others. Coercion is illegal in all 50 states.

Journalists and media have no more rights to access to a crime scene or police investigation than an ordinary citizen. They are ordinary citizens. That means they should also have the same rights. If the police allow people to access an area, they must allow ALL people to access an area. The law doesn't make exception for them to discriminate just because someone has a camera.

Enjoy our Independence, but keep your eyes open for those who would abuse their authority to curtail our freedoms. Orlando Police are among them.

I truly hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving. My turkey escaped in Lake Eola, so I ended up having dinner at Hooters. As my server informed me, they're open 365 days a year, with exceptions only for hurricanes or other dangerous weather conditions. To be honest, it was pretty dull in there. Most people rightly have plans with their family. Hooters was there for those few of us who had no other options today.

However, don't worry about me. My family celebrates a day late, since my brother is a musician who was working today. I'll have the traditional meal on Friday while other brave souls venture forth into the shopping arenas. Some are already camping out in tents waiting for morning to arrive, like those folks I saw in front of my local Best Buy on my way back from Hooters.

Black Friday will show us many strange things, but the one I may wake up to see is breakfast at Hooters. Like everything else there, I'm sure it'll be fried.