March Madness: Nanny State Runs Amok in Delaware as Govt Arbitrarily Tears Down 60-Year-Old Basketball Hoops
- Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:12am by
Emily Esfahani Smith
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Context, first, from the estimable Ed Driscoll:
Change! In the 1990s, in Bill Clinton’s America, “Midnight Basketball” was seen as one way to improve the morale of otherwise disaffected youth, and thus, potentially lower the crime rate in urban environments.
In 2011, in Joe Biden’s Delaware, neighborhood basketball hoops are being tossed into giant state-owned dump trucks.
The story he’s referring to is one of government authorities butting up against a Delaware family that just wants to shoot some hoops (Driscoll has a pretty cool graphic to go along with the story, so be sure to check it out).
“The pole has been here for sixty years,” the husband said in the clip below, as he waited for state workers to come by and tear the basketball pole down. “Why all of a sudden did it become a problem?” In the clip, you can also watch the altercation between the family and the government officials.
Here’s the AP story:
A Delaware mom climbed atop her family’s basketball hoop Friday in a short-lived bid to keep authorities from ripping it out and confiscating it.
Transportation workers and state police came to her neighborhood in Wilmington Friday morning to remove several basketball goals that officials said were too close to the roadway.
Several residents were sent letters last year warning them that the state’s “Clear Zone” law prohibits trees and other objects from being within seven feet of the pavement’s edge in a residential subdivision.
John and Melissa McCafferty said they’d gotten more than one warning letter, but that police cars and heavy machinery showed up without warning Friday morning to remove the hoops.
While their neighbors weren’t home, the McCaffertys decided to fight back.
Melissa, 39, parked her van underneath the goal, climbed the pole and perched herself behind the backboard, risking arrest. McCafferty said she could only think about how sad her 10-year-old daughter would be about the removal.
“To be honest with you, I really wasn’t thinking. All I was seeing was my 10-year-old’s face,” said McCafferty, who also has two teenagers who like to shoot hoops.
“They threatened to arrest me, and I told them that would be fine. I don’t mind going to jail for my kids,” she added.
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Comments (235)
swampsniper
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 3:17amWell, at least they didn‘t shoot anyone’s dog!
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:03amlol…..
Report Post »axel@25
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 3:14amI‘m pretty sure I’m gonna really catch it here…but, what the heck…you say you respect opinions of others and hold free speach close to your hearts, so here goes…
I didn’t realize that basketball backboards were manufactured out of plexiglass and re-inforced plastic 60 years ago. None of the items in the back of the truck seem over about 10 years old. If they were placed too close to the right-of -way, they were too close that’s it, nothing evil or liberal or nanny state about it. Yeah, they should have enforced it sooner, but they’re enforcing it now. An hour and a post hole auger and maybe some shared labor by neighbors and it wouldn’t have required thousands of wasted tax dollars to correct some lazy homeowners illegal “DYI” projects. If that woman spent as much time and effort doing it correctly years ago there never would have been a problem. It‘s purely through the grace of God that a child didn’t get hit by a car over the past 60 years (something that would have probably cost the city’s “deep pockets” millions.
I regularly read here that laws should be “obeyed or changed legally”, “liberals” or “progs” only obey the law if they think it will further their cause, or “we are a nation of laws”.
Delaware’s right-of-way laws are not new, they’ve been around much longer than 60 years. They were written to standardize roadways, maintain sightlines, improve public safety, etc… They weren’t written to infringe on personal freedoms any more than the Traffic Code, Electical codes, or keeping kids under 16 from driving.
But come on folks..“the cops woulda shot her”, really?? that‘s about as stupid and baseless a comment as I’ve ever read here.
Why should MY taxes go to have the DOT move some scofflaw’s illegally placed Basketball hoop? Bulldose someone’s house that was enforcing the law?.my my how reasonable.
Could all directly involved with this have done a better job, certainly. Were the people involved informed of the enforcement ahead of time? yup. Was there any requirement in the law for offending structures to be left behind? I doubt it…that would have required them to enter private property. Would this rediculous tempest in a teapot have been prevented if the homeowners had complied the first time they were notified…YOU BETCHA.
