law enforcement 2013

[Stray Dog]

Genuine curiosity here; how does standing off to the side, videotaping the police in any way interfere with them? It's made for some profitable television over the years.

[Chowski]

Now now folks, take pity on the poor little piggies. It must be difficult to have had your life peak on the high school junior varisty football team.

Look, these little-dick gun nuts spend 51 weeks a year hassling black teenagers and this is their one chance to kick back, ogle some white lady parts, and bust some hippie heads. If they have to manufacture probable cause for warrantless searches by obtaining drug-dog "hits", that's just the price we American citizens pay for their once-a-year orgy of power.

Professionally, they create nothing, they only destroy. No wonder they hate us.

[Boijoy]

http://www.rgj.com/article/20130823/EVE ... urning-Man

Article re: Law inforcement in the Reno paper .

[k2k2k2k2]

Those "camcorders" would be where the cops are.... its pretty obvious, since they have uniforms, and there aren't THAT many of them. There would be a camera at the gate for sure, to document all the stops that happen there. Once you find them, the video teams would hang out and document their activities. Cops hate being video recorded because it forces them to behave within the law, so yes, Im sure they would complain.

[Sham]

I hope that the reports of over zealous law enforcement are inflated, but if you see something amiss, you may take pictures of the event should it need to be reported.
I simply can't imagine some of the early reports that are coming out to be happening in America.
There have been national new spotlights on situations like this, and if it is happening, we have enough heavy hitters within the news industry, that a national story will cause a major shake-up within the agencies responsible for a deliberate harassment of citizens, strictly for the sake of bringing in revenue to cash strapped agencies.

If this is truly the case, higher ups in these agencies will most likely be removed and replaced with someone more willing to follow the laws of the land.

Document and and all situations you may see, including illegal searches, and cars stopped for going just a few miles over the speed limit. Also, document tickets given for not using a seat belt when moving up one spot in a stopping line of cars. While technically illegal to drive, it will make a poignant spotlight on national news to see a Federal agency citing citizens for such a dreadful infraction.

[PlayaPatrol]

BMORG is complicit with the zero tolerance police approach this year. Their attitude is "All police give expensive tickets and threaten to search at gunpoint based on you driving 6 MPH. That justifies several armed men surrounding you." For those that don't like being abused and want to voice their opinion to public servents, here are decision makers at BLM:
BLM Nevada State Office
State Director: Amy Lueders
Associate State Director: Marci Todd
Phone: 775-861-6590

Principal Deputy Director: Neil Kornze
Acting Deputy Director (Operations): Jamie Connell
Chief of Staff: Janet Lin

BLM Washington Office
1849 C Street NW, Rm. 5665
Washington DC 20240
Phone: 202-208-3801
Fax: 202-208-5242
[email protected]

Salvatore R. Lauro
BLM Director, Office of Law Enforcement and Security
1849 C Street, NW, Rm. 5637
Washington, D.C. 20240
Phone: 202-208-3269
FAX: 202-208-3049
E-mail: [email protected]

[PlayaPatrol]

From the wall street journal 2012 : "My officers aren't out there writing citations for a small joint," said Daniel Love, a BLM special agent; "We're looking for a large quantity of drugs."
Guess he didn't tell that to any of his officers.

[Stray Dog]

LEOs enjoy going to BM as much as any one. They will do whatever it takes to return next year. Hence they WILL find drugs. Large amounts or small.

[Canoe]

playa cam
2013-08-31 2:38 p.m.
suddenly...

2013-08-31 2.38.png

lots of lights

2:42 and another one was there too

2:51 thinning out, heading all directions

2013-08-31 2.51 thinning out.png

[Stray Dog]

This was a memorial service for a LEO that had died of brain cancer earlier in the year. This was only my first burn, and I had to leave early, but it was a little creepy seeing over a hundred of them inside the temple. But hey, cops die too.

[Canoe]

...over a hundred of them inside the temple..

Think this was a different occurrence. This is definitely at the Man, not Temple. On the video replay, you can see them arrive.
Eight vehicles.

[FlyingMonkey]

This was a memorial service for a LEO that had died of brain cancer earlier in the year. This was only my first burn, and I had to leave early, but it was a little creepy seeing over a hundred of them inside the temple. But hey, cops die too.

I think that's pretty cool. I think there are plenty of LEOs that enjoy being there just as much as we do and the fact that they are using the event to honor one of their own says a lot.

Besides, if they are all at the temple or the Man then they aren't out busting folks. Smoke-em if ya got-em.

But I have to admit that when I saw all the vehicles on the live stream I thought they were putting the smack down on someone. Good to find out otherwise.

[Stray Dog]

...over a hundred of them inside the temple..

Think this was a different occurrence. This is definitely at the Man, not Temple. On the video replay, you can see them arrive.
Eight vehicles.

Sorry, I forgot they did stop at several other art structures on their way out to the temple. At first we were wondering what could someone have possibly done to warrant all those police cars!

[Stray Dog]

This was a memorial service for a LEO that had died of brain cancer earlier in the year. This was only my first burn, and I had to leave early, but it was a little creepy seeing over a hundred of them inside the temple. But hey, cops die too.

I think that's pretty cool. I think there are plenty of LEOs that enjoy being there just as much as we do and the fact that they are using the event to honor one of their own says a lot.

Besides, if they are all at the temple or the Man then they aren't out busting folks. Smoke-em if ya got-em.

But I have to admit that when I saw all the vehicles on the live stream I thought they were putting the smack down on someone. Good to find out otherwise.

