Houston woman arrested for warning drivers of speed trap

[Dos Equis]

I've thought about doing this in the past.  Probably not a good idea.  lol

Houston woman arrested for warning drivers of speed trap
Natalie Plummer was searched without consent, had two iPhones broken and spent 12 hours in jail.
BY RYAN GORMAN / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Thursday, June 28, 2012


Natalie Plummer holds a sign that reads 'Speed Trap.' Plummer was arrested and spent 12 hour in jail for holding the sign.

A Houston woman thought she was being helpful when she stood on the side of the road last week holding up a sign warning of a speed trap ahead, but police thought otherwise and tossed her in jail last week.

Natalie Plummer says a Houston cop jumped out of his car, searched her without consent and told her she was being arrested for obstruction of justice, an automatic three to five years in prison, reports KTRK. She spent 12 hours in jail and ended up being charged with "walking in the roadway where there is a sidewalk present, a misdemeanor.

Plummer says she did not leave the sidewalk.

"I for sure did not step into the street," Plummer told the station. "(I stayed) on the sidewalk the entire time."

Plummer also claims the cop broke two iPhones she had in her backpack.


One of the two broken iPhones owned by Natalie Plummer, who says the screen was cracked while a Houston cop searched her bag without consent.

Plummer told the station she made the sign saying "Speed Trap!" out of a grocery bag because she thought the cop was unfairly pulling random people over and she wanted to help people avoid being ticketed.

"He couldn't take me to jail for holding up this sign or he would have. So all he could do was make up something fake about it," she added.

The Houston Police Department refused to talk to the station about the issue, with a spokesperson saying only that Plummer "was in the roadway" and "was a danger to herself and others...which is an arrestable offense."

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/houston-woman-arrested-warning-drivers-speed-trap-article-1.1104317

[240 is Back]

"Plummer also claims the cop broke two iPhones she had in her backpack."


She's already shady as fck for carrying two iphones.

Next time, she should have her friend viddotape it from the bushes (with a working iphone), and sue them.

[OzmO]

Oh yeah, so FREE SPEECH doesn't apply here but it does when someone wants to lie about receiving the MOH.

I see a meltdown coming soon    lol

[Dos Equis]

Oh yeah, so FREE SPEECH doesn't apply here but it does when someone wants to lie about receiving the MOH.

I see a meltdown coming soon    lol

Definitely an overreaction by the cops.  I've flashed my headlights countless times to warn drivers about speed traps.  Guess I should be careful.   

[240 is Back]

Definitely an overreaction by the cops.  I've flashed my headlights countless times to warn drivers about speed traps.  Guess I should be careful.   

I appreciate law enforcement and would never attempt to undermine their ability to do their job.

[Shockwave]

Oh yeah, so FREE SPEECH doesn't apply here but it does when someone wants to lie about receiving the MOH.

I see a meltdown coming soon    lol

Im melting down inside as we speak.

[avxo]

Oh yeah, so FREE SPEECH doesn't apply here but it does when someone wants to lie about receiving the MOH.

Numerous Courts have ruled that it is Constitutionally protected speech. Here's a fairly recent case, http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-05-22/news/os-flashing-headlights-ruling-20120522_1_ryan-kintner-free-speech-headlights which held that. Obviously Orlando isn't in Texas so this isn't legally binding, but it's on point. I don't have handy references to any other cases, but I remember reading about at least one more.

Definitely an overreaction by the cops.  I've flashed my headlights countless times to warn drivers about speed traps.  Guess I should be careful.  

If you were cited, you would come out on top pretty quickly I think, but it would still be a hassle, as this latest travesty demonstrates.

I appreciate law enforcement and would never attempt to undermine their ability to do their job.

Frankly if people exercising their Constitutionally protected rights undermines the ability of law enforcement to do their job, the only thing I have to say is "tough luck." But I am curious, how, exactly, does warning other drivers about a speed trap undermine officers' ability to do their job according to you?

[doison]

I appreciate law enforcement and would never attempt to undermine their ability to do their job.

Their job is to hide and "trap" you for speeding?  


Seems to me like you'd want to be as visible as possible to minimize criminal activity...not hide in the bushes and trap people for speeding.

If you want to stop people from speeding, park a police vehicle in as conspicuous a position as possible.

[Soul Crusher]

I appreciate law enforcement and would never attempt to undermine their ability to do their job.

Really?   You were the one melting down for months over AZ trying to ascertain whether detainees in custody were illegals remember?