I wonder what other laws and ordinances these folks think they’re to good to follow…I’m sure driving without a license?, maybe no car insurance?, park in a handicapped zone? texting while driving? selling porn to first graders?, running stop signs?, 60 mph in a school zone?,are all beneath them.
And the BIG BONUS IS….they’re raising children to believe that they only need to obey laws they want to obey, and if they get caught, it‘s the law’s fault and the people that enforce laws and regulations are stupid facist pawns….Hmmmm I wonder where all the disrespectful, self absorbed, anarchists and Progressives come from??
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 4:11amthe pole was there for 60 yrs……….you do know the backboards are replaceable right?
this is not an old law, this is a new one, and moving it wasnt an option they gave them
plus, on top of it, they had no right by law to confiscate the offending material…………it is still theft, whether its the government or some punk who is taking it
and now, to ge to the point, they received the letter, and took the proper measures to gain the opportunity to discuss it, but the government did not facilitate that right……….and did not respond to their request you have the right to air your grievances, and the government at any level does not have the right to dictate just because they want to.
they overstepped their bounds
Report Post »axel@25
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:14amNO it wasn’t a new law…
“”Several residents were sent letters last year warning them that the state’s “Clear Zone” law prohibits trees and other objects from being within seven feet of the pavement’s edge in a residential subdivision”"”.
The laws reguarding encroachment on right-of-way are on the books in every state of the union., and have been since roads were maintained bt the state.
They had PLENTY of warning
“”John and Melissa McCafferty said they’d gotten more than one warning letter”“and ”“were sent letters last year warning them””.
ignoring warnings and notices doesn’t mean they can suddenly decide to do something after the wheels are in motion.
By ignoring the letters and doing nothing to appeal the matter they effectively abandoned the items and the state simply picked up their litter left on the side of the road..it’s about time … it took 60 years.
If the problem was…”"They ignored the warnings of repossesion sent since last year even though they could pay. Now they say the Bank should leave the car because now they realize the banks really ment it”"
Report Post »dmforman
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:08am@ Alex, they replied to the letters that they received and the government did nothing with their response. The government had the responsibility to respond to letters sent to them, they are not above the law. The people should have also been notified with a date that their poles were going to be taken down, not come around without notice and and take them away.
Also the worker lied. She said that they could keep the pole and that they’d lay it in their driveway and then changed her mind. This was plain wrong. They should have been able to keep them, or the government should be paying for them as that is called stealing.
Report Post »cavalla
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 12:34pmwell put. I am all for the rights of the population. These people disobeyed the law and lost property that did not belong to them on the day it was placed on city property. we elect others to make the laws, if this is not acceptable, fight the law in court. these could have been removed by the residents. there is a danger to the people playing in the street. cars can not come and go as they please without waiting or having to be aware of a person playing where they should not be.
Report Post »ocean1994
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:51amTHE HORROR!!!! how can this happen!!??
Report Post »EyeSeeUyouSeeMe
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:40amOkay that just makes me mad! They said that the basketball hoop has been there for 60 years. Hello??!? How much did it cost that city to remove that thing with all those people and machinery? On top of that the officer ABSOLUTELY LIED to the home owners. That one lie shows how corrupt and intimidating the police are there. It’s all on tape. Those people sue that city and have the city put the poll back at their expense. The police and the workers get some sort of thrill picking on kids and parents.
Report Post »Cgeezy
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:29amYa know, you bash Reddit but you consistently get your material from their site. You cant have your cake and eat it too.
I like this blog but keep it professional. I made this account just to say this.
Thanks
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 4:05amwhat material do they get from reditt……………i have seen no articles from reditt here
you do know by law they have to give credit when you use someone elses material, like this one, it gives credit to AP and a few other sources
you my friend, are what they call a liar, and should go back to the huff in puff or media splatters where they like that sort of thing
Report Post »Cgeezy
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:09am@Psychosis
Are you high? Do you understand how the internet works? Articles like this that you read here are not found on some trendy AP site. The editors on theblaze get their material from all around the net. This was on reddit 3 days ago as were several other articles that the blaze reposts.
Did you expect them to credit “reddit.com”? Of course not but that doesnt mean that that is where they discovered the story. I say this because they have been grabbing articles off reddit in a higher volume as of late then they curiously try to “out” their porn sub forums.
