• JennaR8r@lemmy.dbzer0.comOP
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    4 days ago

    Yes I’ve heard of that and I’m happy for you all over there.

    But are you allowed to just lay around doing nothing in a public space?

    Whatever the case, laying around doing nothing in public is pretty much illegal in the United states. It’s considered loitering, which is a crime. Except for on beaches.

    • Iconoclast@feddit.uk
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      3 days ago

      It’s much more nuanced than that. What is illegal is:

      • Loitering with intent to commit a crime (e.g., drug dealing, prostitution, harassment)
      • Blocking sidewalks or entrances
      • Loitering in certain restricted areas (schools, government buildings, etc.)

      Simply just hanging out in public is perfectly legal.

      • Nalivai@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        My friend was thinking about buying a house in one of the suburban neighborhoods, and once went there to walk around and see if he likes it (as if he could distinguish one suburban neighborhood from another). He had cops called on him, and they threatened to cite him for loitering. For walking on public sidewalks.

        • Fart Armpit@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          Can you clarify: your friend isn’t white and took a walk in some known for being ultra white pieces of shit neighborhood (he never knew about it, because what for, in healthy person’s mind) and some dudes or gals saw him out of the windows of their caves and took preventive measures against… dreadful sidewalking crime? And cops were [n]ice scum and they were ultra chinazi kkk? 0 sarcasm here unfortunately btw Just curious about em details

          • Nalivai@lemmy.world
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            3 days ago

            The fun part is, he’s white af, not American by birth, but white. Nobody told him why he was harassed, cops just told him that loitering is a crime, asked him where he lives and where his car is, and checked that he actually drives away.

            • Fart Armpit@lemmy.world
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              3 days ago

              This is very exemplarily story. It shows us that race or any other differences between people never were the real problems. Problems are psychopathic schizophrenics with dementia who think they’re irreplaceable wise rulers of everything.

              Wishing all the best to you and your friend.

              • Nalivai@lemmy.world
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                2 days ago

                This is a single anecdote, it doesn’t show anything. Statistically, this happens to people of colour way more than white people, so the racism is also a big problem.

    • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
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      3 days ago

      Technically true, but iny entire life, I’ve never known anyone who’s gotten a ticket for loitering.

      Loitering is one of those "catch all’ laws, that cops can pull out in almost any situation if they want to escalate. If they want to give you a hard time for running your mouth, they can always hit you for Loitering or Resisting Arrest.

    • ThePyroPython@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      Well yeah, even here in the UK the police or anyone won’t bother if you’re just sitting somewhere in public and not causing a breach of the peace… I mean when the sun eventually comes out, you’ll see people laid out on every available bit of green space to soak it up.

      Your legal system seems very… antisocial?

    • Dozzi92@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      Don’t lump the entire country in with wherever you are, because I can go to plenty of places within walking distance of my home – in the United States – and just hang out, hard, and it’s fine.

    • Griffus@lemmy.zip
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      3 days ago

      In Norway anywhere in nature 100 meters from houses is free reign. Just leave it as you found it.

    • sweetiesweetie@lemmy.today
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      3 days ago

      Define “doing nothing”'. I’m actually working on my PhD as we speak. Standing around is part of my process