• Diligent Policework Brings Down Major Ceviche Distribution Ring in Cali
    23 replies, posted
[url]https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/11/07/undercover-sting-nabs-california-mother-selling-ceviche-through-facebook-group/[/url] [quote]Mariza Ruelas never expected a plate of ceviche would lead her to the court house and maybe even a possible jail sentence. For more than a year, undercover investigators in San Joaquin County, California tracked the sales of food — such as homemade tamales, tortillas and cakes — through a community Facebook group, a sting that Mariza Ruelas called a “waste of time and resources and taxpayers’ money.”[/quote] A big shout out to the prosecutor for getting that stuff off the streets. Families are torn apart every day by the unregulated trade of Hispanic food in small communities.
My friend died of ceviche overdose.
Policemen in this country are more focused on arresting as many people as possible so they can get bonuses and promotions rather than actually upholding the spirit of the law, and to serve and protect us citizens. [editline]8th November 2016[/editline] Not all of them, of course. There are plenty of good cops. But the system is definitely geared towards money grubbing and corruption.
[QUOTE=Wealth + Taste;51326892]Policemen in this country are more focused on arresting as many people as possible so they can get bonuses and promotions rather than actually upholding the spirit of the law, and to serve and protect us citizens. [editline]8th November 2016[/editline] Not all of them, of course. There are plenty of good cops. But the system is definitely geared towards money grubbing and corruption.[/QUOTE] I spotted the cop hate boner. No shit the system is about money, justice system is huge money sink, it is expensive and people like you cry when tax hikes happen. So they got to generate some type of funds to keep the police department going. Cops don't get bonuses for arrests fyi. Also cops get shit regardless of if they uphold the "spirit" of the law. People just like to pick and choose what laws are enforced - which again was enforced. [quote]Then, in July, she received a letter in the mail: she was being summoned to court. Ruelas, along with several other group members, faced citations for two misdemeanors — operating a food facility and engaging in business without a permit. [/quote] Dang them cops for upholding the law!!!!!!!!! [quote] She added that selling any food not subject to health department inspection is a danger to the public and undercuts business owners who purchase permits to cook and sell food.[/quote] Makes sense, but lets just feed the anti-cop hate. Should they get hit hard with these fines and stuff? Maybe not. But it isn't like the cops just did a SWAT raid on them, they got a court summons. Christ this article is so sensationalized. Also, the courts fined them (AKA the DA which is an elected official, and the court system which again is filled with judges and so on whom are elected.) Don't like it, blame the judges. The police did their job looking into the matter and submitted their findings to the court system which decided to charge them/summon them to court.
[QUOTE=Wealth + Taste;51326892]Policemen in this country are more focused on arresting as many people as possible so they can get bonuses and promotions rather than actually upholding the spirit of the law, and to serve and protect us citizens. [editline]8th November 2016[/editline] Not all of them, of course. There are plenty of good cops. But the system is definitely geared towards money grubbing and corruption.[/QUOTE] So I take it you don't talk to very many cops
[QUOTE=Code3Response;51326996]So I take it you don't talk to very many cops[/QUOTE] No one is allowed in my bunker. Communication with other individuals is sparse.
[QUOTE=MR-X;51326927]I spotted the cop hate boner. No shit the system is about money, justice system is huge money sink, it is expensive and people like you cry when tax hikes happen. So they got to generate some type of funds to keep the police department going. Dang them cops for upholding the law!!!!!!!!![/QUOTE] First of all, there's really no need to be this antagonistic. Secondly, [quote]For more than a year, undercover investigators in San Joaquin County, California tracked the sales of food — such as homemade tamales, tortillas and cakes — through a community Facebook group[/quote] this probably cost a helluva lot more than the $235 fines they sent her and the others involved. When the justice system is bleeding money, is pursuing these kinds of investigations at all beneficial? Could that money possibly have been put to better use? I'd say, probably. [QUOTE=MR-X;51326927]Should they get hit hard with these fines and stuff? Maybe not. But it isn't like the cops just did a SWAT raid on them, they got a court summons. Christ this article is so sensationalized.[/QUOTE] To my understanding, what these people were doing is sort of like the internet equivalent of a commune. Pursuing legal action on them sends a message that organized bartering with your friends, colleagues, and peers is unacceptable because it's unregulated. Trading a cherry pie with my neighbor for a casserole should [I]not[/I] be subject to government intervention unless people start getting sick. It being organized on the internet shouldn't have anything to do with it either. [QUOTE=MR-X;51326927]Also, the courts fined them (AKA the DA which is an elected official, and the court system which again is filled with judges and so on whom are elected.) Don't like it, blame the judges. The police did their job looking into the matter and submitted their findings to the court system which decided to charge them/summon them to court.[/QUOTE] The police were the ones who decided this was worth investigating. One can criticize the police and their actions without having a "cop hate boner."
