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Student fined $628 for sitting in a park

News Type: Event — Seeded on Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:05 AM EDT
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Watch out, Montrealers: if you sit anywhere in a park other than on a park bench, you could be risking a $628 fine. At least, that's what it seems after Brendan Colin Jones, a 25-year-old Concordia student, was fined for sitting on a marble ledge in Émilie Gamelin Park (also known as Berri Square). Jones' official citation is for "using urban equipment for uses other than those intended," which seems particularly absurd considering that the park's ledges are designed to be sat on, and there are almost always dozens of people making use of them.

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{"commentId":8244928,"authorDomain":"myriver"}
River-239955

That's just plain ridiculous.

{"commentId":8244928,"threadId":"627894","contentId":"3030599","authorDomain":"myriver"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:45 AM EDT
{"commentId":8244959,"authorDomain":"killfile"}
Killfile

There has to be more to this story. There just does. No way is some kid sitting on a ledge in a park and some cop just walks up to him and says "$628 man. Pay up."

{"commentId":8244959,"threadId":"627894","contentId":"3030599","authorDomain":"killfile"}
  • 3 votes
Reply#2 - Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:47 AM EDT
{"commentId":8245918,"authorDomain":"baw01183"}
TheHermit-1075885

Killfile I couldn't get the story link to open for me so I found another.

This part made more sense to me, (as far as the fine goes):

"He saw police approach people who were drinking alcohol nearby, took out his small digital camera and shot some photos.

"I saw this as an opportunity to observe how police deal with underprivileged people," Jones recounted.

Then a police officer came by and asked if he had been taking pictures.

"Once I realized she was attempting to get me to give her my camera, I became confused and told her I would not give it to her," Jones said.

"I had not committed any crime and had been sitting peacefully, just like many others around me."

The officer's two partners joined her, and Jones slipped the camera into his pocket. The police then told him it was illegal to sit in a city park when not on a bench and he would have to leave."

{"commentId":8245918,"threadId":"627894","contentId":"3030599","authorDomain":"baw01183"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#3 - Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:41 AM EDT
{"commentId":8247956,"authorDomain":"alkimija"}
alkimija

Cops will routinely harass people just for the heck of it. I remember a few years ago I saw a cop come up to some kids and tell them that it was illegal for them to sit on a curb. The kids obediently got up and moved away. So I sat down on the curb myself. One of the kids came over and told me nervously that what I was doing was illegal. I replied, "Don't be silly. There's no such law." Then the cop came over to me and asked what I was doing. I replied that I was was waiting for a ride and stared at them impassively. The cop said, "Ok," and wandered off. All of the kids promptly swarmed over to the curb and sat down again, lol.

{"commentId":8247956,"threadId":"627894","contentId":"3030599","authorDomain":"alkimija"}
  • 3 votes
#3.1 - Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:16 PM EDT
{"commentId":8248338,"authorDomain":"baw01183"}
TheHermit-1075885

Well alkimija, at least this happened in Canada so the kid only got a ticket that should be thrown out in court rather than in America where you can end up black and blue if a cop goes a bit rogue.

(like that screen name, turn any lead to gold lately? :-)

{"commentId":8248338,"threadId":"627894","contentId":"3030599","authorDomain":"baw01183"}
  • 1 vote
#3.2 - Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:36 PM EDT
{"commentId":8280575,"authorDomain":"alkimija"}
alkimija

like that screen name, turn any lead to gold lately?

Thanks! And no, sadly, it seems lately I've only had success turning gold into lead. ;^D

{"commentId":8280575,"threadId":"627894","contentId":"3030599","authorDomain":"alkimija"}
  • 2 votes
#3.3 - Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:00 PM EDT
{"commentId":8282241,"authorDomain":"baw01183"}
TheHermit-1075885

"no, sadly, it seems lately I've only had success turning gold into lead. ;^D"

LOL

Give it time, he's only been Pres. for 6 months or so.

(not political - just topical :-)

{"commentId":8282241,"threadId":"627894","contentId":"3030599","authorDomain":"baw01183"}
    #3.4 - Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:04 PM EDT
    Reply
    {"commentId":8256493,"authorDomain":"bigbugy"}
    bigbugy

    I guess I can say I heard it all now.

    {"commentId":8256493,"threadId":"627894","contentId":"3030599","authorDomain":"bigbugy"}
    • 2 votes
    Reply#4 - Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:25 PM EDT
    {"commentId":8259290,"authorDomain":"jwms"}
    Jeffrey Merrill

    Just one more example of public places, not so public anymore.

    The fine is no more outrages than those given to the homeless in Dallas Texas for sitting on a park bench or a bus stop.

    this country is on some mission to pass so many laws they will be able to do nothing... but go to work....go to some establishment to spend money......go home.

    Oh Yeah, that IS about all you can do in this society anymore...Dang...I forgot!!!

    What a world of servitude hiding under the guise of freedom.....!!! Must be why nobody smiles or looks at each other on buses or trains....much like the pre 1980 Russian citizens

    {"commentId":8259290,"threadId":"627894","contentId":"3030599","authorDomain":"jwms"}
    • 1 vote
    Reply#5 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:41 AM EDT
    {"commentId":8268992,"authorDomain":"bigbugy"}
    bigbugy

    Jeffrey,

    As long as that establishment is a bar I think I can hold out for a few years before joining the revolution.

    commy bastards thats what they are.

    {"commentId":8268992,"threadId":"627894","contentId":"3030599","authorDomain":"bigbugy"}
    • 2 votes
    #5.1 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:24 PM EDT
    Reply
    {"commentId":8268729,"authorDomain":"ruthlessmoose"}
    ruthlessmoose

    Those rowdy college kids... always causing trouble!

    {"commentId":8268729,"threadId":"627894","contentId":"3030599","authorDomain":"ruthlessmoose"}
    • 2 votes
    Reply#6 - Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:10 PM EDT
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