Loose batteries and hair picks?

Look out, hes got less then .5 ounzes of a weak acid that will take more then 5 minutes to cause skin damage in a container he cant open and an oversized comb. Shoot him.

Posted by: lujlp at September 10, 2010 1:09 AM

I'm really confused on the battery one. Otherwise, the contents of my purse are quite dangerous. I've got nail clippers, file, tape measure (a sewing one), and a rattail comb. On the other hand, it looks like my stun gun is legal!

Posted by: BunnyGirl at September 10, 2010 1:26 AM

Don't batteries explode in a fire?

Posted by: Patrick at September 10, 2010 1:58 AM

That list is worse than where I work.

Our list includes mobile phones, laptops, cameras, any kind of Personal Electronic Device (like MP3 players and so on), USB drives...

Can't say I've paid that much attention to the rest of it, just the IT side, given I work in IT.

Posted by: Sonja at September 10, 2010 3:18 AM

The batteries might also be on the list for the same reason you aren't supposed to have batteries at a ballgame or somewhere similar. In the heat of the moment, a hurled D cell to the skull can be a pretty effective weapon.

But yeah, it's still ridiculous.

Posted by: Tom at September 10, 2010 4:24 AM

Batteries - a D-cell in the fist is quite the weapon.

@sonja - that's because your IT department doesn't want you copying data off the network.

@bunny - your purse is dangerous in itself. Swung about, you could knock someone out quite well.

I wonder if Chuck Norris is allowed in the building?

Posted by: brian at September 10, 2010 5:25 AM

Chuck Norris goes where he pleases. He doesn't ask for permission.

Posted by: MonicaP at September 10, 2010 6:25 AM

Spikes??? What is a spike?

A tape measure? What would they me measuring?

Posted by: David M. at September 10, 2010 6:26 AM

I cant for the life of me remember the last time I saw anyone selling C or D cell battaries

Also why are there no A or B sized battaries anymore?

Posted by: lujlp at September 10, 2010 6:57 AM

Sitting in my office looking down Woodward at the Detroit River, I can just see the corner of the city county building where this sign sits.

Hearing about the antics that go on at Detroit city hall will curl your hair ... no need for curling irons.

Based on Detroit's history of arson, I'm surprised that matches, lighters, flammable liquids and flame throwers aren't prohibited.

And I suppose that the prohibition of tools and measuring tapes explains the generally poor maintenance of the building.

Also surprising that Kwame Kilpatrick isn't on this list.

Posted by: AllenS at September 10, 2010 7:21 AM

On a positive note, they open at 7:30 a.m.!

Posted by: Nanc in Ashland at September 10, 2010 7:33 AM

Batteries - a D-cell in the fist is quite the weapon.

Give me an athletic sock, a bunch of AA batteries, and two minutes (or less) and I'll produce a nice, hefty little black jack (scroll down to the Improvised impact weapons section). I notice they don't have flashlights on the list, odd...given that a 4 D-cell aluminum flashlight makes a nice truncheon.

And they don't ban walking canes? tsk, tsk.

And in the hands of a Randy Johnson, a D-Cell battery would make a formidable distance weapon.

Hair picks can be used to pick locks, like those in handcuffs.

@sonja - that's because your IT department doesn't want you copying data off the network.

That's one aspect they're interested in stopping, yes. But it is much easier to siphon such data out over the network, anyway.

Another problem the IT folks are trying to avoid is you bringing in a virus or other malware on your thumbdrive (because you don't know you've been infected), or try to install software from outside that is unapproved.

And in my hands, a USB thumbdrive is the key to any given computer, assuming I have some quality time alone with it. And that the drive hasn't been setup with a full disk encryption.

Posted by: I R A Darth Aggie at September 10, 2010 7:38 AM

They left out sharpened pencils and marshmallows.

Oh yeah, and cups of acid! Man, I do hope they catch that bitch.

Posted by: Pricklypear at September 10, 2010 7:42 AM

You can have a flashlight. It just can't have batteries in it.

Posted by: Radwaste at September 10, 2010 8:33 AM

Curling irons? Is someone afraid of an impromptu styling session?

Posted by: Ann at September 10, 2010 8:35 AM

I carry a pocketknife and multi-tool at all times - being a techie type, someone is always asking me to fix something. I usually have a couple of spare batteries as well. I'm supposed to repack my backpack if I need to visit the city government?

Thankfully, it's simpler here: open the door and walk in.

A few months ago I walked into the local police station carrying two rifles and a pistol. Nobody flinched. No one thought I was about to go on a shooting spree. The guy at the desk just asked what they could do for me.

In America, the government is increasingly afraid of its own citizens. This is not a positive sign...

Posted by: bradley13 at September 10, 2010 9:05 AM

I bet someone attacked a security guard with a curling iron at one point!!!

Posted by: NicoleK at September 10, 2010 9:15 AM

Be afraid of nail clippers. Be very afraid...

Posted by: Mexicanita at September 10, 2010 10:20 AM

They're likely referring to the cordless butane powered curling irons, otherwise why not ban anything with a powercord.

But I like how you can bring in a syringe WITH medication... cause wasting one dose of whatever would totally deter a psycho.