[QUOTE=MR-X;51326927]I spotted the cop hate boner. No shit the system is about money, justice system is huge money sink, it is expensive and people like you cry when tax hikes happen. So they got to generate some type of funds to keep the police department going. Cops don't get bonuses for arrests fyi. Also cops get shit regardless of if they uphold the "spirit" of the law. People just like to pick and choose what laws are enforced - which again was enforced. Dang them cops for upholding the law!!!!!!!!! Makes sense, but lets just feed the anti-cop hate. Should they get hit hard with these fines and stuff? Maybe not. But it isn't like the cops just did a SWAT raid on them, they got a court summons. Christ this article is so sensationalized. Also, the courts fined them (AKA the DA which is an elected official, and the court system which again is filled with judges and so on whom are elected.) Don't like it, blame the judges. The police did their job looking into the matter and submitted their findings to the court system which decided to charge them/summon them to court.[/QUOTE] Found the cop apologist. Just because someone isn't blind and can see the blatant police quotas as being detrimental to human rights doesn't make the a cop hater.
It seems to me that a lack of common sense comes into play.
What the fuck. So they wasted an entire year setting up a sting operation because some family would occasionally get together with people and trade food and stuff with each other without paperwork? Even more impressively, they set up this year long sting operation for something which isn't even considered a felony. And all of this happened over Mexican cuisine. This must be the most Californian thing I've ever read.
Don't blame the cops, Blame California's ass backwards laws. You probably need a permit to wipe your ass there. [editline]8th November 2016[/editline] Reminds me of those states where little kids Lemonade stands are shut down because they don't have a business permit.
Hahahah this is just wonderful. This needs to be a netflix original... From the perspective of the cops ofc. And taking themselves 100% serious
[QUOTE=Furioso;51327216]First of all, there's really no need to be this antagonistic. Secondly, this probably cost a helluva lot more than the $235 fines they sent her and the others involved. When the justice system is bleeding money, is pursuing these kinds of investigations at all beneficial? Could that money possibly have been put to better use? I'd say, probably. To my understanding, what these people were doing is sort of like the internet equivalent of a commune. Pursuing legal action on them sends a message that organized bartering with your friends, colleagues, and peers is unacceptable because it's unregulated. Trading a cherry pie with my neighbor for a casserole should [I]not[/I] be subject to government intervention unless people start getting sick. It being organized on the internet shouldn't have anything to do with it either. The police were the ones who decided this was worth investigating. One can criticize the police and their actions without having a "cop hate boner."[/QUOTE] If she were just trading the food for other food it would have been fine but she was selling it for money.
[QUOTE=Code3Response;51326996]So I take it you don't talk to very many cops[/QUOTE] So when you signed up did they make you sign a waiver promising to blindly defend police actions on the internet?
[QUOTE=zakedodead;51328839]So when you signed up did they make you sign a waiver promising to blindly defend police actions on the internet?[/QUOTE] No actually I signed an agreement to arrest as many people as possible so I can get promoted and bonuses. Its one thing to blindly hate/support law enforcement, its another to actually know how it works.
[QUOTE=Furioso;51327216] To my understanding, what these people were doing is sort of like the internet equivalent of a commune. Pursuing legal action on them sends a message that organized bartering with your friends, colleagues, and peers is unacceptable because it's unregulated. Trading a cherry pie with my neighbor for a casserole should [I]not[/I] be subject to government intervention unless people start getting sick. It being organized on the internet shouldn't have anything to do with it either. [/QUOTE] In government-speak, "unregulated" doesn't mean "possibly hazardous to people". It means "we aren't taxing it, we're not getting money from it so shut it down".
[QUOTE=duckmaster;51328497]If she were just trading the food for other food it would have been fine but she was selling it for money.[/QUOTE] The article implies it was [I]primarily[/I] bartering that was happening. And to be honest with you, I wouldn't feel bad about occasionally paying someone to bake me a cake or something, either.