It’s as if the editor just discovered reddit.
You my friend, are what they call, a moron. You should go back to the deep woods of Alabama and stay off the intensely complicated inter-web-nets.
Report Post »Cgeezy
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:13am@psychosis
http://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/gc1hb/guy_freaks_out_after_deldot_removes_basketball/
2 days ago. Front page reddit. Your beloved blaze editor is a redditor, Sorry champ. Ill find you more examples.
Report Post »John1863
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:14amWho cares chezzy where they got it. Now that it’s on the Blaze it will be seen by people who git it and not by people who Reddit
Report Post »Cgeezy
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:22pm@Douch1863
Apparantly, Douche1863, Psychosis cares so I had to lay it down for for him so that he better understands why I said what I said.
Run along now.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:28amhttp://pajamasmedia.com/eddriscoll/2011/03/28/hoop-screams/
Report Post »S_Malc13
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:22amThere‘s the shovel ready jobs we’d been looking for! Wonderin‘ when they’d show up.
Report Post »i want the truth
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:24amNow how many trillion did that cost us?
Report Post »DaveOregon
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:17amIt’s Delware – why does anyone live there? If all the hardworking folks just up and left for another state – the stupid politicans and public servants would all stand around in the streets, drooling on themselves, crying – what do we do, what do we do??
Report Post »Folks – you elected Marion Barry back as Mayor – you really think things like this won’t happen? You got what you deserved – and your kid’s just found out what impedent wimps you are.
98ZJUSMC
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:20amYou got what you deserved
I would bet large sums of money that I can guess their previous voting history. Have fun with your nanny.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:16am@AWWW….
http://pajamasmedia.com/eddriscoll/2011/03/28/hoop-screams/
Support messages and comments ….
Report Post »19RANDY59
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:11amThat blond is a perfect example of a youthful idiot!!!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:05amIf you go to the link above “be sure to check it out” .. you can post a message of support for the families … and let the “local terrorist government” know what you think of them also. I did!
Report Post »Oscar_Gone_Wilde
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 11:01am“Local terrorist government.” Are you serious? Do you understand what a terrorist even is? If that government is “terrorist” then you would agree that the U.S. armed forces would be justified in removing it–War on Terrorism. I wish that the government would institute a “War on Stupidity” where tax breaks for corporations and the rich are instead provided to anybody who can demonstrate a continued commitment to learning and education.
Report Post »deskpilot
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:01amjack.markell, cleon.cauley at state.de.us, joseph.wright at state.de.us, andrew.bowman at state.de.us, brett.taylor at state.de.us
(Governor Jack.Markell(D), CleonCauley, Acting DelDOT Secretary, Joe Wright, Maintenance and Operations, Andy Bowman, North District, Brett Taylor,Public Affairs)
“Acting” because of http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011110218042
Names provided via deldot.gov
Report Post »My email:
As if DelDOT hasn’t been embarassed enough locally of late, now you have to go and really blow yourselves up with this basketball hoop search and destroy mission to make NATIONAL NEWS.
Your (DE-DSP or DelDOT?) young blonde employee is a DISGRACEFUL representation of a government agent. Telling a taxpaying homeowner one thing and then heaving and removing the pole set. As a Delaware resident, I am APPALLED by this behavior. I can‘t count how many of the citizens’ rights were violated. Where does she get off telling a citizen to go back into his house, and then not letting him exercise his right to get a TRO?
Can your AG (a fan of big government(not the website)) defend the State on her stupidity?
DelDOT could have saved an aweful lot of face by bringing a sign crew truck with an auger and a bag of cement, and right on the spot, offer to replant each embedded pole set in the driveway or another agreeable location on the property.
ANewActivist
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:00amSickening!
Report Post »19RANDY59
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:58amFor all of you who still think cops are all such great people, those cops would have beaten or maybe even shot those people for protecting their own property. Sounds like city, county, and state governments are starting to utilize the same illegal tactics as the I.R.S. Those people have the right to due process of Law. All citizens need to start attending all city, and county meetings, and demand that their police, and sheriff departments obey the constitution, and not codes, and ordinances that are not constitutional. Or vote them (the councilmen) out.