Posted by: KT Keene at September 10, 2010 11:04 AM

B battery: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_battery_%28vacuum_tubes%29

Posted by: brian at September 10, 2010 11:09 AM

You guys need to think in terms of what could be used to CONCEAL a weapon. Curling Iron could be a handle and sheath for quite a knife. Tape measure could conceal sharpened spring steel, which would also be quite a knife. And? Take one of my 30' tapes, release about 5' of tape and start whiping the heavy end around by that? It is very heavy and you could use it like a bola or ball and chain.

Don't think about the thing itself, but what it's form could contain. Is it a good plan? Well, it is an easy to figure out one. They don't have to argue with anyone about removing stuff.They just can't have it period. No argument.

That allow less decision making and cheaper guards, and it is THAT maximization scheme that has made our airports such a pain. When you pay guards very little, you have to make the rules much bigger. If you had high quality personel, well trained, there could be less intrusive rules... But you have to pay them well.

Posted by: SwissArmyD at September 10, 2010 11:30 AM

They named the city hall after Coleman Young? He was one of the most ineffective and disasterous mayors Detroit has ever had.

Of course, there's a certain irony about a security sign on a building named after Coleman Young:

"Young has been widely acknowledge[d] as failing to stem the crime epidemic that Detroit became notorious for in the 1970s and 1980s. Dozens of violent black street gangs gained control of the city's large drug trade, which began with the heroin epidemic of the 1970s and grew into the even larger crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s and early 1990s. Major criminal gangs that were founded in Detroit during Young's era and ran the trade...." - Wikipedia

"Several times during Youngs tenure Detroit was named the arson capital of America, and repeatedly the murder capital of America, often Detroit was listed by FBI crime statistics as (the blanket) "most dangerous city in America" during his administration. Crime rates in Detroit peaked under Mayor Young at more than 2,700 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 1994." - Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleman_Young

Posted by: Conan the Grammarian at September 10, 2010 11:53 AM

Coleman Young was TERRIBLE mayor -- mayor when I was growing up in Detroit.

Posted by: Amy Alkon at September 10, 2010 12:10 PM

SwissArmyD might as well ban people with hands.

Less than 10 pounds of pressure and one fist to the front of the body and you have three easy kill shots

Posted by: lujlp at September 10, 2010 12:14 PM

I agree luj, I'm just pointing out what their general mindset is... but how many people could do what you just described? We do see people occasionally go balistic in court and such, but they are often quickly restrained, with little damage. A guy with a tape sword could kill many before anyone would even think to do something.

But what're the odds? In these situations understanding risk is expensive, if you can just force people to behave a certain way for cheap.

Posted by: SwissArmyD at September 10, 2010 12:20 PM

Every item on that list is the result of an incident in which the item was used as a weapon. Very nearly everything can be, so the list is silly: intent is more important than what's in your hand.

Oh, and the tape measure makes a fine garrote.

Posted by: vermindust at September 10, 2010 12:29 PM

Hairpicks??

Posted by: Beth at September 10, 2010 1:54 PM

"If you had high quality personel, well trained, there could be less intrusive rules..."

Or, if you had a public aware that the term, "self-defense" refers to the fact that police cannot protect you - you have to do that - such guards would be less an issue.

But there is too much money to be made "protecting" the public to let them protect themselves!

Posted by: Radwaste at September 10, 2010 2:15 PM

Hockey sticks are still fine, though.

And if they're gonna ban measuring tapes 'cause you can choke someone with one, why not fishing line and string?

Posted by: Sigivald at September 10, 2010 2:59 PM

Hockey sticks are still fine, though. And if they're gonna ban measuring tapes 'cause you can choke someone with one, why not fishing line and string?

And if you're particularly inconsiderate, frankly, I could burn a hole through you with my bare eyes.

Posted by: Amy Alkon at September 10, 2010 3:12 PM

Hockey sticks are still fine, though.

C'mon, it's Detroit.

Posted by: Conan the Grammarian at September 10, 2010 3:49 PM

Do what I say, or I'll attack you with my measuring tape! Now fly this building to Cuba!

Posted by: Cousin Dave at September 10, 2010 5:08 PM

HANDCUFFS (law enforcement ONLY)

Does that mean only law enforcement is banned? If not consider...

GUNS (including models, Replicas, Toys)

does that mean law enforcement cannot have guns?

Posted by: The Former Banker at September 10, 2010 11:18 PM

I'm wondering if they put "Bullets(Or Anything Similar)" because they don't know the difference between 'bullet' and 'cartridge' or 'ammunition'?

Posted by: Firehand at September 11, 2010 8:22 PM

Consider what happens if you attack someone with the hockey stick though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_w4MV_LwMw

Posted by: brian at September 12, 2010 6:38 AM

"Also why are there no A or B sized battaries anymore?"
B cells were typically 45 volts, and used for portable radios using vacuum tubes. They have not been necessary for almost 50 years.
Similarly, A cells were 1.5 volts and were bigger than the current AA batteries, they are similarly obsolete.

Posted by: gasman at September 24, 2010 8:56 AM

Ummmm.... looking at the handcuffs provision. It says "law enforcement only". So, does that mean that handcuffs are prohibited to just the cops, and everyone else can legally have them?

Posted by: Bill H at September 24, 2010 11:56 PM

Yes, i work with plenty of people on Medicaid and they get just as good of health and dental care as I do. They go to the same offices we do and see the same doctors...it is just a type of insurance. I live in a big city, so it is not hard to find people who take it, but in rural areas it is harder due to many smaller practices not taking Medicaid

Posted by: Sarah Amelia at April 13, 2011 2:17 AM