[QUOTE=Megadave;51327525]Found the cop apologist. Just because someone isn't blind and can see the blatant police quotas as being detrimental to human rights doesn't make the a cop hater.[/QUOTE] I'm no cop apologist, i support law enforcement but I also know how it works. I don't turn a blind eye when bad shit goes down. The police enforced cali's laws and this is the result. Don't like it, change the laws. Plus my primary response was to someone who clearly has a cop-hate boner because anyone who makes ignorant statements such as [QUOTE=Wealth + Taste;51326892]Policemen in this country are more focused on [B]arresting as many people as possible so they can get bonuses and promotions[/B] rather than actually upholding the spirit of the law, and to serve and protect us citizens. [/QUOTE] clearly does not know how anything works.
[QUOTE=MR-X;51329149] Don't like it, change the laws. [/QUOTE] I think we/they would if they could? I'm in no doubt that this was against the law by stretching the idea of them 'operating' without a permit. Is there anyone out there who saw this and said "someone lock these people up" aside from the policing body that busted their operation? Tell me how we can do away with frivolous laws / cases like this and I'm on board.
[QUOTE=clutch2;51329299]I think we/they would if they could? I'm in no doubt that this was against the law by stretching the idea of them 'operating' without a permit. Is there anyone out there who saw this and said "someone lock these people up" aside from the policing body that busted their operation? Tell me how we can do away with frivolous laws / cases like this and I'm on board.[/QUOTE] No one locked these people up, they received a fine and that was the end of it. This is the problem with society - they want to be told how to do something. Figure it out on your own - each state, county, and city is different. This article is funny because it is making it seem like their is some injustice happening. The police did their job, clearly this group was big enough and operating enough to the point where a good amount of people got summons. Clearly there is a bit more going on then what this article is stating. Regardless of what you think, the code is there for it and there was an infraction. Ignorance of the law isn't an valid excuse. She was making food for the sole purpose doing trading and selling (wow which is a business, who would have thought!). [quote]At least a half-dozen other members accepted a plea deal of one year of probation, a $235 fine and 40 hours of community service. Ruelas was offered a deal with twice the community service, three years of probation and the $235 fine, so she refused to accept it, she said.[/quote] She refused to accept the plea deal and gets to go to court. She has an attorney appointed to her (mind you at no cost if it is the state) and there will likely be a jury. She will have her day in court and get to share her side of the story. This is called due process.
[QUOTE=MR-X;51329149]I'm no cop apologist, i support law enforcement but I also know how it works. I don't turn a blind eye when bad shit goes down. The police enforced cali's laws and this is the result. Don't like it, change the laws. Plus my primary response was to someone who clearly has a cop-hate boner because anyone who makes ignorant statements such as clearly does not know how anything works.[/QUOTE] Waiting for you to respond to furioso. related to the story: this is really weird. You'd think it would be about a drug ring or something but it's about homemade food being bartered or sold.
[QUOTE=OvB;51328129]Don't blame the cops, Blame California's ass backwards laws. You probably need a permit to wipe your ass there. [editline]8th November 2016[/editline] Reminds me of those states where little kids Lemonade stands are shut down because they don't have a business permit.[/QUOTE] No we can definitely blame the officers involved in this. The key difference between this incident and the lemonade stands is that the officers didn't issue court summons or threaten their parents with jail time because it's [B]completely fucking overkill[/B]. What happened here was predatory policing. There was absolutely no reason for those officers to ever take it that far. The officers could have given them a warning and said "look we saw you were selling food online, but you're not supposed to be doing that to without a permit. If you continue to sell without the proper paperwork, we're going to issue you a citation." But rather than intervening early and attempting to solve the problem with communication, they decided to waste department resources and taxpayer dollars on conducting a fucking year long sting operation as if they were trying to capture El Choppo or some bullshit. If you have to go this far out of your way just to harass some middle class family to fulfill some godawful quota for your department, then it's no wonder hardly anyone respects the badge these days. It's because of stupid fucking policies that encourage this gung-ho bullshit sort of policing instead of actuality trying to defuse a situation. But I guess trying not to fuck up relations with your community would make too much God damned sense! No, clearly the only appropriate course of action is to shakedown private individuals for the heinous crime of attempting to have a bake sale. :incredible:
I agree that the police force is within its legal right to conduct this operation and is mandated to enforce the law. However, I think this was a disproportionally major effort for handling something relatively minor.
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