Report Post »douglassoileau
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:50amAnd politicians wonder why the public doesn’t trust them are citizens fail to report crime. loss of respect for politions, and all public servanst is on a downward spiral….police officers lie to citizens is not public trust or serving and protecting…..sadly law enformcent officials are being treated for what many of them are, liars, thieves and crooks………if there is not justice through law enforcement do you expect any in the courts ?
Report Post »Psychic_Warrior
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:49amAnother example of not thinking through consequences of “feel good” acts.
Report Post »TheyCanTakeOurLives
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:49amHow very sad. Not just the theft of private property, but then the threats to arrest them for standing in their front yard having the NERVE to question the police. “Disorderly conduct.” What a sad joke this is, minus the punchline.
Report Post »Alydia
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:49amMy God….what kind of country are we living in now?? That the state will come out and rip up and steal children’s basketball goals but they will allow Islamists to do or say what they want and actually side with them? I think I have fell in a hole. May God judge this government for what they are doing to innocent people! I don’t care if they are Demoncrats or Republicans….this country has truly gone to hell. It is called tyranny, folks…
Report Post »ghoston
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:48amThis is only the start! this is coming too your city soon………………..
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:57amwell according to agenda 21……a U.N. resolution, which by the way, many municipalities are implementing even without congressional approval, will when implemented will require eminent domain to remove you from your own property and relocate you so nature and the fuzzy bunnies can retake the land
they will put people in new city designated “safe for humans” and not let you leave…..look it up
actions like this is just the beginning
Report Post »decendentof56
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 3:26amPsychosis…
Report Post »Yes indeedy. That damn UN building must be bulldozed! Ironic indeed that it is on US soil.
19RANDY59
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:47amDoes anybody still think we are a free nation?
Report Post »penylane
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:42amAre you freaking kidding me. 60 years it has been there and all of a sudden it is a big problem. And the Officer did lie. This just amazes me.
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:23am“Didthe officer lie?” Yes, and they do that more often than speak truth. It’s all part of catching the bad guys. The problem is that cops consider everyone a possible perp these days.
Report Post »General rule of thumb, if a cop asks a question assume he does not have your best interest at heart, DON’T answer the question.
RepubliCorp
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:38amI just wanted to slap her…………Grrrrrrrrrrr
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:48amSomeone should .. she and the cop lied to the CITIZENS face! And then told them they were allowed to speak in their own front yard … bull!
Report Post »decendentof56
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 3:11amExactly my thoughts. Bet she‘s a smok’in leftie. There’s lots of them in Delaware. Idiots!
Report Post »dmforman
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:02amMe, too. If she is a police officer she should not be wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt while working.
I hope that people wake up and realize that we are loosing more and more of our rights and that the government is taking more and more of our ability to think, reason and solve problems from us. The government making more laws is not going to solve the problem. People need to think for themselves, make decisions, and live with the decisions that they make good or bad.
Report Post »Tek
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:33amShame! Shame! Shame!
Report Post »NuffSaid
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:32amhttp://www.impeachobamacampaign.com/articlesofimpeachment/
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 5:11amThis is great and all, but it won’t work. In order for an impeachment procees to work it is going to have to be airtight and not a loop-hole seen for a 50 mile radius. With Holder as the top prosecutor in the country, any impeachment of Obama has to be extremely specific in scope. Unfortunately, this article of impeachment is too vague. If this is going to be done it must be done right or Obama gets to laugh it all off.
http://www.AmericasTeaPartyNews.com
Report Post »Oscar_Gone_Wilde
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 11:11amWhat in the world does this event have to do with President Obama? Draw some links please.
Report Post »Uncle Crusty
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 12:07pmThe Obumbler is the CHIEF my boy, that is the link! He is the chief progressive now, and his election has now emboldened the hard left to come out from under their rocks and spew anti-American sentiment and produce anti-Constituional laws. If you can’t see that, then you are blind, deaf and dumb!
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:24amThis is what happens when we a no longer Citizens but minions of the State.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:33amLOL .. we have 3 on my street in Florida that are right at the edge of the road .. we are not a “thru” street and the kids play all the time .. we know and watch out for them and they watch out for the cars .. They aren’t the cemented in poles they are the “portable” type but they are NEVER moved. We have kids, retired, and middle aged all on the same street and we get along fine. (except for the guy with the 2 pit bulls who thinks he’s a tough guy (having been on parole and all) but that’s another story).
