Is this legal ... ?

I was just driving home from work and I noticed a lot of traffic in a place where there is usually no traffic, I assumed it was an accident, but as I got closer I noticed signs saying to donate money to save some bar or something, so I assumed people were just stopping to give them money, but I had no plans to as I know this place as a disgusting place I have no interest in(I guess there's a reason it needs donations.) But as I got closer and planned to just drive by... NOPE! the reason for the traffic jam was they were actually blocking traffic with a sign that said "Road Toll" and not letting anybody pass unless you paid them. Now I didn't want to start anything so I just gave them 50 cents.. but is this shit legal? It was like I was dealing with modern day highwaymen. I assume this is illegal.

Now I'm no lawyer, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say, "no".

No, that is absolutely not legal. You should've said something.

Yes this is Illegal.

You probably should have called the cops on those fools.

Not likely, but if it was a strip bar, I would have stuffed a dollar in their g-string.

@MooseyMcMan said:

You probably should have called the cops on those fools.

You should probably still call them.

Fuckin' highwaymen.

Yes, that sounds illegal. Fuck those guys.

For a moment I thought that one of those foreign spam bots had taken over a well known GB account in their never ending quest to sell us female clothing.

Call them. This is just some dumb bullcrap.

Yeah, that's extortion, which is a felony. They could/probably will get seriously fucked for doing that.

This is why I'm grateful for the second amendment.

@Subjugation said:

This is why I'm grateful for the second amendment.

yeaaahhh that would be the wrong way to handle this on all counts

NOPE.

@Riboflavin said:

@Subjugation said:

This is why I'm grateful for the second amendment.

yeaaahhh that would be the wrong way to handle this on all counts

This is why I'm grateful for cellphones?

Edit: And yeah, @CL60 this pretty much amounts to extortion.

@Subjugation said:

This is why I'm grateful for the second amendment.

...oh god

@Riboflavin said:

@Subjugation said:

This is why I'm grateful for the second amendment.

yeaaahhh that would be the wrong way to handle this on all counts

Yah, this is just some people who had a very bad idea about how to raise some money, not some one who is trying to jack your car and rape you.

They are committing two crimes.

1. Causing traffic build-up. Unless of an emergency or "accident," creating any form of traffic build-up is a federal offence.
2. Extortion. Yes, it may be "cute" to the people that go to this sort of hang-out, but to the general public, it is an intimidation technique and I'm sure they know that. You only felt the need to fork over 50 cents because of your knowledge of the area and the fact that you didn't want to "start" anything. That, my friends, is forcing an individual to a system.

Its illegal for several reasons,

• Extortion
• Blocking a public road ( illegal in most places )
• For profit business can not ask for donations in most areas.

@CL60 said:

I was just driving home from work and I noticed a lot of traffic in a place where there is usually no traffic, I assumed it was an accident, but as I got closer I noticed signs saying to donate money to save some bar or something, so I assumed people were just stopping to give them money, but I had no plans to as I know this place as a disgusting place I have no interest in(I guess there's a reason it needs donations.) But as I got closer and planned to just drive by... NOPE! the reason for the traffic jam was they were actually blocking traffic with a sign that said "Road Toll" and not letting anybody pass unless you paid them. Now I didn't want to start anything so I just gave them 50 cents.. but is this shit legal? It was like I was dealing with modern day highwaymen. I assume this is illegal.

You live in Nova Scotia, right? I live in the Valley, and this is the first I'm hearing of it.

You should probably contact your RCMP office.

@Garfield518 said:

@CL60 said:

I was just driving home from work and I noticed a lot of traffic in a place where there is usually no traffic, I assumed it was an accident, but as I got closer I noticed signs saying to donate money to save some bar or something, so I assumed people were just stopping to give them money, but I had no plans to as I know this place as a disgusting place I have no interest in(I guess there's a reason it needs donations.) But as I got closer and planned to just drive by... NOPE! the reason for the traffic jam was they were actually blocking traffic with a sign that said "Road Toll" and not letting anybody pass unless you paid them. Now I didn't want to start anything so I just gave them 50 cents.. but is this shit legal? It was like I was dealing with modern day highwaymen. I assume this is illegal.

You live in Nova Scotia, right? I live in the Valley, and this is the first I'm hearing of it.

You should probably contact your RCMP office.

Yeah, I'm in Nova Scotia. I'm sure somebody else will call the cops. There were a lot of angry looking people there.

@Dagbiker: Just calling this a "bad idea" is underselling it. If someone blocks my path and tells me I'm not getting through unless I pay I consider that a conflict.

That's fucked up.

@CL60: Don't worry Big Bo is already on the case.

