Protesters: Police Ticketed Driver For Honking In Support Of Homeless Man
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Are drivers in Fullerton being ticketed for showing their support of a homeless man whom they believe was murdered by police?
That's the allegation made in a new YouTube video that purports to show police citing at least one supporter near a "Justice for Kelly Thomas" protest on Saturday for "excessive" honking.
The protest was staged in support of Kelly Thomas, 37, a homeless man who died after a confrontation with Fullerton police officers in July. An investigation into Thomas' death is still ongoing.
An unnamed protester said he began filming officers as he approached the protest site on the corner of West Commonwealth and South Highland avenues in downtown Fullerton.
"I get out of my truck and start filming the officers because they're forming to get people for honking," he said. "One of them shoots across the street, goes right for my truck and starts writing down my license plate."
When asked why he was taking down the information, the officer allegedly responded, "It's public view", and drove away, the protester said.
Later in the video, an officer is seen ticketing the protester for what he called "excessive" horn noise.
"Just to let you know, we're not against cops, we're against murdering," the driver is heard telling the officer. "So your harassing and intimidation is not going to work."
"I don't know what you're referring to, sir," the officer responded. "I'm here to write you a ticket for your excessive horn noise."
Sgt. Andrew Goodrich told the Orange County Register that drivers had been heard holding down their car horns for as much as a quarter-mile, sparking complaints from residents and businesses.
Drivers were reportedly cited for drivers violating California vehicle code section 27001, which limits the use of the car horn for motorists only "when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation" of a vehicle, Goodrich told the Register.