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:39am“They offer you the courtesy of letting you keep it” After they pull it out of the ground .. well isn’t that nice of them .. letting you keep YOUR property .. I don‘t think the people who weren’t home got that .. I smell lawsuit .. they said that they had responded and no one had responded back .. you have a right to appeal .. at least you used to.
Report Post »Kurty C Wipe
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:41amThis country hasn’t seen anything yet. If the county or city had a clue, they would have taxed basketball hoops instead. Broke is Broke?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:43amTheft! She told him they would lay it in the driveway and then they take it … I would report the police to the police !
How much you want to bet they took it straight to get money for the “scrap”.
Report Post »earthrise
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:46amcatb…. “tough guys” typically have …macho dogs…… until the dogs “own master”, then they change to cats….. kinda sad in the long run. Lmao….. Cats are another story…….. so are Women (grin/wink).
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:59amWell @ least by removing that illegal terrorist pole it solved our national debt .
Report Post »60 years in a cul-de-sac how this pole was causing danger to traffic .
& do respect cops but that bitsh lied .
CatB
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:02am@EARTHRISE…
That‘s what I don’t get .. if they are so darned (you know what I wanted to say) tough … WHY DO THEY NEED A TOUGH DOG?! (or two)…. lol I don’t have a cat (my name not the pets) but I have a Chihuahua (4 1/2 lb) and there are 3 Maltese in the house next door to his .. and another neighbor have 2 westies .. another house has one chihuahua and a poodle mix … the only “person” with a tough dog is this “little” thug. I don’t need a “tough” dog .. I can take care of myself .. Lifetime member of the NRA lock and load .. woman. (wink)
The retired military/police officers on the street have “offered” to shoot them if they get loose again. I was told by animal control that if they come in the yard and threaten us again (they have twice) perfectly legal.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:04amThat basketball pole had been there for 60 years.
Report Post »These people have been voting for Biden for how long ?
And then they voted for Hussain
Elections have consequences
CatB
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:07amUse the link “be sure to check it out’ and you can post a message of support for the families and let the “Delaware terrorist government” what you think of them also.
Report Post »AwwwYeah
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:11amThe two government apparatchiks, the woman and the state police officer, should be fired yesterday! Tell me where I can send a donation to help these families sue the hell out of these thugs.
They trampled on those citizens in every way.
Remember, “little strokes fell great oaks”, nations don’t die overnight. It’s the silent creeping of government power and the loss of liberty, here and there, that all adds up to tyranny.
Report Post »Templar Knight
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:22amThe beginning of Communism started with Obama. Now we see what the government does when it’s in power. Does it care about freedom? No! Does it care about liberty? No! Does it care about the constitution? No! The government cares about power not the people and now it’s getting to be to late for these liberal Idiots to realize.
The police in the video even lied to that family which I deeply regret as a law enforcement student myself. How could the country of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness come to this? One word can sum up the state of our country now, terrifying.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:29am@AWWW….
http://pajamasmedia.com/eddriscoll/2011/03/28/hoop-screams/
Support messages and comments …. you don’t have to “register”
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:30am6 city workers 2 cops 2 trucks 1 loader to move a freaking pole , here’s a great example of government @ work with our freaking tax money .
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:31amIf you post on the link .. they send you an email and you verify that you posted the comment by clicking link in email.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:33amNow imagine the same government goons running the fed-med-dead panels ( a k a Obama-scare).
Report Post »Imagine you begging :
” Doctor, I’ve had these kidneys for 60 years, they don’t bother anyone,they just do their job, why do you want to take them away “
Showtime
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:52amI think I’d be at the next city council meeting. I would file a complaint with the city, and I would ask the police department for an investigation. I would also contact the state’s attorney general and send the mayor and council a copy of the letter.
Needless to say, somebody would be answering some questions, and I might even get my basketball goal back!
