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Rusty_Ferberger t1_je7f6lv wrote

I lived in a smaller town a while back and would always walk to stores and parks, and cars never stopped at crosswalks, cops included. I would flip the cars off, and they would flip it back. I would stop at crosswalks when I drove, and cars would honk and drive past me. Also, don't be afraid to curse at cops. They can't do shit about it.

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Action_Maxim t1_je7m82i wrote

When we were kids in a town that rhymed with Larsippany, there was a part of town where we would chuck our skateboard at cars for cutting us off. Then we got a skate park lol

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elephantbloom8 t1_je9e3si wrote

I work with a lot of cops in many different towns and have seen much. They can charge you with disorderly conduct or something similar for cursing in public. I recommend calmly filing a charge against them with their internal affairs department instead. NJ's been doing a good job lately of separating those departments and creating more accountability. I can't speak to whether or not it's working, but the cops definitely are on more alert about it that I've seen.

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Rusty_Ferberger t1_je9knch wrote

I'm pretty sure being charged for flipping of a cop is a violation of free speech.

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new_tanker t1_je9spsd wrote

Sure is. Profanity and the middle finger are indeed protected by the first amendment.

I learned that many townships and their respective corrupt municipal court judges are trying to bankroll their town's coffers by having cops arrest law-abiding for mundane and non-existent laws.

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betcher73 t1_je9lqyo wrote

Not everyone has the time, money, and/or energy to sue a police dept

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AccountantOfFraud t1_je9vc8t wrote

I'm sure there are lawyers that would do pro-bono for a slam dunk case and get some punitive damages as well. IANAL.

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betcher73 t1_jea29bp wrote

Yes, but lawyers can’t give you time and energy.

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love2Vax t1_jea708f wrote

I would love to stand in front of a judge and tell them exactly why I flipped off a law breaking cop who risked my life unecessarliy.

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elephantbloom8 t1_jead263 wrote

It should be, and I'm sure it varies from state to state, but in NJ, it's not absolute. Here's a good description of what I've seen:

https://www.mvplawoffice.com/disorderly-conduct-vs-free-speech/

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Rusty_Ferberger t1_jeatstt wrote

I am pretty sure flipping off a cop for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk would not meet any of the conditions included in this article.

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elephantbloom8 t1_jeaurkr wrote

I'm pretty sure you're the only one talking about flipping a cop off. The original comment I was responding to said cursing them out.

Regardless, in NJ if they can articulate that you're in violation of this law, you'd then have to deal with that headache, right or wrong. I was commenting that, due to this possibility, it's better to remain calm and file a complaint instead. It may feel good to flip them off in the moment, but it's not worth the headache when you can achieve better results filing a complaint.

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Rusty_Ferberger t1_jeawz02 wrote

Ok....I am pretty sure shouting hey asshole at a cop for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk would not meet any of the conditions included in this article.

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elephantbloom8 t1_jebnvrn wrote

"People accused of disorderly conduct can be filed for:
Improper Behavior – This includes engaging in violent behavior, fighting, making threats. It also addresses causing purposeful and reckless public annoyance, alarm, or inconvenience or creating a physically dangerous condition through an act of no legitimate purpose.

Offensive Language – Based on the circumstances of the individual present and the act’s setting. Generally, it addresses unreasonably loud, offensive, abusive, or coarse language used purposefully to offend those who hear it or recklessly without regard for the hearer.

If found guilty of any of these offenses, you could face up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. You will also have to pay $50 and $75 to the Victims of Crime Compensation Board (VCCB) and Safe Neighborhood Services Fund and $33 in court costs."

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Rusty_Ferberger t1_jecepng wrote

Ok. Clearly, you think giving a cop the finger or calling him an asshole is illegal. I don't. The next time a cop refuses to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, I will shout, "Fuck you, asshole!", and get back to you.

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elephantbloom8 t1_jechv2r wrote

Do yourself a favor and go back and reread. Maybe it'll help you to calm down once you realize that you're not understand the comments right.

Or actually, do yourself a bigger favor and try to get that chip off your shoulder. You don't have to fight the whole world and not everyone's out to get you. You'll be a lot happier.

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Rusty_Ferberger t1_jeciva0 wrote

Nah. When people can't do something as simple as yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, I will call them out on it. I'm happy with that.

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manawydan-fab-llyr OP t1_jeegmgo wrote

Same here. I've had people nearly hit me with a cop witness this. Nothing.

I ain't afraid of cursing at cops, I am kind of afraid of myself sometimes (not helping myself in such a situation that is).

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