I'm not sure if this is the right place for this question so sorry if its not.

My friend owns a gas station and the police constantly use the parking lot to sit in and monitor traffic. Sometimes they park right in the entrance, hindering people from going in and out correctly (in essence, making them break the law to leave the parking lot). My friend told me today that he has gone out and asked them to leave and they said "get the f*** back in the store". I know they can't be on private property without permission, but is the gas station considered private property? How can this be legal when they are clearly having an adverse effect on his buisness. They don't do this to any of the other gas stations around, but he is he the only owner of minority descent (spanish). I'm not sure what to tell him to do... All I know to tell him is to make a formal complaint to the staff sergent, but I don't know if that would help... If they were sitting in the parking lot of my business I wouldn't be too happy about it either.

mr.yet

Yes, they police must have permission to be on the property, so they next time they do this, tell them to leave, if they dont call the sheriff office and report a trespasse on the property and you will point them out when the sheriff arrives.

hotcakesnsyrup

Actually, becasue it IS a GAS station, it is not private property in terms of driving in, sitting in, parking, stuff like that. He is allowed to park there, however, he ISNT allowed to park where it hinders traffic. What you could tell your friend, is if the cop comes by again, and is blocking traffic, just ask him to move to where he isn't blocking traffic, thats what the sheriff would tell him anyway, and think, if he calls the sheriff on him, then he will look for any reason to get your friend in trouble because he went and called the sheriff's office.

excon

Hello:

I hate cops. I hate 'em for the very reason you described. They think YOU serve THEM instead of the other way around.

No, they are not allowed to park on private property. I'm just not sure how to get them off. But give me a minute, I'll come up with something.

What you don't want to do is have a confrontation or snitch on them directly. Yes, if cops weren't such pricks, you could do it that way, but if you did, you KNOW they'll retaliate upon you.

(Those of you reading this know the cops will act that way..... You should hate 'em too, but as long as you don't, they're going to keep on acting that way.)

Ok, I haven't come up with a way for you report them surreptitiously. Therefore, you're going to have to do it publicly. The more public, the safer you are.

They are breaking the law. Call around your local news scene and find out if there are any reporters in your town who have balls. If you find one, clue him in, and when the cops trespass again, call him.

excon

shygrneyzs

Does that mean the parking lot of the donut shop will be off limits too?

Seriously, hotcakesnsyrup has the right answer. Now I would think the owner of the gas station has a right to post "no parking" signs in front of his entrances and exits. He needs to do this legal. Does he have an attorney he can talk to about this? Going to the police or sheriff about this is like biting off your own hand.

hotcakesnsyrup

now come on...... not all us cops are "evil" as you so describe it, the only reason you hate cops, is probably becasue you have been arrested. How do you know he wasn't in the middle of an investigation? Even if he was in broad daylight, sometimes, they do that. I'm not say cops aren't "evil". True there are some, that overuse their authority (abuse their power as you may refer to it). That doesn't mean you should take it out on all cops. As I said before, a gas station is NOT private property. Driveways to houses, farm yards, posted wooded areas, these are private property spots. Excon, I hope you reconsider what you put down about police, and other law enforcement, whether it be police officers, peace officers, security officers, FBI, CIA you never know who may be on here, and what they do. Had it been a CIA agent, he/she could possibly come at you directly if they truly wanted to, when someone works with the government that high up, they can do almost anything.

Lenovo

hey con, looks like you ticked off the wrong person, LOL. Cakes, I'm sorry but I hate cops too, always have, and I've never been arrested. You're only taking this personally cause apparently it sounds like ur a cop. On this site, you cant really let things get to you like that.

AngstyMeierLink

Thanks for all the posts. I think whats happening to my friend is this: This is a small redneck city with very corrupt cops. I'm pretty sure they are trying to run him out of town, since he one of the very few business owners thats not white. This is a very snobby town. They are clearly affecting his business doing what they are doing. I mean, if your not one of the snobbish elite, your afraid of the cops here. Especially if your not white. You don't even have to come close to breaking a law for them to hassle you, and that is scaring people away. My friend has observed a noticable decline in business since they started doing this. I think they are doing this on purpose to run him out of town. Is there any easy way to make that grounds for harassment? Getting a lawyer isn't really a good route to go (maybe the only one though), because the cost would practically put him out of business right there, and how many people have fought and won against the gov.? Idunno... I told him to sell it and start over in the big city. They want arian land they can have it...

excon

Hello again, shy:

Even though the cops would have you believe otherwise, in this country, private property rules. The law is clear on the subject. The owner of the store can treat the cops like any other trespasser if they're trespassing - and in this instance - they are.

Those property rights are his. Period. He does not need a sign that says you can't park here if you're not shopping here, in order to secure those rights. Everybody inherently understands that, even a 12 year old, and the cops do too.

I agree with you, however, that when you tug on Superman's cape, he's gonna swat you. That's why I think the OP either needs to do something very public involving the press, or he should do nothing.

But, let's call a spade a spade here. The cops in this case are abusing the law and those people whom they are sworn to protect.

excon

excon

Hello again, hot:

Couple things. I didn't say cops were evil. I said I hate 'em.

Next. You don't scare me. I'm not a virgin! I've been in your hell holes before. I don't care if you send me to Gitmo. If I've broken the law, and you're a cop - COME GET ME!

But, you're not a cop. Cops know the law, and you have no clue.

excon