Keeping the Peace on Game Day
Posted 09-10-2010 at 07:42 AM by cincyhawk
There seems to be a lot of complaints about the University of Iowa's new tailgating enforcement policy.
Open containers in public are against the law. Period. End of story. There are sound ordinances. Period. End of story. Public intoxication is against the law. Period. End of story.
So is jaywalking, a dangerous activity that leads to serious bodily injury and death. So is illegal search and seizure. So is sexual assault (police were so good at protecting the people from their own desire to drink that a girl was assaulted at the golf course in broad daylight). So is running a commercial business in a residential district (those providing pay for parking spots on Melrose at private parties are also breaking the law).
My point: there are two parts to law enforcement–crime and punishment. Not all crimes committed and criminals caught are punished. I believe this is called 'selective enforcement'. Police are not obligated to enforce every law in the book, nor could they. Some laws are considered more important than others, as they prevent people from harming other people directly or indirectly. It is also the directive of the police to serve the peace.
I ask you who are in favor of the "crackdown" on tailgating, which is the more serious violation to the peace: an elderly gentleman walking on the sidewalk with an open container holding his granddaughter's hand or two men forcibly stripping a woman naked and attempting to force themselves on her? People enjoying themselves playing flippy-cup on Finkbine or police forcing themselves inside a legally parked RV and searching every corner and cabinet for contraban without a warrant? A car accident caused by a distracted motorist and a jaywalker or people blaring the Iowa fight song in a parking lot full of people singing along?
Which image of the University of Iowa and Iowa City do you wish to present to the world: a place where people can enjoy themselves in peace, trusting in the government to apply the law in a judicious manner to protect them and others, or a gestapo dictatorship where government agents simply "follow orders" to the letter?
To the government and police forces of Iowa City, Coralville, and University heights: the proverbial "football" is in your possession, there's 2:00 on the clock, and you are on the 20 yard-line. Everybody is looking to you to make the right play. Please don't let us down.
Open containers in public are against the law. Period. End of story. There are sound ordinances. Period. End of story. Public intoxication is against the law. Period. End of story.
So is jaywalking, a dangerous activity that leads to serious bodily injury and death. So is illegal search and seizure. So is sexual assault (police were so good at protecting the people from their own desire to drink that a girl was assaulted at the golf course in broad daylight). So is running a commercial business in a residential district (those providing pay for parking spots on Melrose at private parties are also breaking the law).
My point: there are two parts to law enforcement–crime and punishment. Not all crimes committed and criminals caught are punished. I believe this is called 'selective enforcement'. Police are not obligated to enforce every law in the book, nor could they. Some laws are considered more important than others, as they prevent people from harming other people directly or indirectly. It is also the directive of the police to serve the peace.
I ask you who are in favor of the "crackdown" on tailgating, which is the more serious violation to the peace: an elderly gentleman walking on the sidewalk with an open container holding his granddaughter's hand or two men forcibly stripping a woman naked and attempting to force themselves on her? People enjoying themselves playing flippy-cup on Finkbine or police forcing themselves inside a legally parked RV and searching every corner and cabinet for contraban without a warrant? A car accident caused by a distracted motorist and a jaywalker or people blaring the Iowa fight song in a parking lot full of people singing along?
Which image of the University of Iowa and Iowa City do you wish to present to the world: a place where people can enjoy themselves in peace, trusting in the government to apply the law in a judicious manner to protect them and others, or a gestapo dictatorship where government agents simply "follow orders" to the letter?
To the government and police forces of Iowa City, Coralville, and University heights: the proverbial "football" is in your possession, there's 2:00 on the clock, and you are on the 20 yard-line. Everybody is looking to you to make the right play. Please don't let us down.
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Comments
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the didn't fumble, they literally handed the other team the ball and gave them an escort into the endzone. That's how pathetic this was.Posted 09-10-2010 at 10:06 PM by mrolympia
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