In this constitutional? cops tackling kids on bicycles ?

Question

I live in an area of new york were a few years back a group of young drug dealers were selling drugs of off bicycles. When cops caught on to this they started harassing, searching and pushing kids off bikes bikes for pretty much no other reason other than the fact that they were on bikes but used the excuse that they were riding bikes on the sidewalk (which is illegal in new york).

I knew about the drug peddlers on bikes months before the cops found out but isn't this a little excessive? I'm asking because I was coming out of a gas station when a kid riding a bike on the side walk saw a cop car and fled unto the street until the cruiser tapped his back tire cause him to fall.

This is a bit too much, would the kid have a chance in court if he sues for damages?

Answer 1

Possible,but not likely.

Answer 2

Which question do you want answered?

"In this constitutional? cops tackling kids on bicycles?"

It certainly could be, or it could also be a blatant violation of civil rights.  It's not possible to tell from your question.

"This is a bit too much, would the kid have a chance in court if he sues for damages?"

Again, without knowing an awful lot more information it's just not possible to tell.  Lawyers earn thousands and tens of thousands of dollars in civil trials and take months and years to evalutate the merits of a case.  You're not going to get a qualified answer here based on two paragraphs.

Answer 3

I don't know, but its funny!

Answer 4

If you can be tackled for running from the Police on foot, what makes you think it would be "Unconstitutional" if Police tackle you for trying to run from them on a bicycle? Running is Running and the fact that your are a "kid" doesn't mean a fiddlers d**n. The Law is the Law and the sooner you figure out that you are subject to it, the better off you will be.

Answer 5

The way your question sounds is like the Officers just picked a kid out and used their vehicle to mow him down. I would bet there is more to it than your are aware of. If they were chasing this person and new that he was fleeing or was a danger to the public, then the push bar works great on bicycles. If Officers are just out mowing kids down based on a suspision that they may be drug dealers???? Well I have a hard time with that. Way to much paperwork for any of the Officers I know.

Answer 6

Stopping a person for riding a bicycle on the sidewalk is totally legal.  It is a reason to stop someone and investigate further.  Contrary to popular opinion, the police can perform a pat down search of the person that they have stopped to check for weapons.  If drugs are found, having been recognized as such by the officer, during the course of this search the person can be charged for the possession of the drug(s).  As for the excessive force issue-can you recommend another method of getting the bicycilist to stop?  Pease understand that I'm not trying to insult you.  Rather, I'm trying to put you in the shoes of officers who are charged with the responsibilty of pursuing and jailing criminals.  If you were the officer, asked a person to stop and they didn't; what would you do?  You probably are not going to be able to catch a person that is riding a bycycle while you are on foot.  That is, of course, unless your name is Carl Lewis.  If you are told, by police, to stop it is best to do so.  If a person chooses to run from the police, this kind of unfortunate situation can happen very easily.  Remember that the kid in question could have committed an earlier crime and was being sought by police.  I know that I can come across as a bit blunt and sarcastic at times, but again, I am not trying to insult you.  I hope this information is helpful.

Answer 7

If he is running from the cops, no...... Unless he gets a unbelievable good lawyer. Doubt that............. And if your riding your bike on the sidewalk and it is illegal, then they can stop you all they want. They can't legally search you though. So they can find all the dead bodies they want in your

backpack(not sure how it would be possible) and you won't get in trouble as long as you don't give them just cause to search you. And riding your bike on the street definitely isn't just cause. Also, if they push you off of your bike though and your not running from them, then you have a case and can sue them for excessive force, though it will be hard to win unless you got injured while being pushed off your bike.

Answer 8

Kids + Drugs = MAJOR CRACKDOWN. Deal with it.