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Brian Beasley is the Legal Adviser for the High Point Police Department in High Point, North Carolina. In order to justify his exorbitant (not really) salary and keep his officers informed of the latest changes in the law, he writes legal updates from time to time. Brian knows that officers aren’t generally enthusiastic about reading something entitled “Legal Update” so he tries to include some humorous footnotes to encourage them. Since he began writing these updates, officers from other agencies have asked to be added to the mailing list, but Brian decided that creating a blog was by far a more arrogant and geeky option.

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    The Five “W’s” and an “H” Of City Code Enforcement

    26 Mar

    Posted by Brian Beasley In Legal Update

    To download a PDF file of this update, click here

    The Five “W’s” and an “H” Of City Code Enforcement
    Vol. 3, Number 6
    March 26, 2010

     Brian Beasley
    Who Dat? and Legal Adviser, HPPD

                All of the fine police officers who enjoy writing reports1 know the rule about the five “w’s” and an “h.”  A good journalist, investigative reporter, or police officer tries to answer six main questions when writing:2  Who was involved?  What happened?  When did it take place?  Where did it take place?  Why did it happen?  How did it happen?3  Today we are going to use these inquiries to discuss a topic that has been burning at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts lately:  enforcing the High Point City Code.

                Judging by the groans and rolling eyes that sentence just produced, I gather that many readers believe that enforcing the city ordinances is not that important in the grand scheme of things.  After all, we have homicides and rapes and impaired drivers with which to deal.  But let me point out that while any officer knows how to charge a violation of a state statute, it takes a special4 officer to know the possible ways to charge a violation of a city ordinance. Read More

    1. All those fine officers who enjoy writing reports raise your hand…Let’s see some hands out there….Anyone?….Anyone?… ↩
    2. The voices in my head also like to ask questions as we’ll see in a bit.  Maybe you’ve asked some of these same questions. ↩
    3. You probably use the five “w’s” without realizing it every time you read of these legal updates.  Maybe you’ve asked some of these questions:  Who cares?  Who is this guy?  What is he talking about? What stupid jokes is he going to throw at us today?  When does he find time to write all of this stuff?  Where did we find him?  Why did we hire him?  How can we get rid of him without getting caught?  Why did UNC start playing defense only after the regular season was over?  You get my drift. ↩
    4. A nice way of saying “anal-retentive.” ↩
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    Count On It: The Law of the 2010 Census

    12 Mar

    Posted by Brian Beasley In Legal Update

    To download a PDF file of this update, click here

    Count On It: The Law of the 2010 U.S. Census
    Legal Question of the Week
    Vol. 3, Number 5
    March 12, 2010

     Brian Beasley
    One Proud American Citizen
    and Legal Adviser, HPPD

                 It is a bright and sun-shiny day.1  You respond to a public disturbance call and arrive at a house to find a homeowner in an animated discussion with some “official-looking” visitor.  Using your keen investigative skills,2 you are able to determine that the official-looking visitor is a census taker.  The homeowner is not happy with the “Fedral Gubment” trespassing on his property and he wants the man arrested.  You have some foggy notion about what the census is all about, but you have no idea what the legal rights of census takers are.  Fear not – your legal adviser is currently sitting at his desk playing minesweeper3 and is available to take your call! Read More

    1. With a shout-out to Johnny Nash and “I Can See Clearly Now.” ↩
    2. The “keen investigative skills” consist of asking “What the heck is going on here?!” ↩
    3. I’m joking, of course.  Chances are I’m working on something that is not only vital to the Police Department and the City of High Point, but to the future of all mankind. ↩
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