You should have ran the motherfucker with the sign over

If that legal than so is getting out of your car and beating the living shit out of the guy who says that you can’t pass.

@Subjugation said:

This is why I'm grateful for the second amendment.

I COMPLETELY REFUSE TO SENSE YOUR SARCASM.

@Subjugation said:

@Dagbiker: Just calling this a "bad idea" is underselling it. If someone blocks my path and tells me I'm not getting through unless I pay I consider that a conflict.

Yea, because this situation totally calls for you pulling out a gun.

What the?! That's crazeeeh! What if an ambulance needed to get through?! I hope someone does call the cops on them and everyone doesn't just rely on someone else to do it.

@Toxeia said:

@Subjugation said:

This is why I'm grateful for the second amendment.

I COMPLETELY REFUSE TO SENSE YOUR SARCASM.

You, sir ... you get the gold star for today. Your brain is in working order.

Sith views on legality:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz20lu2AM2k&feature=player_detailpage#t=8s

@WilliamHenry said:

@Subjugation said:

@Dagbiker: Just calling this a "bad idea" is underselling it. If someone blocks my path and tells me I'm not getting through unless I pay I consider that a conflict.

Yea, because this situation totally calls for you pulling out a gun.

You're pretty good at conjecture.

@Dagbiker said:

@Riboflavin said:

@Subjugation said:

This is why I'm grateful for the second amendment.

yeaaahhh that would be the wrong way to handle this on all counts

Yah, this is just some people who had a very bad idea about how to raise some money, not some one who is trying to jack your car and rape you.

To be fair, they never said that they weren't going to rape him.

Oh god they're bandits! Get out of Nova Scotia. The police can't help you now that society has crumbled (in Nova Scotia).

I believe that this is one of those rare moments where it is civilly acceptable to straight up smack a bitch. If you know what I am saying.

@Subjugation said:

@WilliamHenry said:

@Subjugation said:

@Dagbiker: Just calling this a "bad idea" is underselling it. If someone blocks my path and tells me I'm not getting through unless I pay I consider that a conflict.

Yea, because this situation totally calls for you pulling out a gun.

You're pretty good at conjecture.

Well stop bullshitting, and explain exactly what you meant by your statement. Why exactly are you relieved that you have your second amendment rights in that situation?

I'm waiting.

edit: Oh, you're just being sarcastic? Fantastic. Really added a lot to the discussion, good job.

hahaha

@CL60: I don't want to step on your toes, but you should call. It might seem reasonable that so many other people would certainly call, but they might be thinking the same thing as you. That's one of the primary reasons why crime goes un-reported. It's important to be pro-active about this stuff.

@CL60: I most likely would have told them that I don't carry cash with me, then reported them once away. I have no problem with someone asking for donations and what not, but blocking traffic and forcing it is another thing, and as others have said, illegal. I'll never see the place in question, but I'm gonna go ahead and assume that your opinion of it being "disgusting" is accurate.

Public road, highway tolls have been illegal since roads were invented. Unless done by the government.

@CL60 said:

Yeah, I'm in Nova Scotia. I'm sure somebody else will call the cops. There were a lot of angry looking people there.

That's what everybody else will say too. Just call.

@MetalBaofu said:

@CL60: I most likely would have told them that I don't carry cash with me, then reported them once away. I have no problem with someone asking for donations and what not, but blocking traffic and forcing it is another thing, and as others have said, illegal. I'll never see the place in question, but I'm gonna go ahead and assume that your opinion of it being "disgusting" is accurate.

Yes, disgusting is accurate. It's a bar that even has started to put ads up in the newspaper saying they're hiring "private dancers" and that anybody is welcome.

@Meowshi: Initially it was a joke, but not entirely. I'd rather have a gun and not need it than need it and not have it. It's called a deterrent. What, do you think you can just give them a smile and hug to pay their toll? What are you going to do if they aren't peaceful? The world isn't all rainbows and butterflies unfortunately.

I'm waiting.

Did anyone say "Stand and deliver" to you?

Very Illegal.

What do you mean by "they wouldn't let anyone pass"?

A car is bigger than a person, and they'd move the fuck out of the way if you started forward surely...

This is genius. Are they sticking to one busy road or are they spreading the annoyance around?

@Canteu said:

Very Illegal.

What do you mean by "they wouldn't let anyone pass"?

A car is bigger than a person, and they'd move the fuck out of the way if you started forward surely...

Or they know that if you run them over in any way you are royally f***** and will be charged with vehicular assault.

I know its not proper and would only have given more trouble but I'd be driving straight through their make shift roadblock and/or toll taker.
 
If they're playing highway bandit, I'm playing RPG hero who has no time for them.

@TaliciaDragonsong: Four wheels and several thousand pounds of Fus Ro Dah?