Harassment by the police - Page 2

I would of just kept looking . BUT use seat belts , signals , and proper speed , You gotta have faith that you wont make a mistake , The police could of lied but you see they were honest to the point to see if you could drive proper under there scrutiny .
With scrapping one can start off with a nice auto and if you don't use a trailer, little by little ,
the auto gets the look ,
after 4 years it is what it is - The auto gets the look "WE ALL DON'T WANT TO KNOW BETTER "
Curb Co scrapping has a reality - - you are taking peoples discarded goods some of which is fine by people and some people don't like the invasion of privacy
so like a business man needs a suite to go to work .
When the scrap auto starts looking to nasty you just have to except the look is going to profile you in such a way as you wont be excepted with a blessing
Thats life and very universal in most aspects of our daily travels .
We need to except we are being given a privilege to take peoples discarded goods, as we are professionals that when we find some pots and pans we also often see discarded paper work with personal info .
Neighborhood people in time will realize you are a pro that wont invade there private lives, but a nasty truck might not be the best introduction.

Such is Life .

Originally Posted by Copper Head

I would of just kept looking . BUT use seat belts , signals , and proper speed , You gotta have faith that you wont make a mistake , The police could of lied but you see they were honest to the point to see if you could drive proper under there scrutiny .
With scrapping one can start off with a nice auto and if you don't use a trailer, little by little ,
the auto gets the look ,
after 4 years it is what it is - The auto gets the look "WE ALL DON'T WANT TO KNOW BETTER "
Curb Co scrapping has a reality - - you are taking peoples discarded goods some of which is fine by people and some people don't like the invasion of privacy
so like a business man needs a suite to go to work .
When the scrap auto starts looking to nasty you just have to except the look is going to profile you in such a way as you wont be excepted with a blessing
Thats life and very universal in most aspects of our daily travels .
We need to except we are being given a privilege to take peoples discarded goods, as we are professionals that when we find some pots and pans we also often see discarded paper work with personal info .
Neighborhood people in time will realize you are a pro that wont invade there private lives, but a nasty truck might not be the best introduction.

Such is Life .

Yep, even though WE know its not PC to use brand new shiny glittery ttruck for this business, it still carries a stigma.

Stop at every garbage can for a minimum of 3 minutes each and see how much patients she has..

Originally Posted by unknownk

First off since you are living in the USA where there are dozens of new laws every year and none are taken off the books, I am sure you are violating some ordinance by being outside of your house while breathing.

If you drive a beater truck on your scrapping rounds people think you are a house copper stripping crackhead, drive a nice truck and they think you are making too much money stripping copper out of houses (can't win either way).

If you annoy the police coming to investigate you (somebody called complaining about you or somebody like you or the cops would have never left dunkin donuts) you will regret it. Some cops are just doing their job, but others have a stick up their behind and wouldn't mind writing you a ticket for something if it is late in the month and they are behind in their quotas.

A wile back a police woman pulled me over with a frantic look , Yes she received a call and was looking for me . She said a call was made due to a rusty basket ball set up on my van roof (yes it was the back board the poll and base) UNSAFE load was the complaint made .
After a look she saw it was OK and I added another strap to show cooperation.
The police woman told me FLAT out - collecting scrap from the curb for personal $ money $ gain is not legal
They have a ordinance to curtail it.
BUT we don't bother with scrappers so don't worry.

I figure if Joe or Jane Blow - who never visited a scrap yard grab a vacuum off the curb for personal use it might be legal .

It is clear to me as a scrapper that goes to the yard almost 7 days a week (there open 7 days a week )
it's not really legal and up to me or us to never be bothered by the police .
It starts by hoping you never get on the bad side of the home owners

By the way I remember the spot I put the basket basket ball set up on my auto , so from that day forward I am very cautious of my actions on that street

Originally Posted by thrsxs

I was pulled over in NJ for having a "beat up truck" and eventually I told the police that I was in the neighborhood scrapping

It was a bulk garbage night and there are not any township ordinances against curb siding.