Report Post »Mee the People
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 3:12amfirst your american flags now your basketball poles
Report Post »home_of_the_brave
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 4:50amawe… big brother was just looking out for them. They didn’t want them to get hit by cars. Everything big brother does is “for your own good.“ Just wait till they prosecute ”thought crimes.” It’s time to wake up America.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:52amDon’t worry, they’re putting them up in black under privileged neighborhoods.
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:02amThese govenrnment bureaucrats should be treated like Media Matters intends to treat Fox News, with guerilla tactics and subversion only on a personal level. Go to their houses, find them at a restaurant or wherever they are and harass them, shame them, intimidate them. They need to know who has the power. I am sick of these arrogant, power hungry fools getting away with stuff like this.
Report Post »http://guerillatics.com
GONESURFING
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:13amShe is your typical lying liberal, don’t let these people win where you live. I do hope they sue.
Report Post »bread and circuses
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:32am@CHEEZWHIZ
Report Post »Your post is dead on, those people complaining about the removals are the same ones who voted for biden and o-bow-ma
Rob
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:38amFREEDOM!
I hate big brother…
Report Post »nickbo
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:43amThey were sent letters telling them that the goal posts were to close to the street. I agree with
Report Post »most that we have way to much government, but we still have to observe the laws that are in
place, at least until we can get them changed.
sedition
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:47amThanks to Google I was able to find the residence which is 101 Hilldale Court, Claymont, Delaware, United States. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=active&gl=us&q=Radnor%20Green%20%2C%20delaware&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl
Report Post »There is no reason for the removal of the pole and that the Law there stinks period. One angry cantankerous neighbor didn’t like the hoop.its just not right period.
GhostOfJefferson
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:13amSo these are *privately* owned basketball hoops on *private property*?
If so, the woman in the story did the right thing. How dare the government demand things like this, and how dare them steal private property like this.
Report Post »enduro
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:31amThis is what happens when you keep voting in liberal progressives to represent you. They know those basketball hoops are not good for you. You are just to stupid to see that. Maybe you‘ll vote for a witch next time that doesn’t take your rights away.
Report Post »TulsaYeeHaw
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:32amVOTE THE BASTARDS OUT!!! It is really that simple.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:35amWhere are zhe papers for zhe basketball goal?
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:09amSo many police officers have been indoctrinated to think that they have almost unlimited authority. Wait until these confrontations are over things that are really important. When will police officers wake up to how they are used to infringe on people’s rights in different ways. When will they stand up and say I am not doing that? I suppose as long as they love there paycheck more than what is right. Don’t get me wrong I think there are many good guys out there, however, I think it happens in slow small increments that they don’t stand. Kind of like the frog in the boiling water scenario.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:19amTime to put up another net but a temporary one. Bolt/chain it to a slab in the ground… roll it up after each use. Don’t let them stop you!!! Keep playing basketball and DON’T say “it is worth going to jail”, because you are admitting they won! You are doing nothing wrong and it is time we stop giving into the panzy azz PC BS and stop being complacent Europeans… we are Americans! We are supposed to be free….
Report Post »FreeMan5771
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:25amThat’s kind of how we used to imagine the old Soviet Union treating its citizens.
Time to fight back. If we still have a country in 2012 hopefully we can do it through the elections.
If not, anything goes as far as I’m concerned. I’ll be damned if I ever get treated like that!
Report Post »ishka4me
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:55amdue process? illegal search and seizure? don’t let the Constitution get in your way. Really?Basketball hoops? really?
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:00am“in Biden’s state” (an anti-American congress thug) – that explains everything, the demoncrats pretending to be for the people and at the same time they do stuff like this. I guess they are too stupid to know that they are finally going over the line and that everyone will see them for what they really are and will only ensure their defeat in the polls for a long time to come.
Report Post »Bullcop34
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:18amI’d like to see them come down to the South and try that little gem. It would not be pretty. Try and take my basketball goal, draw back a nub!
Report Post »JoeBtfsplk
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:32amMaybe these people VOTED for McCain.
The Obama goon squads are getting their “pay-back” !!!
Report Post »Zeus In A Speedo
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:40amFirst, is this “woman” in law enforcement? Second, did they have a warrant to go on their property? Third, does the warrant explicitly state “the seizure of said basketball pole, hoop, and backboard?” If all three are not true, they should file theft charges and sue civilly. The 4th Amendment of the The Constitution is extremely clear regarding government searches and seizures.
