I wonder what percentage of Americans have never left their home state.
I've Been Charged with My First Misdemeanor!
- Thread starter Kommander
- Start date
This thread is supposed to be about me, dammit! Or not, whatever you guys want to do, really.
As for that federal and state laws thing. This was a city ordinance I allegedly violated. It's a whole other layer. Local ordinances are usually the worst for bullshit. There's less involved in getting them passed, and less of an effort to get rid of or change shitty ones.
As for that federal and state laws thing. This was a city ordinance I allegedly violated. It's a whole other layer. Local ordinances are usually the worst for bullshit. There's less involved in getting them passed, and less of an effort to get rid of or change shitty ones.
my appologies for causing your thread to derail, Kommander. It's just so fascinating to get an insight in all this red tape. It's something that as a tourist you never get aware of.
(and while I was aware that in the US vacations are shorter, 1 week per year is really scandalous. Over here you get 28-31 working days per year off, depending on your age)
What steps are you intending to take now? As I see it you either have to get the license or to store and sell your collected scrap metals beyond the town's borders since the rules forbid you to even transport them in town. Or is there a third solution I overlooked?
Is there a way for you to somehow avoid having to pay the fine? Community work, for example? Since you have a vehicle that's suitable to transport heavy loads, maybe you can lend it to the town with yourself as a driver when they need one? (Or maybe you could pay the fine in scrap metal
)
(and while I was aware that in the US vacations are shorter, 1 week per year is really scandalous. Over here you get 28-31 working days per year off, depending on your age)
What steps are you intending to take now? As I see it you either have to get the license or to store and sell your collected scrap metals beyond the town's borders since the rules forbid you to even transport them in town. Or is there a third solution I overlooked?
Is there a way for you to somehow avoid having to pay the fine? Community work, for example? Since you have a vehicle that's suitable to transport heavy loads, maybe you can lend it to the town with yourself as a driver when they need one? (Or maybe you could pay the fine in scrap metal
)I don't care really, it's fine.
Also, that week of vacation is if one is lucky. I've had one job where I was supposed to get a week of vacation, but I wasn't there long enough to earn the days needed. Another job I had required everyone to take one week off per year, but I was part time so I had to take unpaid time off.
As the ordinance is written, I didn't violate it. However, the police a lot of times don't know the actual law. My options are get the license to avoid future hassle, or remain open to said hassle. The last time I went out collecting I passed by three Detroit police cars looking for speeders. They saw me with a full truckload and did nothing. Unless I start collecting in Detroit, this probably won't happen very often. If I do collect in Detroit, it'll probably be a single house at a time where I've made arrangements with the home owner, so the risk is low there.
If the charges are dropped, I won't have to pay the fine, and will continue not having a criminal record. Since the officer issued the ticket because I was observed selling scrap metal, which does not require a license, this seems likely to happen.Is there a way for you to somehow avoid having to pay the fine? Community work, for example? Since you have a vehicle that's suitable to transport heavy loads, maybe you can lend it to the town with yourself as a driver when they need one? (Or maybe you could pay the fine in scrap metal
Good luck! I'll keep my thumbs pressed for you (over here, we make a fist with the thumb inside and press instead of crossing fingers - it's much easier for kids or when you have arthrosis )
)
I think I get eight days vacation time by default and earn a little bit of time each year from working (four hours every two weeks, iirc). Some of that time is use it or lose it, other time rolls over (it's all complicated). The upside is I have to use at least some of that vacation time. The downside is I really end up needing it for minor inconveniences rather than using it all at once for an actual vacation. My guess is I'll have about a week for a real vacation, but we'll have to see.
Here a graph with statutory minimum employment leave by country.
American exceptionalism!
Edit. I know that for many American companies sick leaves are a benefit (usually max 8 days every year).
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Wow america totally sucks.
Queens BD on Monday here.. even though her birthday is in April. Can't have that, might get sucked up by Easter and we need to make sure we get a distinct day off for it.
Queens BD on Monday here.. even though her birthday is in April. Can't have that, might get sucked up by Easter and we need to make sure we get a distinct day off for it.
American exceptionalism!
Edit. I know that for many American companies sick leaves are a benefit (usually max 8 days every year).
Most people with salaried positions get some number of sick/vacation/personal days every year.
Hourly employees sometimes do, but those days are only accrued after you've been employed with a company for so long.
And then, of course, there are jobs with no paid days off at all...like mine. I can take time off whenever I want (assuming scheduling allows for me to be gone), but I don't get paid for it.
It sucks
It's quite sad that even Japan, a country where death by overworking is so common that they have a word for it, has more statutory minimum leave days than USA...
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WTH why is that even a misdemeanor.
You should just be fined if anything. Jeez.
You should just be fined if anything. Jeez.
I almost got ticketed again today, but I managed to sell my non-ferrous metal and sneak out while the cop was busy harassing the people dumping steel, and I went back an hour later to dump my own steel.
I've printed out copies of the applicable ordinances for both Detroit and where I collect and carry them with me so I can point out that I am not violating them. I've talked to the police while collecting five or six times, and it usually goes like this:
Cop: "Collecting scrap metal?"
Me: "Yes."
Cop: "Have a nice day."
Technically, a license is required there to sell secondhand goods, but I don't sell anything there. The Scrapyard Cop I still expect to ticket me even if I show him the ordinance and explain why I'm not violating it, because he can't issue me a ticket directly for being a smart-ass. Still, I think it'll help if I decide to file a complaint or harassment suit against the officer in the future.
I've always wanted a job where the police hassle me but can never prove anything. I thought I was going to have to work for the mafia to make that happen.
I've printed out copies of the applicable ordinances for both Detroit and where I collect and carry them with me so I can point out that I am not violating them. I've talked to the police while collecting five or six times, and it usually goes like this:
Cop: "Collecting scrap metal?"
Me: "Yes."
Cop: "Have a nice day."
Technically, a license is required there to sell secondhand goods, but I don't sell anything there. The Scrapyard Cop I still expect to ticket me even if I show him the ordinance and explain why I'm not violating it, because he can't issue me a ticket directly for being a smart-ass. Still, I think it'll help if I decide to file a complaint or harassment suit against the officer in the future.
I've always wanted a job where the police hassle me but can never prove anything. I thought I was going to have to work for the mafia to make that happen.
LOL why are they so serious about scrap metal?! Am I missing something? Seems dumb. Why don't they go and try to catch real criminals. O_O
There's always becoming a teacher. 10 weeks off during the summer (July & August), plus week-long breaks for Christmas, mid-winter (end of February) and spring (dependent on Easter/Passover). Though, during the school year, you're putting in 60+ hour weeks.
