Pubdate: Wed, 06 Nov 2002
Source: Racine Journal Times, The (WI)
Copyright: 2002, The Racine Journal Times
Contact:  http://www.journaltimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1659
Author: Jessica Grey

TICKETING WASN'T RIGHT

I'm writing to express my outrage at the actions of the Racine Police 
Department the morning of Nov 3. Several friends (over the age of 21) went 
to dance and listen to music.

None of these friends bought drugs, sold drugs, did drugs, had drugs, or 
knew anyone who had. Each of these innocents received a $968 ticket. This 
event had paid entry, like a concert. It's comparable to police raiding a 
concert, and issuing everyone a ticket for possession because a few have 
marijuana.

It's similar to getting an underage drinking ticket in a bar because 
someone there is underage. It's not right. It's not illegal to go to a 
rave, and there's no excuse to give someone a ticket for being at an event 
where, unbeknownst to them, individuals are doing illegal things. It wasn't 
obvious that illegal things were going on, yet people are being punished 
for something they were not even party to.

The Racine Police Department is making an example. It would be 
understandable if they had searched people and ticketed those in possession 
or under the influence of drugs, but they didn't. They lined all the people 
against the walls, arrested a man for advising partygoers of their rights 
and issued tickets to everyone, without bothering to search most. I suggest 
action against the police for issuing false citations.

Jessica Grey

Whitewater
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