Charleston Police Gets a Little Greener, More Humane

Confiscation of bicycles is unreasonable and unjustified. Although the City's ordinance says that bicycles shall be registered, confiscating bikes that are not registered is a punishment disproportionate to the crime. Charleston City police officers don't confiscate cars lacking registration, but rather issue a ticket, so why should they confiscate this other form of transportation. Taking transportation from someone for this reason is unreasonable. Additionally, it is doubtful that this policy reduces or hinders bike theft in Charleston. Perhaps it only exacerbates the problem. If you take someone's only form of transportation, you'd better believe they'd be more likely to steel mine. While I appreciate an attempt to 'green' the behavior of Charleston's staff, the practice of bike confiscation should be abandoned immediately.

Posted by Patricia Carson on July 16, 2008 at 11:33 AM | Report this comment

Confiscation of bicycles is unreasonable and unjustified. Although the City's ordinance says that bicycles shall be registered, confiscating bikes that are not registered is a punishment disproportionate to the crime. Charleston City police officers don't confiscate cars lacking registration, but rather issue a ticket, so why should they confiscate this other form of transportation. Taking transportation from someone for this reason is unreasonable. Additionally, it is doubtful that this policy reduces or hinders bike theft in Charleston. Perhaps it only exacerbates the problem. If you take someone's only form of transportation, you'd better believe they'd be more likely to steel mine. While I appreciate an attempt to 'green' the behavior of Charleston's staff, the practice of bike confiscation should be abandoned immediately.

Posted by Patricia Carson on July 16, 2008 at 11:33 AM | Report this comment

Taking unregistered bikes seems to me as a good way to ward off theft. It's not that big of a deal to go down and register your bike. And, if stolen, it could help you get your bike back as opposed to having to go buy a new one.

Posted by Greg Hambrick on July 17, 2008 at 8:18 AM | Report this comment

Taking unregistered bikes seems to me as a good way to ward off theft. It's not that big of a deal to go down and register your bike. And, if stolen, it could help you get your bike back as opposed to having to go buy a new one.

Posted by Greg Hambrick on July 17, 2008 at 8:18 AM | Report this comment

Greg, While I respect your opinion, it is this reasoning that is flawed. Most Charlestonians do not even know of the registration requirement, and unfortunatly, the only times I've heard of its enforcement has been in low-income neighborhoods. These are likely the folks that depend on their bikes as transportation more than anyone. I disagree that this policy wards off theft. As stated before, I think this policy likely exacerbates the problem. It only costs $1 to register a bike with a receipt and $2 to register without, so it only costs $1 to more register a potentially stolen bike. For those who have not registered their bikes and bought it off of ebay, from a friend, found an abandoned bike on the side of the road merely in need of small repair, or recieved a free bike from Without Walls Ministries will have no written proof of their ownership in the first place to reclaim their bikes after confiscated. Again, I fundamentally disagree with this policy.

Posted by Patricia Carson on August 29, 2008 at 11:05 AM | Report this comment

Greg, While I respect your opinion, it is this reasoning that is flawed. Most Charlestonians do not even know of the registration requirement, and unfortunatly, the only times I've heard of its enforcement has been in low-income neighborhoods. These are likely the folks that depend on their bikes as transportation more than anyone. I disagree that this policy wards off theft. As stated before, I think this policy likely exacerbates the problem. It only costs $1 to register a bike with a receipt and $2 to register without, so it only costs $1 to more register a potentially stolen bike. For those who have not registered their bikes and bought it off of ebay, from a friend, found an abandoned bike on the side of the road merely in need of small repair, or recieved a free bike from Without Walls Ministries will have no written proof of their ownership in the first place to reclaim their bikes after confiscated. Again, I fundamentally disagree with this policy.

Posted by Patricia Carson on August 29, 2008 at 11:05 AM | Report this comment

It's $1 and the bicycle thefts downtown are pervasive. Easily more than one a day. Easily. Most of these bikes are found in decent shape, but never get back to their owner because they can't verify ownership. Spending the $1 is worth it and should be the first thing that you do on your way home from buying the bike.

Posted by Greg Hambrick on August 29, 2008 at 12:41 PM | Report this comment

It's $1 and the bicycle thefts downtown are pervasive. Easily more than one a day. Easily. Most of these bikes are found in decent shape, but never get back to their owner because they can't verify ownership. Spending the $1 is worth it and should be the first thing that you do on your way home from buying the bike.

Posted by Greg Hambrick on August 29, 2008 at 12:41 PM | Report this comment

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Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Posted by Greg Hambrick on Wed, Jul 16, 2008 at 8:51 AM

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