Hide yo Mod, hide yo eGO..and hide you 510 too, they harass'n errybody up in here!

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supermarket

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This has gotten outta hand. I'm sorry I ever posted this experience. The purpose: a witty prose to explain that ignorance toward vaping is still pervasive and we should all be on our toes.

BTW: the George Washington National FOREST near Luray, VA butts up against the Shenandoah National PARK across the Shenandoah River in places. It was what we call a Dispersed camping spot and not a designated pay camping area. I said nothing when he took the beer because it is not that important and I was trying to be cooperative. I stay out of the National PARK because you cant burn a fire either. Sorry for the confusion




THANK YOU for creating this thread. I already spoke my peace, and I am so SORRY there are people on a vaping forum giving you a hard time.

I understood PERFECTLY what you wrote in your original thread. I also had NO DOUBT that you were not breaking any laws by having a beer where you did. I myself camp OFTEN, and anyone who does UNDERSTANDS that SOME campgrounds allow alcohol , some DONT, and MOST (where I live ) don't enforce it EITHER WAY.

Me personally, I only go to campgrounds that allow alcohol, mainly because I camp with a lot of friends, we like to drink, have a good time....and even if we DIDNT like to drink.....I STILL would choose a campground that allows for alcohol because of being in the right crowd. The ones that have a strict no alcohol policy are usual designed to bring in families and whatnot. Honestly, as long as you aren't bothering anyone, usually a ranger or whoever will let you know to have fun, enjoy yourself, and just don't get out of hand!



Anyway, as I said, I had no doubt in my mind that you were not breaking any rules of regulations. The people criticizing automatically assumed you were doing SOMETHING wrong, just like that idiotic ranger.

Ironically, I know of MANY police officers, who when they pull someone over....they are ALWAYS under the assumption that the person is a criminal/doing something wrong. I see this as an injustice......they see this as their job, and assuming everyone is a criminal they claims keeps them safe (but does it keep the people they pull over safe?)





Anyway, to the person who wrote out a long and boring reponse to me, saying YES....there ARE ecig like devices that do illegal things! I still call bollocks. The fact is, there are HUNDREDS of devices for doing illegal things. If THAT is the case, we should all be banned from using SYRINGES for ANY thing. Take them out of the hospitals. Take them away from diabetics. Why? Because drug users use them!

Get real.

Sure, they might have devices out there resembling ecigs, for the purpose of doing something else. These devices are novelty, gimicky, and are ONLY manufactured to ride the wave of interest ecigs have generated. Ecigs came FIRST......just because a few capitalistic individuals created a spin off of them, designed to separate a fool and their money....doesnt MEAN ECIGS ARE TO BLAME.


Hell, lighters are also used by people using illegals. Does that mean if a ranger sees someone with a lighter, they should be searched, probed, restrained, etc? Come on people......






All I'm saying, is this story is legit. It is a good example of someone being harassed for NOTHING.
 

supermarket

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I did assume that LEO's have a greater extent of street knowledge than they do, especially a Ranger

Thanks, my shot out to Antoine Dodson



For the record.....NO. Law enforcement officers DO NOT KEEP UP with new information, NOR DO THEY try to stay informed.

One of my college classes a few years back was Criminology 101. Criminal Justice. The teacher was an ACTIVE DUTY sheriff for one of the near by police departments. He explained that MOST COPS are NOT up to date on the laws......and even if they had a PERSONAL drive to BE up to date on teh current laws.....it isn't even possible. The laws change WAYYYY to quickly. For instance, he said most cops have no IDEA the specifics of gun laws. They have a GENERAL idea.......but not specifics. Soooooo many people get arrested, go in front of a judge...and have their case dismissed in 5 minutes because they weren't doing anything wrong.

I have witnessed this with my own eyes. Back about 10 years ago, I got a speeding ticket (the only one I've ever had, I'm not really a speeder). This was in Atlanta, Ga. There were , I kid you not, about 15 people in the court room why went in front of me, and had gotten a HUGE fine/ticket for having their windows tinted.

Apparently, for the past 6 months, the judge had been having to let everyone go, because a law was changed, and the amount of tint these guys had was now LEGAL. The judge was beyond frustrated.....and even mentioned how all the police departments were supposed to be notified....and yet here we were.....she said she was seeing 15-20 cases a day of people she had to just tell to walk out of the room, because of incompetence (not SPECIFICALLY blaming the police officers....but the way the system often works in general).

That is just ONE example.



My point being, officers aren't often informed as much as they pretend. Most of them don't have any grasp of the laws anymore than a person who has taken a few criminal justice courses in College. They really are only taught a bare minimum before being put on the street.
 

Commie

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My point being, officers aren't often informed as much as they pretend. Most of them don't have any grasp of the laws anymore than a person who has taken a few criminal justice courses in College. They really are only taught a bare minimum before being put on the street.

Right. But the bare minimum should include the not harassing people when they don't understand what they're harassing them about.

Assuming that a civilian is a criminal just because you don't understand the purpose of a gadget in his hand is very dangerous in a world full of new gadgets. If I see a kid playing with a chemistry set, I don't automatically assume that he's cooking something illegal.
 

supermarket

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Right. But the bare minimum should include the not harassing people when they don't understand what they're harassing them about.

Assuming that a civilian is a criminal just because you don't understand the purpose of a gadget in his hand is very dangerous in a world full of new gadgets. If I see a kid playing with a chemistry set, I don't automatically assume that he's cooking something illegal.



