City sues ‘Robin Hood’ group over parking meter payments

[The Straight Story]

The city of Keene, New Hampshire, is suing a group of do-gooders for allegedly topping off parking meters of strangers.

The group, which calls itself "Robin Hood and his Merry Men," likes to leave notes on the windshields of cars that are in danger of getting a ticket due to an expired meter, according to the Union Leader.

A note reads, "Your meter expired; however, we saved you from the king’s tariffs, Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Please consider paying it forward.” The note then lists an address where people can send donations if they wish.

According to the Union Leader, the city claims Robin Hood and his Merry Men have "intentionally taunted, interfered with, harassed and intimidated" the city's three parking enforcement officers. The suit also alleges that the group follows the parking enforcement officers around the city and uses video and radio equipment to coordinate their efforts.

...

In the filing, parking enforcement officer Linda Desruisseaux said, "Besides following me, crowding around me, making video recordings of my activities, and placing coins in expired meters to prevent me from writing tickets, these individuals repeatedly taunt and harass me, asking why I am stealing peoples' money and telling me to get another job ... In particular, Graham Colson likes to taunt me by saying, 'Linda, guess what you're not going to do today - write tickets.' ... The taunting and harassment tends to get worse when there is a group, as they try to one-up each other at my expense.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/city-sues-robin-hood-group-over-parking-meter-223952852.html

[jberryhill]

1. Awesome

So, uh, what's the unlawful part?

It is perfectly legal to:

1. Put money in a parking meter, and
2. Taunt a police officer.

What is it the suit claims they are doing wrong?

[rurallib]

4. It will be interesting to see the charges

and to see a judges reaction when it goes to court.

[Blue_Tires]

13. Probably the fact that a few random quarters are preventing the city

from collecting a $50 ticket...

That's why so many cities started crafting semi-legal, unofficial "laws" against it

[Massacure]

2. To put the 50-foot 'safety zone' in perspective

A parallel parking space is 7 to 8 feet wide and 22 to 25 feet long. We are essentially talking two car lengths.

[longship]

3. Interesting. They didn't arrest them.

It must be that "Live Free or Die" thingie.

[jberryhill]

5. Because there is no crime

I'd like to see the specific civil cause of action alleged, though. Interference with an economic expectancy perhaps, but I really can't see that flying.

[longship]

6. Well, it could have been interference with law enforcement.

Which would be a crime. But probably would not be easy to prosecute successfully.

No, IANAL.

[jberryhill]

7. He's making their job easier

I think I'm going to start feeding random meters.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

8. I seem to remember some jurisdiction outlawing feeding meters...

... to avoid tickets for other people.

Obviously it isn't illegal in the above referenced town. Yet.

[cleanhippie]

9. Hmm, illegal to put money in a parking meter that if you dont put money in you get a fine.

I'd really like to see that case go to court.

[Mojorabbit]

10. I hope they are not taunting

this woman as stated. It would be frightening to be harassed by a group of men when just trying to earn a living. I like what the group is doing in general but not that they would harass someone trying in good faith to do their job.

[reflection]

11. Keene seems to be a hotbed for this type thing.

I like to go to http://freekeene.com/ from time to time and see people aggressively holding the police and other public figures accountable with respect upholding citizens' rights to film in public. On occasion they go too far but that's the nature of activism sometimes.

This here though, feeding parking meters? No crime here, and if there were one it would be victimless. If they're harassing the meter readers, they need to stop it and just feed the meters. No sense in being a jerk when you don't have to be.

[Brickbat]

12. Feeding the meters is nice, but the self-congratulatory actions of leaving a note and asking for a

donation is weird. Just plug the meter and move on.

[jberryhill]

14. The asking for donations part...

...seems a little tacky.