SWAT-Style Raids To Check Florida Barbers' Licenses Get A WTF From Fed Appeals Court
What's next, SWAT raids on little girls' unpermitted lemonade stands? Busting The Girl Scouts for selling those cookies with the coconut on top, on the grounds that they're "addictive"?
Jacob Sullum writes at reason:
Today a federal appeals court rebuked police in Orange County, Florida, for mounting a warrantless, SWAT-style raid on a barbership under the pretense of assisting state inspectors. "We have twice held, on facts disturbingly similar to those presented here, that a criminal raid executed under the guise of an administrative inspection is constitutionally unreasonable," says the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. "We hope that the third time will be the charm."On August 19, 2010, two inspectors from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) visited the Strictly Skillz Barbershop in Orlando and found everything in order: All of the barbers working there were properly licensed, and all of the work stations complied with state regulations. Two days later, even though no violations had been discovered and even though the DBPR is authorized to conduct such inspections only once every two years, the inspectors called again, this time accompanied by "between eight and ten officers, including narcotics agents," who "rushed into" the barbershop "like [a] SWAT team." Some of them wore masks and bulletproof vests and had their guns drawn. Meanwhile, police cars blocked off the parking lot.
The officers ordered all the customers to leave, announcing that the shop was "closed down indefinitely." They handcuffed the owner, Brian Berry, and two barbers who rented chairs from him, then proceeded to search the work stations and a storage room. They demanded the barbers' driver's licenses and checked for outstanding warrants. One of the inspectors, Amanda Fields, asked for the same paperwork she had seen two days earlier, going through the motions of verifying (again) that the barbers were not cutting hair without a license (a second-degree misdemeanor). Finding no regulatory violations or contraband, the officers released Berry and the others after about an hour.
Not surprisingly, it seems these raids were punitive in nature -- going after shops with black and Hispanic customers that had previously refused to "cooperate" with DBPR inspectors. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals found that the raids violated state law as well as...you know...the now frequently-disregarded Fourth Amendment.
The Girl Scouts for selling those cookies with the coconut on top, on the grounds that they're "addictive"?
Nah, they'll get 'em for false advertising, because Girl Scout cookies aren't made with real Girl Scouts.
Rex Little at September 18, 2014 11:56 PM
Instead of a long comment about how the lack of personal or career penalties will mean this case does nothing to reduce the probability of this happening again, let's just take a moment to note that Rex's joke was funny.
Crid at September 19, 2014 12:04 AM
Thanks, Crid, but it's not really my joke.
Rex Little at September 19, 2014 12:10 AM
Never deny authorship… Let the little bastards think you're brilliant.
Crid [CridComment at Gmail] at September 19, 2014 1:03 AM
Before I reach an untimely demise I would like to visit all the Orange County's in the world.
It's my own seven wonders of the world type journey except mostly I'm doing it to bring it up during dinners with local acquaintances.
Ppen at September 19, 2014 5:45 AM
Obviously, there wasn't enough (or probably any) jail time handed out in the first 2 cases.
Dwatney at September 19, 2014 6:34 AM
It took me a minute but now I understand.
The cops abuse the citizens, the court finds against the cops, the cops abuse the citizens, the court finds against the cops, the cops abuse the citizens, the court finds against the cops.
Why can't these liberal judges leave our heroes alone?!
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at September 19, 2014 6:54 AM
Nah, they'll get 'em for false advertising, because Girl Scout cookies aren't made with real Girl Scouts.
They aren't? I am...disappoint.
PPen, here's a list of Orange Counties. Not sure what to make of the one in China, an "American-style suburb near Beijing, China". That may not count, per se.
I R A Darth Aggie at September 19, 2014 7:46 AM
I want to see those who defended three cops assaulting a school girl, FOR NOT BREAKIG ANY LAWS, complain about this
lujlp at September 19, 2014 8:08 AM
Related (also posted in the Bumpy entry):
The Death of the 4th Amendment is on hold, no wait, they've removed life support. What could possibly go wrong?
I R A Darth Aggie at September 19, 2014 8:46 AM
And then the powers-that-be wonder why the police have so little support in poor and ethnic neighborhoods.
Conan the Grammarian at September 19, 2014 12:31 PM
I heard about that one in China! Thanks for reminding me.
Ppen at September 19, 2014 5:10 PM
County says no camping on your own land!!
I think you can read it anonymously, just not post. But here is the gist of it.
Oh, and the county will overlook tent camping by groups like the Boy Scouts.
Jim P. at September 19, 2014 7:24 PM
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