A Houston woman was arrested last week after she made a sign to warn oncoming traffic of an approaching speed trap that was claiming numerous victims, reports local affiliate ABC 13.
Natalie Plummer was riding her bike down a busy street when she noticed police officers had set up a speed trap. Seeing the amount of cars that were being targeting by the trap she took it upon herself to save a few motorists from a hefty ticket. However, when officers noticed that she was warning drivers, they quickly approached the woman and arrested her for what they claim was obstruction of justice.
“He was telling me he was taking me to jail for obstructing justice, that was an automatic three to five years,” Plummer said.
After spending over 12 hours in jail, Plummer was instead slapped with a misdemeanor for walking in the street when there was a sidewalk available. Police officers claim that she “was a danger to herself and others,” according to MSN.
Plummer protests that the charge is bogus and that she never even came close to walking in the street while holding her sign.
“I for sure did not step into the street,” Plummer said. “I stayed on the sidewalk the entire time.”
“I was simply warning citizens of a situation ahead,” adding “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.”
Do you think Plummer was in the wrong for warning motorists about an upcoming speed trap? Should she fight her misdemeanor charges of walking in the street when there’s a sidewalk available?
In SC they post information like that thru the media. I think the cops were just mad she outsmarted their manly asses… their poor lil pride got hurted.
She was asserting her First Amendment right to free speech. It's protected by the Constituion.
Freedom of speech issue if I ever heard it…
I think this is funny that someone really tok the time to put together the sign and let people know.. The charge is crap, let the office proof that she was in the street and in danger. The officer was most likely in dnager and putting other in danger when he was stopping traffic. The office should be suppended for being and idiot.
First ammendment. Freedom of speach, freedom of expression
As far as I know, there are no laws in place that say you can't warn people about speed traps. To do otherwise would mean it is illegal to attempt to stop a crime in progress in any situation. Would you arrest someone who was attempting to talk someone out of robbing a store or abducting a baby? Highly doubtful. It's like saying "We're arresting you because you wouldn't let us arrest/fine these people by being a good citizen and telling them to slow the heck down." People do need to slow the heck down, but in this situation, the cops just seemed to be angry because they couldn't fill their ticket quota for the day because a woman decided to bring their sneak attack to a halt. They decided to come up with a bogus charge to alleviate the butthurt.
Bogus bureaucracy bull crap. Very typical. Perhaps the police officers should find something better to do, like say, fight crime.
As large a city as Houston Tx is, do the police officers have nothing better to do than to arrest someone standing on the sidewalk holding a sign warning motorists of a situation ahead? Are they really that petty in Houston that they had to pick on her? Have they finally cleared all of the drug dealers out of Houston that they have nothing else to do? This is absolutely ridiculous!
No, she shouldn't be arrested or fined anymore than anyone who stands with a sign by the side of a road wanting a ride, job, food or money. Sounds like a few police don't have enough to do! Yes, fight it!
12 hours in jail is more than enough!
Trying to prevent a crime is a crime now? Crap!
Here its illegal to flash your headlights to let people know there coming up on a speed trap
well cause that is considered "mocking an emergency vehicle" but they put it in the paper, on the county websites, facebook, and sometimes they alert on the radio…
This is absolutely ridiculous and exactly the sort of abuse of power that many police officers engage in all the time. The woman had every right to be where she was (on the sidewalk), to engage in her speech as peacefully as she did, and do any other action that had the same effect of accomplishing the objective (of public safety) the police officers were engaged in by stopping speeders and issuing citiations. Without a doubt her action had the same deterrent effect that police cruisers posted and lit up beside the road have on motorists. Her action amounted to nothing more than brining motorists in compliance with the law before getting to the officers. If anything she was doing a better, more creative job at bringin speeders into just compliance with the law than the officers were. And if anything she should be respected and honored by those officers. Instead, (if what the lady says is true, and she never stepped on the sidewalk) then the officers violated her civil rights, unlawfully detained her, and filed a false police report. I can think of at least 3 charges I would bring against these officers if I were in a position of power over them and believe the situation to be as I think it probably is.
When a kid gets ran over on that street, I wonder if his/her parents will thank her. In my city, they only set up speed traps where people tend to speed more than other places.
1st amendment, free speech issue. The officers should be reprimanded if not fired.
I HAVE FLASHED my lights before to let people know theres a police radar ahead oppsssssssss
agreed, but then what is the cost to taxpayers? at that thought, this becomes interference with procedure and who knows what next, if cars might wreck around her trying to read her sign? What is her point? Does she want speeders to be out of control due to no police presence and night hit people riding bicycles?
just as the "occupy" movement may have gotten their word out early on, but then they proceeded by camping out and using city resources, to nearly bankrupt several cities and put numerous small businesses out of business by impeding their clients and preventing business as usual. there were even deaths from persons falling off buildings who were trying to be occupiers. if she wants to help out motorists, i am sure she could find more constructive method, for example, raising money for improved signage on roads…
i agree jack 1000% , they needed tobe patroling crime rate areas for drugs. Think of all the Americans that have died for our freedom to be able to have freedom of speack, and freedom of expressio.