[Boatanchors] General Comments On Hamfests (Re: TiminiumHamfest)

[Richard Knoppow]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <W4AWM at aol.com>
To: <k7nks at yahoo.com>; <Boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2012 9:58 PM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] General Comments On Hamfests (Re: 
TiminiumHamfest)


>
> Several years ago, these "state tax agents" started 
> showing up at various
> MD hamfests. There were the most  personally unkempt 
> representatives for a
> government agency I have ever laid eyes on. They 
> threatened to call the
> police on anyone who did not cooperate with them. Rather 
> than argue, many
> sellers simply shut down and left. I have not seen them 
> recently, not to say
> they were not there.
>
> Only a very few flea market sellers at hamfests are there 
> to make a living
> and most are very easy to spot. The remainder are selling 
> personal property
> on  which taxes have been paid somewhere along the line 
> and should not have
> to be  paid a second or subsequent times.
>
> Unfortunately, due to the economy, governments have had to 
> resort to make
> money any way they can. The Mayor of the District of 
> Columbia last week
> admitted  that increasing use of traffic cameras was to 
> richen the city's
> coffers  first and enforce laws second. More cameras are 
> being bought with that
> end  in mind. I will not even go across the river into DC 
> any more unless it
> is an  absolute emergency, and that hasn't happened in the 
> lat 3 years,
> thankfully.
>
> 73,
>
> John,  W4AWM

     Fascinating!  Several local cities have discontinued 
traffic cameras because they cost more to maintain than they 
generate in fines.  Its also become common to challenge them 
in court.  The city of Los Angeles is also considering 
discontinuing them.  People also universally resent them 
which is another reason mentioned for discontinuing them.
     Perhaps sending photos of the collectors to their 
bosses would be useful.  Also, someone with a friendly 
lawyer should check about whether the police have any 
authority to arrest someone for violating civil law.  In 
most places the cops have power only if there has been a 
violation of criminal law.  You could get a summons ordering 
you to pay but there would have to be some sort of proof 
offered that you actually owed it. These problems can often 
be fixed if the injured parties organize and protest them, 
its surprising how sensitive politicians are to adverse 
publicity.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com