Last Thursday night in North Dallas I parked in a parking lot nearby a very popular corner for the street spammers.
When I got out and started walking towards the corner then a Dallas Police car was comming across the parking lot. He turned the spot light on and pointed it at me. He stepped out of the car and asked me what I was doing? I told him I was out slashing signs he just gave me a dumb look and said that someone reported a person fitting my description in this area stealing supplies from a nearby construction site.
He asked if he could look in the back of my Van and I let him since I had nothing to hide. After he saw that I wasn't his suspect he said now what are you doing? I told him I was Slashing Street spam signs like own a computer. He was obviously not paying attenion to me because he said, "Did you know it's against the law to post those signs?"
I was like well NO DUH, That's why I'm out slashing them. Anyway it was kinda strange and I always wondered what the police would do if they saw me slashing, now I know.
#1. "RE: Dallas Police wanted to look in my van." In response to Reply # 0
I've wondered too about Dallas Police reaction. In my encounters, I have had the following happen: 1) Most frequent is they drive by slowly and don't stop. 2) Once, when my flashers were on, they stopped to see if I needed help. I said I was taking down signs and he said "good luck."
On 2-3 occasions late at night, I have had prostititutes walk up and ask if I wanted company. When I told them I was removing signs, they seemed a little confused.
During the daylight hours, I get an occasional "thumbs up" from a passing driver. I am somewhat amazed that I can cross the street and be standing within a few feet of a stopped car removing a sign and the driver almost never looks up to see what I am doing. Even if I am carrying signs and/or a long metal pole, they don't seem the least bit curious. I guess they want to avoid any possible involvement including eye contact.
#2. "RE: Dallas Police wanted to look in my van." In response to Reply # 0
Almost all the sharks that have been around for some time have experienced this same basic senerio. Normally it's the younger officers (25 to 30)that are trying to make a name for themselves. The older officers, quite frankly, don't give a contential damn about what we're doing. Normally if you simply tell them you're the neighborhod litter control committee out picking up trash, they will go on about their business. Personally I've experienced the same in Addison, TX which is extremely strict with their anti-sign ordinances. I was detained almost an hour with two supervisors showing up about ten minutes after the initial stop. As it turns out, just happened to be in the wrong place and the wrong time, with freshly harvested signs in the bed of my truck.
#3. "RE: Dallas Police wanted to look in my van.(in my case houston)" In response to Reply # 2
Oh the experiences of this past year with law enforcement... in houston and harris county. some good experiences and some bad... Well I always try to carry the different laws with me... such as Texas Transportation Code 391 (which is down on the internet) but I made a hard copy... an email from the district attorney, and lately coorespondant emails from the sherrifs dept. i recieved a tip from a constable tonight as he was observing me removing signs,the tip was to contact his Lt. and he can add my activity to Roll Call. So if I am out and about they will be informed, and just in case an officer sees me in a situation with a spammer they can react for my safety.
I have basicly kept an email diary of my experiences in one of my bandit sign web page links (called Our Page), which includes a comment from a couple sheriffs stating "but you are destroying their property", and i respond "it is considered trash" and a few days later the Lieutenant is informing them during Roll Call that citizens can clean up the trash (bandit signs).
