[JD59]

Some residents of a small Michigan town say an ordinance recently passed by the city council does exactly what it is supposed to prohibit: It annoys them.

As part of an amended harassment ordinance, the seven-member Brighton City Council voted this month to make annoying behavior a civil offense punishable by a $100 fine.

ABC News: Michigan City Votes to Ban Annoying Behavior

[trinkit]

I thought "silly" laws were outdated years ago. Just how in the world are they going to enforce this law? What is considered "annoying" to one person may not be to another. Example: does picking one's nose in public constitute annoying behavior? Hmmmmmmmmmmm Big Brother is watching!

[Alex Libman]

If they could get all 6,701-or-so residents of Brighton to agree, then I wouldn't have a problem with it, but then it won't be a law, more like a contractual obligation. Passing a law like that is tyranny of the majority (or maybe the majority of the minority who voted), and I'd bet many people who voted for it won't like how it'll be used.

In other words: democracy sucks.

[walls]

just count your blessings that todays people had not written our constitution. Our public schools are an utter failure in teaching the workings of the founding fathers ideas. We now live in a constant state of tyranny ..........but well fed and entertained.

[Ishten]

This type of statute is often struck down. However, someone has to be charged and then pay to push it through the appellate system (or find an attorney to do it pro bono).

[Dwatted Wabbit]

"It shall be unlawful for a person to engage in a course of conduct or repeatedly commit acts that alarm or seriously annoy another person and that serve no legitimate purpose."

So the first thing these yo-yos should do is fine themselves 100 bucks for violating the ordinance they just passed.

The second thing they should do is call for new city council elections for the first Tuesday in January.

The third and last thing they should do is resign en masse, for gross incompetence as evidenced by being incapable of following their own ordinances.

[xlabel]

This is kinda related to the topic, but some folks on the west side were telling me if they catch you wearing your pants down low like the rappers do, that the Detroit cops will give you 30 days in jail. Thats a step in the right direction but I think if you can't put on a pair of pants and wear them properly they ought to just lock you up in the nuthouse and throw away the key.