New Haven Independent

Posted by: streever | August 18, 2009 3:22 PM

Nice work Lt!

Posted by: Snowshoe | August 18, 2009 5:58 PM

If the rider had been some Yale [student] with a bong protruding from his bag along with the edge of his Frisbee, would the outcome have been the same?

Posted by: Missy Davis | August 19, 2009 9:05 AM

Explain to me again why the cop was aloud to randomly search her bag? Because she was biking on the sidewalk? I am happy about the arrest if it was warranted, but I'm not sure why a citizen who is biking on the sidewalk (illegally) deserves a random bag search. And I find it hard to believe a cop just so happen to spot a crack pipe from his cop car.
The way the story is written this seems like an invasion of privacy. (Just looking for more details)

Posted by: Bill | August 19, 2009 10:45 AM

His time would be better spent looking for the bicycles thieves whose pictures have been posted.

Posted by: Drew | August 19, 2009 11:48 AM

Missy, if I recall correctly, during Hassett's big sidewalk crackdown a few months ago, it was admitted that the real purpose of this all wasn't because he's concerned with bike vs. sidewalk laws, but rather it gave him a legal reason to search people without it just being blatant profiling.

Posted by: Bill Saunders | August 19, 2009 12:54 PM

Missy Davis,

What appears happened is a common abuse of power known as an illegal container search.

Check out this link on how it was misapplied to a shooting incident.

http://federalism.typepad.com/crime_federalism/2005/04/singlepurpose_c.html

I think I will stick to my feet for the rest of the nice weather.

Posted by: Bill Saunders | August 19, 2009 1:23 PM

And as a heads up to all of you cyclists out there (especially in Lt. Hassett's district), the police are poised to enforce these bike infractions.

A blue sheet of paper is being circulated by the New Haven Police Department, reading
________________________________________________
ATTENTION : BICYCLE RIDERS

THE NEW HAVEN POLICE DEPARTMENT WANTS YOU TO BICYCLE SAFELY AT ALL TIMES.

WE ALSO REMIND YOU THAT OUR LAWS FOR BICYCLES ARE SIMILAR, IF NOT THE SAME, AS THOSE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

THE FINES FOR VIOLATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

RIDING ON THE SIDEWALK
(Improper Operation) 14-286(a) $93.00

RIDING AGAINST TRAFFIC 14-239(A) -- $103.00

FAILURE TO STOP AT STOP SIGN -- 12-301 -- $124.00

FAILURE TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT 14.299 -- $124.00

CARRYING A PASSENGER WHEN 14-286b(d) $75.00
BICYCLE IS NOT EQUIPPED

signed by
James M. Lewis
Chief of Police
______________________________________________

Could be an expensive spin around town.

Posted by: westvillemike | August 19, 2009 2:22 PM

The type of stop conducted by Hassett in this case is known in the business as a "pretextual stop". While technically legal to stop and ticket someone for a cycling violation, the real reason is to enable Hassett to search the cyclist and make other inquiries in a setting where the consent of the person stopped is not legally required. Anyone who really thinks that the crack pipe was "sticking out of the bag" is clueless to how the police conduct themselves during these types of encounters. I will not go into a discussion of the "plain view doctrine" but suffice it to say that Hassett and his fellow officers do not and never will stop all the freshly scrubbed Yalies who routinely ride on sidewalks all over town.

Sorry Streever, this is bad, bad police work. Unconstitutional to boot!

Posted by: Jon Doe | August 19, 2009 2:25 PM

ATTENTION : BICYCLE RIDERS is right in his comments that why I say all bike riders turn your bikes in for cars and drive anyway you want to in New Haven because you'll get away with it, the NHPD doesn't go after cars driven crazy.

Posted by: Missy Davis | August 19, 2009 3:36 PM

I appreciate the information, thanks.

Posted by: Jules Audy | August 19, 2009 6:08 PM

I will have to check the minutes, but I think that list of fines in Bill Saunders' comment was drafted at an Elm City Cycling meeting. Chief Lewis just signed his name at the bottom.

Posted by: Jack | August 19, 2009 10:45 PM

If this happened in EH, would everyone be organizing a ride to protest cyclist profiling? Do we want the Police to enforce the law or not. I don't see any difference in this, then when a cop pulls over a motorist for a traffic violation,and spots a crack pipe,bong,or sawed-off shotgun in plain site.When people trivialize a cyclist's responsibility to obey the traffic laws, they trivialize my right to the road.

Posted by: Jack | August 20, 2009 10:22 AM

Try sidewalk-cycling in Portland,Seattle,or NYC,and see what happens.

Posted by: Yalie | August 20, 2009 11:34 AM

Your right to the road? Driving isn't a right. You pay for licensing, etc., but it's hardly a "right".

I'm a Yalie and I ride on the sidewalk to avoid being crushed by illegal left turners and drivers who are simply cavalier. I figure the tickets I get for riding on the sidewalk (and yes, we do get them--at least I have) are the fee I pay for riding safely in New Haven. (NB: We've also been known to get them for jaywalking.) Where's the bike lanes? Where's the tickets for drivers who routinely endanger the lives of bikers?

Truth be told, I rarely ride my bike anymore simply because I'm risking my life every time I do. The drivers in this town are horrible towards bicyclists.

Posted by: Jack | August 20, 2009 3:33 PM

Yalie, you are absolutely right. the use of the roads is a privilege granted by the State. It already requires that motorist be licenced registered and insured in almost every State. As the demand for cycling rights and infrastructure increases ,it is only a matter of time before the City demands registration and taxes to pay for it.The City already has the right to do this according to State Statute. I was OK with the way things were,but you know, people want what they want. Wait until they start ticketing for no lights or brakes,I can hear the howls and gnashing of teeth now. I don't think it's very far fetched that we will see a City Helmet ordinance either.

Posted by: Tom Burns | August 21, 2009 12:44 AM

If she didn't have a crackpipe, would she still have been arrested? Maybe she was just holding it for someone else?

Posted by: Consti2amend | August 23, 2009 7:48 PM

It IS funny that SOME LEOs will stop a bicycle rider while riding on the sidewalk. But why didn't the LEO stop the moped driver on the Blvd. at Lamberton St, who was riding double WHILE talking on his C-phone?
I was on my way to work, and was NOT able to get his car number. Besides, I didn't think about reporting it anyway.
They {LEOs} do have the "right" weather they wish to stop someone or not.

Posted by: Bob | December 27, 2009 1:12 AM

Some of you "crack" me up. A CRACK pipe was found, she was arrested. Job well done. And this wasn't the first time she was stopped. Stop WHINING!