Posted on 05/18/2013 3:52:34 AM PDT by billorites
A group of self-styled Robin Hoods who scamper around the streets of a New Hampshire city and feed expired parking meters for strangers has been hit with a harassment lawsuit.
The city of Keene says its three parking inspectors have been taunted, insulted and followed by the group — to the point that one of them says he has suffered heart palpitations and is thinking about quitting his job.
In its lawsuit, the city is asking a court to order the group not to come within 50 feet of the parking inspectors.
The suit names six defendants, most of them bloggers for Free Keene, which describes itself on its Facebook page as “your connection to the liberty activism movement in New Hampshire.”
One of the six, Ian Freeman, told NBC News that “The Robin Hooders have always been courteous in my experience” and pointed out that the city has not charged them criminally with harassment.
“The city is upset because they are losing revenue and are coming up with anything they can to try to stop it,” he said.
He also noted that the city’s job description for parking inspectors, included as part of the lawsuit, requires that inspectors “endure verbal and mental abuse when confronted with the hostile views and opinions of the public.”
The city attorney in Keene did not immediately respond to a call for comment from NBC News.
After they feed a meter, members of the group place a card on the windshield of the car that says: “We saved you from the king’s tariffs. Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Please consider paying it forward.” The card features the Disney depiction of Robin Hood as a fox.
The group has fans in Keene, a city of about 23,000 near the Massachusetts state line.
“My husband had it a few weeks ago,” Pam Stetzer told NBC affiliate WHDH in Boston. “He was just running a little late in one of the stores … and when he came back he had the little card there saying they had put a little extra money in for him. It definitely saved him.”
Another member of the group, James Cleaveland, told The New Hampshire Union Leader newspaper that the group has stopped the inspectors from writing about 4,000 tickets.
The three parking inspectors, in affidavits filed with the lawsuits, say that the taunts from the group have ranged from accusations of racism to basic trash-talk.
One of the inspectors, Linda Desruisseaux, said that one of the six liked to taunt her by saying, “Linda, guess what you’re not going to do today — write tickets.”
Roving mobs of citizens doing good for others. What has the world come to ? Where will it end ?
Save us from good deeds !!!!!!
>>>One of the inspectors, Linda Desruisseaux, said that one of the six liked to taunt her by saying, “Linda, guess what you’re not going to do today — write tickets.”>>>>
Mild taunt... perhaps,
Harassment??? LOL
“Linda, guess what you’re not going to do today — write tickets.”
Oh, the humanity.
I dunno. Usually, if someone tells me they’re going to make it unnecessary for me to complete a significant amount of paperwork, I wouldn’t classify that as harassment.
A great example of citizens standing up to over-bearing, trough-feeding political pigs.
This is how local governments confiscates money. They not only rely on violations, they seek them out. Here in NY State, Towns and Villages routinely set up traffic stops to check for expired inspection stickers or registrations. The police who do this are ALWAYS paid overtime.
I was stopped two weeks ago for failing to have my new 2012 car re-inspected. The fine was $50, the surchage to the local government was $85 making the total bill $135! This is going on all over and is a pure abuse of trust and power.
You live in NY. That explains it all. Not that police everywhere don't take relish in enforcing these endless useless regulations - gotta keep that ticket quota up.
O M G !
The Nerve !
The HORROR !
Off with the peasant's head, and give that tissue-skinned a full PTSD pension !
This isn’t a random act of kindness kind of group. They are going beyond putting money in the meters. They are more like harassing the meter workers to make a larger point. If you watch the video you will hear a freaky OWS type saying that he only uses the first names of the workers in his “publications”.
There is more to this.
insert ‘apparatchick’
I have an issue with the stalking the parking enforcement people but no problem with them randomly walking around and feeding meters. I remember seeing people do that in DC and in Arlington too.
ban quarters. if it prevents just one nervous ticket writer, it’s worth it.
Beautiful, just beautiful! I love it!
And they are true images of the legendary Robin Hood, not the myth of Robin Hood stealing from the rich and giving to the poor but the ancient portrayal of him as taking from unauthorized tax collectors and giving it back to the people.
Is it just Parking Inspectors, or should this be all government employees when faced with their obligation to perform tasks that most people find unpleasant or un-needed? Just think if Nancy Pelosi had to follow such a job rule...
And Parking Inspector? Seems pompous. I wonder if the Beatles would have done, "Hector, Lovely Parking Inspector" if that job title existed back in the day.
We need Coolhand Luke and his pipe cutter.
So throw a penalty flag for taunting already! Good grief Charlie Brown, taunting? Is that what we have come to to worry about taunting in that we have to file a lawsuit that has far more reaching implications on how many amendment to the Constitution?
Everybody in this country needs to put their adult pants on! So what if they are taunting, there is nothing, I repeat, NOTHING, in the Constitution about a right to guard against being offended.
I am sure that I am not alone in that some of the points of the Occupy weirdos were in fact Tea Party points but their delivery was stupid and counterproductive. I will support anyone who sticks it back to any government bureaucracy provided it is in a non-violent way and I will defend their right to say anything they will in that process. What I will not defend if they engage in any actions to get their point across that intrudes on anyone else like storming an office with the intent on disrupting other peoples access and business.
The yoots may seem like Occupy troublemakers, but if they are targeting bureaucracies with mischief (adding money to parking meters) and making it obvious to everyone why, including the meter maids, then have at it. As far as the one saying they were getting heart palpitations, maybe she/he is not up to the job of life. Did you ever consider these meter maids could care less what you think on any given day, in uniform or not?
"I fart in your general direction."
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