TN: Mom threatened w/ arrest, CPS called, b/c her child to rode her bike to school

[Lucille]

Arrested for Riding Bike to School

Teresa Tryon said, "On August 25th my 10 year daughter arrived home via police officer, requested to speak to me on the front porch of my home. The officer informed me that in his 'judgement' it was unsafe for my daughter to ride her bike to school."

Ms Tryon called the mayor's office and the chief of police office in order to determine what laws she was breaking by allowing her daughter to ride her bike to school. Her daughter's route to school was reasonably safe.

Major Verran of the police department returned Ms Tryon's call. She said he told me, "He had spoke with the District Attorney's office who advised that until the officer can speak with Child Protective Services that if I allow my daughter to ride/walk to school I will be breaking the law and treated accordingly.

She asked, "What law she would be breaking to which the answer was 'child neglect'".

h/t http://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=193275

How we go from the first point to the second is only partly under our control, but ceding that control to a nanny government that now threatens parents with arrest because their kid rides his or her bike to school is an outrage. That's not government with the consent of the governed, it's a declaration that you're living in a de-facto prison - one that is now desperately clawing at the cliff-edge as Leviathan has borrowed and spent itself into a corner and is biting off your legs to sustain itself.

 

[Warrior_of_Freedom]

another victim of public school

 

[TomtheTinker]

It is things like this that piss me off more than any thing.

 

[Anti Federalist]

We're all on our way to jail for something or another.

The police state is just starting to flex it's muscles.

The time is rapidly approaching to fight, fuck or hit the fence.

 

[amy31416]

You must be kidding. A kid who is adept at riding is far safer from bullies, predators and dogs and it is a good way to help them understand independence. Not to mention that it's healthy for them. Would they rather that she walked through these "reasonably" safe neighborhoods?

 

[Zippyjuan]

I was probably fourth grade when I started riding my bike to school (just over a mile) and was walking home by myself before that.

 

[Yieu]

This kid is in 5th grade. When I was in 6th grade, I walked to and from school over 3 miles every day from the second day of school forward. I tried the bus on the first day, didn't like it, and then walked.

 

[amy31416]

This kid is in 5th grade. When I was in 6th grade, I walked to and from school over 3 miles every day from the second day of school forward. I tried the bus on the first day, didn't like it, and then walked.

Uphill, both ways?

 

[brushfire]

The day we lost count of our laws was the day we all became criminals.

 

[Yieu]

Uphill, both ways?

Actually... Yes. I was just looking at the route, and it is 1.6 miles actually. But there was a steep hill to go up in the morning near my house, and a steep hill to go up near the school on the way home. I also walked there in the snow. I was clothed, though!

I mistook this 1.6 mile walk for the 3 mile walk I walked to work and back after school during high school.

 

[catdd]

Who would be the most concerned as to the safety of a kid riding a bike to school? I think it is either someone terrified of a lawsuit or the insurance companies fearing a claim against them if something went wrong. I've long believed that the insurance companies are behind nearly every law that binds, restricts, or in any way confines you. Either way, I guarantee that they care more for money than anything else.

 

[Yieu]

Who would be the most concerned as to the safety of a kid riding a bike to school?

The kids' parents.

 

[Staupostek]

I find it amazing that the police are admitting that they are a failure at keeping the streets of their city safe. And instead of increasing their efforts to do their duty and make them safe, they go after a little girl and her mother. But, I guess it's easier to threaten women and children than to go out fight crime like they are supposed to do.

 

[LibertyEagle]

Uphill, both ways?

In knee deep snow.

 

[Yieu]

In knee deep snow.

Yep.

 

[catdd]

The kids' parents.

Oh, I must have read the article wrong, I thought the parent allowed the child to ride the bike to school.

 

[Yieu]

Oh, I must have read the article wrong, I thought the parent allowed the child to ride the bike to school.

What?

The parent allowed the child to ride the bike to school, and the parent would be the most concerned as to the safety of a kid riding a bike to school.

Just because they would be the most concerned person regarding their own child's safety, doesn't mean they aren't able to measure actual risk and decide that it is safe enough.

No one is more concerned about a kid than the kids' own parents. No one!

But having the ability to measure actual risk is a sign of intelligence, too.

 

[catdd]

What?

The parent allowed the child to ride the bike to school, and the parent would be the most concerned as to the safety of a kid riding a bike to school.

Just because they would be the most concerned person regarding their own child's safety, doesn't mean they aren't able to measure actual risk and decide that it is safe enough.

No one is more concerned about a kid than the kids' own parents. No one!

But having the ability to measure actual risk is a sign of intelligence, too.

Its the state threatening the parent. The mother evidently thought it was safe, but obviously some disagreed with her vehemently. In retrospect, I should said "who would be the most opposed" rather than "concerned" but I went on to explain that, I thought.

 

[Yieu]

Its the state threatening the parent. The mother evidently thought it was safe, but obviously some disagreed with her vehemently. In retrospect, I should said "who would be the most opposed" rather than "concerned" but I went on to explain that, I thought.

It sounded like you were trying to say lawyers and insurance companies are more "concerned" about kids than their parents... thanks for explaining what you really meant, that makes more sense.

 

[kylejack]

Here's a Google streetview of the street in question: http://bit.ly/qr1I6X

That street looks perfectly safe for a kid to ride a bike a mile. What's going on here is a cop who isn't treating all vehicles the same. Boo hoo hoo, the cars have to go around the bike. Tough shit. This makes me so angry, as a cyclist.