Security Question

[Shaft]

I was riding at the local high school and the security guard comes out and starts going off about he is going to have us aressted for trespassing. He wants to see what is on the camera we were filming with and starts going on about how we can be arrested of vandalism, malicious destruction, trespassing and the works. Then he starts searching us for "weapons".

Is he allowed to do this since he is only a security guard? Does he have a legal right to search us if he has "probable cause"? I just doesnt seem right to me that some guy can search me without any legal power except for calling the police.

[Faithless]

what country?

[Shaft]

America, specifically Washington State

[Scott]

no they cant touch you...maybe just get you off the property...but deffently cant search you with out your consent

[Shaft]

Thats what I thought but I wasnt going to say anything becuase he said he could have us arrested for Trespassing.

He said he was being nice and gave us a warning and have us sign some piece of paper saying that if we ever came back we could be arrested. Can he do that as well?

[bighitbikerNS]

he legally has no right to touch you unless you attack him(unless you live in texas where you get shot anyway). he can only ask you to leave the property.

[Shaft]

he was all up in my girls-only zone

[k1725]

security guards are, to borrow a movie line "rent-a-cops"... they are able to detain you if probably cause exists - for an example just look at loss prevention "officers" at places like wal-mart, shop-ko, target, etc. They, however, cannot search you. They can call the police though and try to screw you over that way... and generally the cops will give them more credit than you - which sucks when you have one who is just out to get people. As for the tresspassing thing if it's a public school that sorta b.s.. but if they have no loitering, skating, riding... etc. signs then they have can go ahead and charge you with whatever that violation would be. it rather sucks, but that's the way it is, at least in MT... i have a feeling it's rather similar in WA

[Shaft]

yeah, he was just school district security (he didnt make that clear) and he said that he caught some people skating and turned them over to the loss prevention officer who in turn got them arrested and a fine for the damage they caused. He said he didnt actually see them but he had "probable cause" that they had destroyed property. I kind of have to question the whole tactic , why doesnt he just tell them not to skate there?

on another note-he also confiscated our video camera and watched our filming, was he allowed to do this?

[mudpuppy]

America is not a country its a land mass. I live in America as well.....but the country I live in is Canada. I was born in the United States....that is a country.

[Shaft]

thanks for the geography lesson

[k1725]

Originally posted by Shaft
why doesnt he just tell them not to skate there?

on another note-he also confiscated our video camera and watched our filming, was he allowed to do this?

probably because he was abused as a child and had no fun and wants to take it out on others. maybe it's because he wanted to be a cop but couldn't cut it... who knows... as for the video cam my guess is that he had no right no confiscate it.... i can't speak with absolute certainty, but as i remember things "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. " (Fourth amendment) the way i read it it would seem that you would have to be a real cop to do that... but i don't know what kind of authority and power that guy actually holds. ya know... the whole due process thing probably gets into that too with depriving you of what is rightfully yours.... but i think i'm probably getting to into this legal stuff... curse of a law curriculum :nerd:


anyhow, i hope you don't get hassled by the guy again... sore deal

[mudpuppy]

Sorry shaft, it was pointed out to me when I moved here many years ago, and it is true. It's a peeve now for some reason...did not want to rag on ya, just a heads up eh. :P

[NickS]

What school did it happen at? A guard has no power except to call the police. Id tell him to f off and just ride away. He cant touch u at all. If the police ever did show up just say ya ill go away the police arnt going to arrest you for something like that, its not worth there time unless your a multiple offender.

[wheeler]

Maybe he thought you were a threat to homeland security.

[switch]

Originally posted by mudpuppy
America is not a country its a land mass. I live in America as well.....but the country I live in is Canada. I was born in the United States....that is a country.

It's the "United States of America", not the United States.

The land mass is "North America", not America. There is a "South America" and a "Central America", and simply referring to a land mass as "America" is not only incorrect, it wouldn't be accurate.

[Uncle Duke]

when someone sez america to me, Im not thinking mexico.

[Shaft]

Originally posted by NickS
What school did it happen at? A guard has no power except to call the police. Id tell him to f off and just ride away. He cant touch u at all. If the police ever did show up just say ya ill go away the police arnt going to arrest you for something like that, its not worth there time unless your a multiple offender.

It happened at Rogers High School up in Puyallup. I was gonna just ride away but my car was parked on the property and he was standing between us and the bikes. Later today I am going down to the Puyallup School District and filing a complaint for him illegally searching me and confiscating the video camera we were using (we got it back). I am also not sure if he was allowed to ask for ID either so I am going to check up on that as well. It may seem a little extreme to file the complaint but I figure there shouldnt be people out there like that abusing their power and thinking they can do whatever they want. Take that security guy!

[Phelonius]

The Erosion of personal rights happens slowly and only if people let it go unchecked.

File that complaint if you can!

[woodlotrider]

Originally posted by k1725
... maybe it's because he wanted to be a cop but couldn't cut it...

...that would be pretty sad if he couldn't cut it as a cop...

[Oldfart]

What were you doing on school property? A lot of risk managers for Cities, municipalities and such are paranoid about lawsuits and for good reason. Frivolous lawsuits happen and the courts do not in my opinion do enough to discourage them.

Best thing to do when confronted by a wannabe cop is beg foregiveness, claim ignorance and get the hell out.

[Slamigo]

You should have him charged for lewd conduct and molestation.

That always looks good on the ole resumé.

[Slamigo]

I know what you mean about getting searched near the ''girls only'' zone. Let's just say that the security guys at the airport in Bogota, Colombia are not exactly known for being gentle.

[aShogunNamedMarcus]

Originally posted by Slamigo
I know what you mean about getting searched near the ''girls only'' zone. Let's just say that the security guys at the airport in Bogota, Colombia are not exactly known for being gentle.

pix?

[Putty]

Welcome to Patriot Act USA...you are all terrorists...off to gitmo with you and your evildoer bikes.

[Zedbra]

diggler used to try and touch me....he's in America

[the flying moose]

Originally posted by Zedbra
diggler used to try and touch me....he's in America

but you asked him to.

[grashopa]

Originally posted by Shaft
Then he starts searching us for "weapons".


The kind Bush was looking for ? :D

[Troup]

Shoulda' gave him a haymaker.:P