Yeah, that's what we thought too. Then, because they visited so many of the structures we thought it was some sort of inspection. But when we got to the temple just in time to witness them leaving, being lead by the tearful widow mouthing, "thank you" as she was escorted out, we knew that wasn't the case. We paid due respect with silence when appropriate as the widow passed, and applause as the LEOs walked out. Maybe the guys that show up year after year will "get it" if we show them the love. We can hope.

[Canoe]

... Maybe the guys that show up year after year will "get it" if we show them the love. We can hope.

They can. They do.
Example: procession to the Temple for one of their own.

But with hiring from afar to cover all the shifts, there will be some that don't. Most learn, some don't. Same as Burners.

But there's been some noise from authorities above recently. Also from a minority with an agenda that goes beyond protecting the population and enforcing the law.
Used to be The Stupid Tax prevailed. No so much anymore.
There were changes in their overall command structure this year, and in plans for staffing vehicles.

Waiting to see reports from the playa for this year.

[Elderberry]

This was a memorial service for a LEO that had died of brain cancer earlier in the year. This was only my first burn, and I had to leave early, but it was a little creepy seeing over a hundred of them inside the temple. But hey, cops die too.

I think that's pretty cool. I think there are plenty of LEOs that enjoy being there just as much as we do and the fact that they are using the event to honor one of their own says a lot.

Totally agree.

[littleflower]

I had a run in with a cop on my way out. My bike rack covered most of the license plate, and i knew it, but there wasn't much i could do about it. So i'm driving along at about 12 mph in a 10mph zone, and here comes a cop. he got right on my butt and flashed the lights, so i stopped..... mentioned that i knew my bike was covering the plate but i did my best to fix it ..... he says "i know you did, but you are from Boise, and i used to live there. Did you have a nice burn?" me: "yes" cop: "great! *shakes my hand* have a safe trip home!"

hahahahahaha i guess you never know .....

[Elderberry]

My bet is on the reports being way more positive than negative. And that there won't be any more citations or arrests than last year--especially when figuring in the increase in population size. I also think it was a good idea that all of the different agencies were coordinated and riding together. It seems to me that would help standardize enforcement and assure that everyone was enforcing the same rules the same way.

No one I have spoken with post event had any horror stories to tell. Mostly about people being stopped on the way in, but not many of those stopped receiving citations. Someone said that there had been several thefts early on, and LEO wanted to make sure people on the way in were aware of their presence. Sort of like firing a warning shot over the bow.

But we'll know for sure when the after-burn reports come out.

[some seeing eye]

LEO's making the event their own in that way is more important than the sum of all the snarky comments on ePlaya.

[littleflower]

it occurred to me that the enforcement of the 10/5 mph speed limits might have contributed to the lack of dust .... the roads on the way out were still pretty solid and i don't remember that ever being the case. of course, the winds were light this year, so that was part of it .... but every little bit helps...

[Magpie Sparkles]

I have nothing but positive feedback of the LEOs.

They were super friendly, stopped for a chat with us, talked us through all the gadgets on their uniforms (we're from the UK), gave us Junior Ranger pin badges and BLM wrist bands and told us to flag them down if we needed anything because they were here to keep us safe. They offered us water and posed for photos with us - all whilst wearing their custom Robot Heart goggles (only 50 pairs made exclusively for Rangers) and dancing along to the music

We thought they were great. In fact, was one of my burn highlights.

[Captain Goddammit]

I had my usual Burning Man law enforcement experience. I didn't do anything illegal and I didn't have any trouble!

[Elderberry]

FYI Rangers are not LEOs.

[Magpie Sparkles]

FYI Rangers are not LEOs.

Yeah I meant a BLM Ranger, not the BRC volunteers. I know the difference, this was my 5th burn,

[Elderberry]

FYI Rangers are not LEOs.

Yeah I meant a BLM Ranger, not the BRC volunteers. I know the difference, this was my 5th burn,

My experiences with LEOs on the playa have always been similar to yours.

[RosieTahoe]

I have to say that I only had and saw positive interactions with BLM staff. The only direct contact I had with them was when one handed me some BLM swag outside of center camp and the officer told me to have a great burn! I also saw an officer give someone a coffee in center camp and generally saw them chatting it up and laughing with many different burners. One drove by while were were walking with this guy on a huge motorized long board and the cop yelled out his window "nice ride!". I did see them talking to beautiful and often topless women on a regular basis, and had a good laugh that I'm sure they don't mind THAT part of the burn!! Maybe I'm biased because my brother is a police officer (and is probably the nicest person you'll ever meet) but I think the cops have a tough job at the burn, they may not even agree with all the laws personally, but it is their job to enforce them.

[Odie]

I would agree with RosieTahoe, I noticed a BLM officer learning some hoop moves at center camp. I wish there were more enforcement for motorized bikes and segways.

[Canoe]

I wish there were more enforcement for motorized bikes and segways.

For?

[Elderberry]

I wish there were more enforcement for motorized bikes and segways.

For?

i think she meant "for" as in "More rules for them to follow." Like not going so damn fast for one, and giving the right of way to pedestrians for another.

[JayBobBoy]

I was lucky and had absolutely zero interaction with law enforcement during the event. But then I wasn't breaking any laws either...

There were three cars from within our camp group that were stopped for having obscured license plates. All three had "hits" by dogs and were searched. None received a ticket, I think the cops missed a few things....There were rumors of other camps nearby that had received citations for serving minors and such.

Besides the overly zealous "stop and search" at the entry gate, it seemed like pretty normal cop bullshit.