Oh believe me, you are preaching the choir here! I agree with you 110%. In no way, shape, or form should civilians be considered guilty, or suspects, or criminals , or treated as such, just because police feel it makes their job easier. Unfortunately, I think most of us would be surprised as the methods and training exercises incorporated both into police training and military training. Many individuals who have gone through both have been outspoken about some of the questionable methods of training, which in a sense can dehumanize officers/military personnel.

This happens everywhere in the world. Some places more than others. The PROBLEM with it happening to such an extreme extent here in America....is that we are taught and raised to believe that the American idea, the whole project of America is unique. It is a unique experiment in free will, democracy, freedom, and all of the values we grow up to love about our idea of "America".

America is one of those places where those of us born and raised here, we have this idea about the world. As if we understand the whole world is corrupt, but we have this ideology of "....but not in America".

Sorry if my posts seem abstract in a sense, as I'm sure they do. Usually I am very clear, and precise in whatever it is I'm trying to rely, especially in my posts. It is just that what happened to the OP, and what has been happening to other vapers (harassment by law enforcement), is really a symptom of a MUCH bigger problem. I don't profess to have all the answers, or any answers really.....but I do have a very unique concern for my country, and my children's future.



Anyway, I wonder if it might be helpful if CASAA, or any member of this site who feels the urge to take it upon themselves, would hand out a brochure to their local police departments, explaining what ecigs are, how they are used, what shapes/sizes they come in, etc. I think it would be very productive if we took it upon ourselves to educate our local police departments. I for one would be willing to do so, maybe someone can come up with a educational , yet simple brochure for this.
 

hottierockstar

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The truth is, ecigs aren't used for anything illegal. Time and time again I see posts by people getting harrassed by officers saying ecigs are used for illegal activity, or can be. That is propaganda, and no one really uses ecigs for anything illegal. That isn't an opinion, that is just fact. There is NO reason to be harassed for having an ecig.

An ecig like device would be EXTREMELY inefficient for anything besides doing what it is designed to do....function as a nicotine delivery system. Maybe people were are oblivious to illegals are confused, but it is just absurd to see this disinformation being spread.
totally and completely untrue. i know of a person (not a friend or anything) that buys egos on alibaba and is not a vaper or a reseller

I wonder if the good Ranger would have seen someone shooting Insulin , would they confiscate their syringe too ?
i wondered that too...BUT...i don't know anyone that is insulin dependent that does it out in the open...not for other ppl's benefit but for their own privacy and insulin bottles are never unmarked

Originally Posted by SeaTownLassy
And whoever complained about you could have politely asked you what it was before tattletaling
yeah...cuz a person worried enough to call LEO on the suspicion that someone is doing something illegal...is going to walk over
concerned person: "oh hi...by the way...just wondering...is that legal what you are doing there?"
possible lawbreaker: "why no...it is absolutely totally illegal, thanks for asking!"
then what?
that is WHY there are LEO/rangers/etc....so that concerned citizens *remain* bystanders and not "involved parties" or "victims", they get PAID to ask the questions for civilians..... :facepalm:

OP...sorry you got messed with for your vapegear BUT...you were breaking the law with the beer (that i assume he saw upon approach if it was out in the open enough to be confiscated) and most LEO figure..."break one...break 'em all" and your bottles were unmarked....it is a felony to have certain meds without the original packaging with your name on it proving it is a prescribed to you medication (even tho it is a legalized medication)........just sayin'

now you know...marked bottles (and no beer lol) :)
 

Barbara21

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I think a lot of us here forget that not everyone is familiar with vaping. I live in South Carolina. I have never seen anyone vaping in public. Let me repeat - NEVER. (Actually I'd never even seen anyone vaping at all until this past weekend when I went to a e-cig store that just opened. First one in the area. Anyway...)

So I don't think we necessarily should blame the bystander in this case. Prior to six months ago, I would have assumed the OP was doing something illegal (just because I wasn't familiar with it). And I would not have gone up to him either - I would have called the authorities. (I'm a female that used to bring my sons camping if that makes a difference.)

In my opinion, the best defense is a good offense. Whenever I'm asked about my ego (which happens a LOT), I smile and overwhelm them with my enthusiasm ('Wonderful gadget', 'helped me stop smoking after 30 years', 'lots of different flavors', 'cheaper', etc. etc.) Let them look at it, even try it. (I'm a nurse so I try to have little alcohol wipes on me all the time.) Never had a problem.

On a side note, the fact (if it is a fact) that e-cigs are being used as a delivery system of 'other things' strikes me as distinctly bad news.
 

eric1973

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The officer/revenue agent's ignorance can't be legally used against you. The words "I think you might" is not probable cause to demand the property. Demand to talk to a supervisor. Know the law. They cannot legally touch you then. And when the words "jury trial" come into play, those that are out of line usually back down. They won't look good on their reports after that, and is counter-productive to demands of inappropriate compliance.
 

Myk

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Yea, cops and rangers have a BS degree, THAT is for CERTAIN :)

Oh, you meant a bachelors degree? Most dont, or else they wouldn't be cops!


edit: P.S. just a joke guys :)


What's not a joke is that I wanted to be a national park ranger at one point. Until I learned that it wasn't about what you know but who you know that got the job.
 

supermarket

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What's not a joke is that I wanted to be a national park ranger at one point. Until I learned that it wasn't about what you know but who you know that got the job.


Yep, doesn't surprise me!

I grew up in Chicago, and my uncle was a cop on the force. He eventually quit because of how political it all was. He was a good man, but I think having to turn your head too many times, because someone is connected, or because of politics, drove my Uncle nuts. Not to mention all the other terrible stuff he witnessed at the hands of the department.


You know how people say "If people knew how hotdogs were made, or what really goes in them, they wouldn't eat them!" Well, that statement isn't just about hotdogs!
 
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