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Fla Man arrested for… releasing helium balloon with his girlfriend. “Anthony Brasfield saw romance when he released a dozen heart-shaped balloons into the sky over Dania Beach with his sweetie. Also watching the romantic gesture: an FHP trooper, who instead noted probable cause for an environmental crime.” Can we get much more stupid? YES WE CAN!

Contributed on February 26, 2013 by Bonfire of the Absurdities, who has submitted 2772 posts.

{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }

poppajoe49 February 26, 2013 at 5:17 pm

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Ban assault balloons!

Jim Stewart February 27, 2013 at 12:37 am

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If only the guy had released 7 or less balloons instead of using a high capacity balloon magazine.

deepthinker February 26, 2013 at 6:22 pm

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My God, what’s next. There’s got to be something more important to do. The only threat that might have been if they where near some airport.

At some point someone has got to say STOP IT and get some common sense about you. When a recruit rides along I keep stating over and over “use your common sense, it will serve you well”

Not so silent February 26, 2013 at 8:13 pm

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I have never been that desperate for something to do, but it seems more and more there are idiots hired who think they are all powerful and better than everyone since they have a badge, I don;t know about you, but the power is reserved for when you need it, I have found that common sense, a little ass chewing and explaining things go a long way to clearing up things..If I had to write tickets for this kind of thing, I would retire and become an anarchist..this is sooooo stupid it’s unbelievable.

Some of the rookies I have seen in the last couple years scare me….They have zero life experience, and zero common sense….

deepthinker February 27, 2013 at 3:55 am

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I like to say ” a badge and gun will take you so far, but a robe and gavel trump them every time”. It just goes through those who feel they walk on water.

poppajoe49 February 27, 2013 at 4:23 am

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Honestly, I think I understand this action.
One of the hot topics in Florida is Sea Turtles.
They are a rare resource, and the state does all it can to protect them, even to the point of having regulations regarding lighting in areas where they nest and hatch.
Releasing balloons is a danger to Sea Turtles, because when they eventually end up coming down, they often land in the water, and the turtles eat them, causing them to die.
I feel bad for the guy, I’m certain he meant no harm, but the officer was following regulations.

ooddballz February 27, 2013 at 4:34 am

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Actually Poppa, having spent time sailing in and around Biscayne bay and seeing all the garbage in the water there, I can agree with the law.
Plastic bottles, plastic grocery bags, and other assorted crap in the water with the turtles, dolphins and manatees pisses me off.

perlcat February 28, 2013 at 9:30 am

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The mylar balloons are the worst. They last forever, and they hold their helium for a long long time. However, I don’t think that the guy should be abused too much for it — I remember that when I stayed in Naples, they handled the sea turtle issue by just telling us to close our shades at night. Surely, the place where he got them could have told him to not release them outdoors.

Sidekick February 27, 2013 at 4:34 am

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Maybe and I know you’re being sympathetic to the turtles (every Floridian is) but using this logic, every county fair would have to either ban balloons or have paddy wagons standing by to sweep up all the little kids who accidentally release their balloons.

poppajoe49 February 27, 2013 at 5:00 am

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Kick, I believe the statute refers to a certain distance from the shore areas.

Sidekick February 27, 2013 at 12:38 pm

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I think you are probably right about the coastal ordinance. It does make sense to me too.

GhostntheMachine February 28, 2013 at 5:39 am

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Maybe I fell out of the wrong side of the bed this a.m. but come on guys, a felony? A “third-degree felony is punishable by up to five years in prison” felony?!?

Sidekick February 28, 2013 at 6:00 am

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The felony charge is absurd. But the coastal part of the state has been raped badly over the years. I think a stiff fine would be a punishment that would fit the crime.

GhostntheMachine February 28, 2013 at 6:29 am

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Whew, now that I could ride the manatee with (JK, that’d land me in jail too). A citation and notice to appear, just like rolling a stop sign.

Joe Redfield February 26, 2013 at 7:02 pm

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I’m glad the crime rate in Florida has fallen to the point where the Highway Patrol has nothing better to do than jug people for releasing balloons.

CO2Insanity February 26, 2013 at 7:08 pm

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Someone I know hit a tree branch with a truck in Alameda, CA last week. It was a small branch, the tree hasn’t been trimmed in years (as usual the city never has enough money for everything). I was told the branch was about ready to fall off anyway from the look of it. The woman in the house in front of the tree comes out screaming bloody murder, wants his insurance, registration, etc., He tells her he doesn’t have his insurance form, it’s at home. She get pissed off and calls the police, even though it’s a city tree and not even her’s. At this point, the Alameda PD has so little to do 3 cops show up for a tree branch. One tells him don’t worry about it, it’s not a problem, then one of the others just had to write him a ticket for not having his insurance card in the truck. Talk about nothing to do, this is it.

RKae February 26, 2013 at 7:40 pm

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Winnie the Pooh only got away with his balloon shenanigans because he was cleverly disguised as a little black raincloud!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NitBpJaom5k

Progressive Hemrrhoid February 26, 2013 at 10:01 pm

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In some of these cities it’s as much about revenue generation as it is about being a jack-booted thug. This goon must have been behind on his quota for the month.

poppajoe49 February 27, 2013 at 4:25 am

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It’s actually a state law.

Dan February 27, 2013 at 4:24 am

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Meanwhile…back at the crime scene – a random shooting was taking place out on the Interstate…Officials explained that the response time was delayed for this emergency due to the diligent work of one of their crack Patrol Officers rounding up balloon threats. Officials advised that this type of problem could be immediately resolved with a 25% increase in the State Highway Patrol’s budget for the coming year.

poppajoe49 February 27, 2013 at 5:04 am

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There is one real stupid statute concerning the State Police (Highway Patrol) in Florida.
ANY car accident MUST be investigated and managed by the Highway Patrol. Local police and county Sheriffs are not permitted to even issue a ticket for accidents. They are merely able to do traffic control and back up the Highway Patrol, which must be called in, and usually have a long response time.
I was a witness to an accident recently, and could only give the Sheriff my card for the Highway Patrol to contact me later, the Sheriff couldn’t even take my statement, or write an accident report.

flashingscotsman February 27, 2013 at 9:48 am

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Sounds like the State Police belong to a stronger union than the locals.

Sidekick February 27, 2013 at 7:09 pm

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If there’s no property damage other than cars and no one hurt, they won’t even write up a report. My son got broadsided and the cop on the scene just insisted that the other driver give my son her info so her insurance would pick up the tab. She was cited for causing the wreck but no police report was ever filed. Car was repaired in 10 days and that was it.

poppajoe49 February 27, 2013 at 8:27 pm

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I didn’t know that. But then I don’t know anyone that was in such an accident.

flashingscotsman February 28, 2013 at 7:29 am

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Luckily, your son wasn’t hit by an uninsured illegal alien. My truck was hit by one, and my uninsured motorist coverage paid for the damage, but with a $500 deductible. The criminal trespasser got a ticket, which I’m sure he took care of right away.

perlcat February 28, 2013 at 9:41 am

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Yeah, I got hit by one with fake ID, fake insurance card. I was just out one truck. Kind of moody about that. Next time, nobody leaves the scene until the cops arrive, and either cash money changes hands, or an ACTUAL insurance agent accepts the claim.

CO2Insanity February 28, 2013 at 9:44 am

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I got hit by one, too. Fake driver’s license, fake, plates, fake registration, fake insurance. $700 of bodywork later…..