What happened when the Black man crossed the road? Yup, police harassment and a ticket related to made up laws! At least that’s allegedly what happened in Jacksonville, Florida according to the Miami Herald and a video posted on Blacktivist.
21-year-old Devonte Shipman posted the video originally on June 20 and it is said to show Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Officer J.S. Bolen confronting him for jaywalking. Yes, jaywalking is a crime (albeit mostly a silly one) but what followed could pretty much only happen when walking whilst black.
Shipman asked the officer what he had done, which is a fair question!
So, the officer told him he had been jaywalking, a $65 fine. He then asked for the young man’s ID…. He didn’t have it! Well… The officer replied:
“That’s another infraction,”
“In the state of Florida, you have to have an ID card on you identifying who you are or I can detain you for seven hours until I figure out who you are.”
Errrr…. wait a minute! That’s not true at all. Florida Statute 322.15 says that drivers must always have their licenses when driving and if they don’t, they can incur a $136 fine. BUT that’s the closest possible law. You don’t need ish when walking!
Shipman was also given a citation for failing to obey a pedestrian control signal. That was another $62.50!
Watch below:
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0800-0899/0856/Sections/0856.021.html
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0900-0999/0901/Sections/0901.151.html