so much for mpls
<< Dec 14, 2005 @ 12:00 >>
I am a literal constitutionalist. When the First Amendment says that "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech," I take that to quite literally and clearly mean that Congress shall make NO LAW abridging the freedom of speech. I should be able to say anything I want, period, and none of the laws that would make anything I say illegal are valid. (One exception to my literal interpretation is that I take all instances of the word "man" to mean any human being.)
Red light cameras are in violation of the Fourth Amendment. I for one would be profoundly pissed the fuck off if I had to waste my time in court because I was wrongly issued a ticket from one of these cameras. Take a look at the Amendment's text:
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons ... against unreasonable searches ... shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched..."
Continually monitoring an intersection, watching for people to break a law, is clearly a search. And, it is a search without warrant. Who gave an Oath or affirmation describing which intersections shall be continually watched, and what was their probable cause to watch every single citizen who drives through these intersections. They could not possibly have probable cause to believe that every driver intends to run the light.
While I'm ranting about the issues, I would like to say that I'm seriously disappointed that Minneapolis is allowing smoking back into the bars. I hope each and every member of the city council gets cancer and dies.
Really. I do.
Reader Comments...
December 14, 2005 @ 12:18:37
xopl (#001)
The Ninth Amendment is really the most interesting:
"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
December 14, 2005 @ 12:38:11
xopl (#001)
Oh, tomorrow is Bill of Rights Day, a National Holiday.
December 14, 2005 @ 19:25:52
jmullan (#1015)
I have two finals on a National Holiday?
December 14, 2005 @ 23:33:19
xopl (#001)
Finals are so... final.
Apparently I'm the worst Risk player ever.