The officer told me she was going to follow me the entire time I was scrapping. She proceeded to do so and this made me feel very uncomfortable. I felt as though she was going to find some BS to write me a ticket for so I just went home.

Does anyone have advice as to what course of action I could/should take if any?

As to advice - If it is a truck - Van or Pick up - I think there are some ways around it . First very beefy newish tires help give
any truck a real look of purpose.
Next if the truck is really far gone - what you can do is go to the paint store ( a real one for house painters ) and locate some oil base paint ( high quality exterior latex will also work decent but you might have to prime first ) A color close to the registration or if a new color , just make the changes with DMV . Do a nice job , wash truck clean . tape off what you don't want painted and brush out , also a small roller is handy ,
paint over the rust dents dings what ever . If you have big rust holes you can fill them with great stuff foam insulation
after the foam drys you can trim cut it
After you hand paint truck , thats your new color and touch up as needed
I once had a really beat up 1966 van I did just what I mentioned . I painted it white rustoleum & after the project it looked decent
I wish I still had the truck but thats another story

That's why I drive a van with no windows in the back...most times folks have no idea whats in there or what I've been up to.

Cops get a bum wrap...folks whine when they don't do enough, they whine when they do to much.

I agree with the, " being legit and professional," optimism. If you got pulled over and received a ticket that would've been an crappy move because of no probable cause. If you only got your tags and reg checked, I see it as due diligence.
If you're a business you'll seem more legit. If not you can still have a card made just for reference in situations such as these.

Overall, with all the random & premeditated crime(abductions,murders,theft,etc..) due diligence is becoming a necessity. I'd feel more comfortable knowing that my tax dollars are being used in my favor to provide some sort of service to myself and others if needed.

Yes, profiling sucks but the good comes with the bad and the bad comes with the good. It's just a matter of knowing how to tip the odds in your favor.

Originally Posted by thrsxs

Note: I took video of her following me the entire time.

There can be SEVERE penalties for video taping police. They can charge you with FELONY eavesdropping.Just another way to strip us of our rights.

7 Rules for Recording Police

Penalties for Trespass on Property

The crime of Trespass on Property is a First Degree Misdemeanor in Florida, but can be enhanced to a Third Degree Felony if the trespass occurs under certain circumstances.

If convicted of Trespass on Property, a judge can impose any combination of the following penalties:

Up to sixty (60) days in jail.
Up to six (6) months of probation.
Up to $500 in fines.
Penalty Enhancements

Trespass on Property is enhanced to a Third Degree Felony if:

The accused is armed with a firearm or other dangerous weapon;
The accused hunts an endangered, fur bearing, or game animal;
The area is a posted construction site;
The area is a posted agricultural site for testing or research purposes;
The area is a posted domestic violence center; or
The area is a posted agricultural chemicals manufacturing facility.
The crime of Third Degree Felony Trespass on Property is classified as a Level 3 Offense under Florida's Criminal Punishment Code.

If convicted of Third Degree Felony Trespass on Property, a judge can impose any combination of the following penalties:

Up to five (5) years in jail.
Up to five (5) years of probation.
Up to $5,000 in fines.
Defenses to Trespass on Property

In addition to the pretrial defenses and trial defenses that can be raised in any criminal case, specific defenses to the crime of Trespass on Property include:

Improper Posting

If the Trespass on Property charge is based on the posting of "No Trespassing" signs, the signs must conform to the specific posting requirements of Florida Statute 810.011 or the land is not properly posted and a conviction for Trespass on Property will not survive. [1]

Stale or Overridden Warning

Where there is property that has multiple owners, a previous trespass warning cannot be the basis of a Trespass on Property charge if you are subsequently invited or allowed back on by a different owner or a person with greater authority.

Lack of Intent

One of the elements necessary to support a conviction for Trespass on Property is the intent to unlawfully trespass on the property. Usually this is proven by showing that a person entered stealthily.

But if a person can show they thought entry onto the property was permissible, a conviction for Trespass on Property will not stand because the trespass cannot be considered to have been done willfully.

Good lawyer,Good luck.