But the really sad thing is, this family and all of the other families who had their baskeball hoops taken is that they are probably going to get a $500 bill for the removal of their pole and hoop.
Report Post »Libertarian Infidel
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:57amIn their defense, I mean what else was the government going to spend the money on? I mean I‘m sure they didn’t have more useful ways to spend tax dollars. Just another example of how government makes way of life worse, rather then improving it. Mark my words, this may have been minuscule, but one day government is going to turn the burner on a little too high, and I assure you the pot will boil over. You can only push people’s buttons for so long.
Report Post »jackeric61
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:58amWhy isn’t this on national news? What a digrace our gov’t has become
Report Post »stifroc
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 11:07amNothing withing 7 feet of the road? How long before that gets moved to 8 feet? 10 feet?
How long before people get so fed up with “regulations” that they storm the town hall?
Dublin Ohio:
Report Post »You are not allowed to park your boat in your driveway.
You are not allowed to display any flags (including old glory) on your house.
If you remove a tree from your property, you must replace that tree with equal diameter tree volume… So if you cut down a 10″ diameter tree, you have to plant a NEW 10″ diameter tree… OR 10 1″ diameter trees. The city has surveyors you COUNT the number of trees on everyone’s property each year to enforce this law.
Uncle Crusty
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 11:30amI ripped them a new one!
Report Post »Uncle Crusty
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 11:47amThis is an OUTRAGE!!!!!!!!!
It is time to rise up and get rid of the Dumbocrit garbage in this country – PROGRESSIVES + Liberals = Communists! Vote them ALL out in November, then again in 2012, we FINISH the job!!!!!!!!
Listen up you freaking government safety NAZI morons -
Your control over our lives ENDS and your front door! Your communist control over our lives is about to END!
I don’t have the money to support the lawsuit, but I will speak out for these families. God Bless America!
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 3:56pmThey are taking them to the White House.
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 4:28pmAnd where is their “just compensation” as outlined in the Constitution? This is crazy as well as theft. I hope they sue and win and that the hacks that did this are fired.
Report Post »shotzie
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 5:15pmI HOPE this goes viral. I HOPE the powers that took the poles have pay every penny for putting them back. How INSANE have we become that we are taking children’s basketball goals, – ON A CUL-DE-SAC?????????????? Is there a fund for buying all these folks new goals and having them installed because I will donate. Does anyone know. Please post on the The Blaze if so. Perhaps after they have had to remove thousands of poles from the same spot, they will get the message. This is as bad as the not allowing your high school aged child to bring a Midol or Tylenol to school. I hope this gets to all the FOX stations. Beck, O’Reilly, Hannity. insane.
Report Post »waggie
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:40pmNot only is all this ludicrous, but can you imagine what this city paid to have all these workers and trucks pull out a bunch of basketball hoops? And they wonder why they’re broke! Hmmmm…
Report Post »snakeyes4liberty
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:58pmIf this had happened on my property not only would I exercise my freedom of speech but also my right to bear arms!
Report Post »BlazerBlazer
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:21pmHey, I’m very conservative and I live on a cud-d-sac where there is a basket ball pole… the ball is in my yard and flower bushes as much as it is in their hands… I hate it… why don’t they go to a play yard for that purpose? Everyone doesn’t like to hear or see them… If I ever move I will NEVER live in a cul-d-sac again…
Report Post »dr_funk
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:04pmNext, it’ll be a “clear driveway” law, and they‘ll come by with wreckers and tow everybody’s cars. Without compensation.
THIS is the definition of tyranny.
Report Post »Faith in God
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 10:59amI would place a mailbox hoop by the curb…redneck in me I guess. :)
Report Post »RedWhiteBlueBlood
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 6:06pmWe had 2 on my dead-end street in FL and they came and ripped them out last fall. I came home to find people digging up our hoop, it pissed me off.
Report Post »Longshot35
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 1:52amToo true. I feel sick to my stomach after watching that. They are on their own property and she orders them into the house?! Bureaucrats make me noxious! Its people like her that stormed Madison, WI demanding their rights to live off of the backs of the poeple. What is our nation coming to? I feel sorry for the Trooper who had to be a part of that.
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