My First Year

Eclipse · Post by **Eclipse** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:04 am

Well, I just recently learned about Burning Man, and now I have never been more excited about anything in my life. I will be 18 at that time, and I may end up going alone. I'm curious about the law enforcement there. Are there lots of cops? Would I get arrested if a cop caught me drinking or smoking MJ? Basically, I am wondering if realistically, I could drink and smoke in the open, or is it not that kind of event at all? Please give genuine answers. Thanks alot, and see ya in august.

Sensei · Post by **Sensei** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 2:40 am

Eclipse wrote: Are there lots of cops?

Yes. Lots and lots.

Eclipse wrote:Would I get arrested if a cop caught me drinking or smoking MJ?

While many newbies seem to think the event is some lawless affair in Utopia, it actually takes place in the surprisingly conservative state of Nevada. Ask yourself a question: would you be arrested if you lit up in the middle of the strip in Las Vegas? Yes. Yes, you would. The same rules apply on the playa.

Eclipse wrote:Basically, I am wondering if realistically, I could drink and smoke in the open, or is it not that kind of event at all?

No, it is most definitely not 'that kind of event at all'. I'm curious as to where you got that idea. Do a search on say 'arrests' or 'busted' and I think you'll start to get the picture. For your sake, I really hope you do but if not, I could probably use the diversion your inevitable bust will bring.

Eclipse wrote:Please give genuine answers. Thanks alot, and see ya in august.

Can't wait.

Saturnine0 · Post by **Saturnine0** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 2:42 am

No this is not your kind of event! No smoking ever! and if you drink or bring an alcoholic drink you will be thrown out.......It looks wild, but its really just a praise meeting! :oops:

Eclipse · Post by **Eclipse** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:21 am

Hmm...guess Ill be hotboxing the tent.

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:27 am

Sensei does speak the truth, sure some people might luck out but there really are a lot of cops of all kinds there many in plain cloths running stings .

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:17 am

Some of the undercover cops are even naked, so that makes it doubly confusing.

Honestly, drugs and alcohol in the desert aren't the main focus, and you certainly can have an amazing time without them. Welcome, join in the conversations and find out who a handful of us are. The eplaya is a very small portion of burners, so don't judge the entire event on just us.

To answer your question in introductions, playa is a Spanish word for beach. the playa is the ancient dry lakebed the event is held on. That's off the top of my currrently very sleepy head.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:19 am

That should answer your question on the marijuana on th eplaya.

Also, keep in mind that you will be driving across Indian Reservation lands n the way in. Again, while many people make it through with lots of stuff, there are many people that never make it to the gate because of getting busted on the road in.

I do not know about the law in Nevada specifically, but here in Texas, 18 with alcohol is a big no-no. Even transporting it in your vehicle in sealed containers can get you ticketed and/or arrested.

One really big factor to take into consideration is the physical environment you are heading to. It can be very harsh, especially if you are not familiar with pretty hardcore camping. Yeah, its a big community and all, but it is a big community in the middle of a desert.

Alcohol will contribute sharply to your risk of dehydration and using marijuana can mask the light headed, giddy and tired feelings associated with dehydration and/or sun delirium from heat/exposure related problems.

You do Burn at your own risk and your mileage may vary as to what your body will take, but why take the chance? There is so much going on around you to keep your senses perfectly stimulated and pumping without any external intoxicants.

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:56 am

AntiM wrote:Some of the undercover cops are even naked, so that makes it doubly confusing

And some of the naked cops are not the kind of cops you really want to look at naked.

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 10:04 am

the key is to be discrete. walking around with a beer or alcoholic drink, I think is no problem...just dont drive anything motorized. Dope? do it in your tent or someone elses you know, not out in the open. Ive been three years in a row and never had any problems, nor have I personally known anyone who has had any problems with Law enforcement....but then me and my friends all read the survival guide many times over.

SpaceCowboy · Post by **SpaceCowboy** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 11:55 am

[quote]and some of the cops even go naked[/quote]

That is just wrong. How fucking desperate can you be just to make a drug bust. It is a good thing no real crime is taking place in this country. Let the rapists and muggers go so long as we catch somebody with a joint.

Truly a sad state of affairs. Just saying.

Eclipse · Post by **Eclipse** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:22 pm

[quote="SpaceCowboy"][quote]and some of the cops even go naked[/quote]

That is just wrong. How fucking desperate can you be just to make a drug bust. It is a good thing no real crime is taking place in this country. Let the rapists and muggers go so long as we catch somebody with a joint.

Truly a sad state of affairs. Just saying.[/quote]

I agree, the fucking cops will stop at nothing to bust another teenager who they suspect may have weed.

The laws in this country are so fucked. At 18 years of age, one can: join the military and fight for this country's "freedom", and yet you get arrested and screwed over if you are caught drinking a beer. Then there's the whole marijuana being illegal while cigarettes and alcohol are legal.

And here we are, going to celebrate "The American Dream"...frankly I'm starting to think I'll wait a few years.

FUCK the police

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:42 pm

SpaceCowboy wrote:
and some of the cops even go naked

sorry, Im calling Bullshit on that one. Where do they keep their handcuffs, their radio?

no, dont answer that....

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:01 pm

I dunno, I can see that some feds would go "deep" cover and be naked if they are trying to set up a sting operation on someone distributing drugs (i doubt they would go to such lengths to bust you for smoking a doobie). Agents go without a badge, gun or radio for months on end while infiltrating drug rings and there is no reason they wouldn't just take it one step further and lose the cloths as well.

Are they wasting huge amounts of taxpayer dollars on a futile effort? Yep. Is it even more of a waste to do so at burning man where no one has any cash to pay for drugs? Absolutely! Can we do anything about it? Not really, but maybe in 20 years time the old generation paradigm will shift toward the new generation's demand for more freedoms. We are already seeing this shift as the flower-children of the 60's are now becoming the majority of the voting public and in several US states (including Nevada) marijuana is perfectly legal for medical use.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:46 pm

I'd say imperfectly legal. The feds still get pretty hissy about it.

Barbie · Post by **Barbie** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:18 pm

I love the Naughty Rangers!!! Watch out for all others.....

Barbie · Post by **Barbie** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:20 pm

I guess you'd half to watch for the Naughty Rangers also... But They work before the Burn....

Barbie · Post by **Barbie** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:21 pm

I mean before Burn Week...

Sensei · Post by **Sensei** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 10:40 pm

Yeah? And what are you burning, Hawaiian Barbie?

pinemom · Post by **pinemom** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:53 am

In 2005, the LEO's came into Spirits before we opened to the public and boaught a bunch of saropes(Jesus Gowns) to "blend in" ...alothough I havent seen those since...might wanna watch for them, seems like 3 yrs in good enough to recirculate a costume.

Post by **mdmf007** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:17 am

Its a well known fact that LEO' at BM work clandestine operations, and are undercover a lot.

I doubt a Joint is going to be the target of their operation, but it certainly can get you arrested. I have heard rumors of off playa investigations following a subject onplaya in continued surveilance. so who knows how far an agent is willing to take it to make an arrest.

Antranik · Post by **Antranik** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:08 pm

Bake brownies. No smoking needed and sharing is even easier!

ragabashpup · Post by **ragabashpup** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:21 pm

Also anything you take onto the playa use while on the playa. There are many busts on the way out of town.

My First Year

My First Year

Re: My First Year