Arrested for wearing a Kilt

**Bamamedic** · 31st May 17, 08:29 AM

Interesting responses...

So a municipal judge docked the pay of the elected chief of municipal law enforcement? Just making sure my understanding is correct.

If that's the case, can I interest any of you in a unicorn? I breed 'em.

**lewtherin** · 31st May 17, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I think the Judge handled the situation admirably.

I think what the Judge decision was based on, he thought it was not excuse for the Sheriff to make a false arrest and he punished him for that, here in the states, the law states, " ignorance of the law is no excuse". Not defending either one, I was just glad to get out of there.

**lewtherin** · 31st May 17, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by Father Bill

Particularly so by walking in and saying "Nice Kilt!" I would imagine that he had been told what was waiting for him, possibly even by a better educated and highly amused bailiff. He had likely also encountered the Marshall's massive ignorance in the past to judge from his level of annoyance as reported by the OP.

Father Bill, Several years ago, many of these small towns didn't even have a sheriff or Marshall, and several towns that did, the sheriff did pretty much what he wanted to do and in most cases made up his own laws as he went, I am guessing that is what happened here, I wasn't dressed to the sheriffs taste, so he nailed me, but it all backfired on him. These small towns didn't have a judge either, no money to hire one, so what would happen, an appointed lawyer would travel to each one of these town on certain days and hold court for the town. All Judges here are lawyers before they become judges. I may be the only person on this planet arrested for wearing a kilt, It was not funny then, but looking back, I have to laugh about it, because it was a humorous happening.

**Father Bill** · 31st May 17, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by lewtherin

Father Bill, Several years ago, many of these small towns didn't even have a sheriff or Marshall, and several towns that did, the sheriff did pretty much what he wanted to do and in most cases made up his own laws as he went, I am guessing that is what happened here, I wasn't dressed to the sheriffs taste, so he nailed me, but it all backfired on him. These small towns didn't have a judge either, no money to hire one, so what would happen, an appointed lawyer would travel to each one of these town on certain days and hold court for the town. All Judges here are lawyers before they become judges. I may be the only person on this planet arrested for wearing a kilt, It was not funny then, but looking back, I have to laugh about it, because it was a humorous happening.

Quite aware of that circumstance, but perhaps I would be accurate to say that neither the incident nor the history increase my respect for that part of the world. The Marshall certainly did not well or properly represent the people he was supposed to serve.

**KMCMICHAEL** · 31st May 17, 04:09 PM

The law is complicated. No one knows it all. I spent 29 years in law enforcement. I spent many years at a training academy in my career. I have won lunches over something that I am an expert in and the other officer gave tickets for and saw fines levied by a judge. There was no law regarding this offense.

**OC Richard** · 31st May 17, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by lewtherin

many of these small towns didn't even have a sheriff...

I'm from a tiny town, a thousand people on a good day.

My grandfather owned the filling station and was Mayor, his son was the Police Chief. The Department was something out of Mayberry RFD, two officers in a shack of a Police Station.

There were two police cars- one ran, the other sat in front of the station with no wheels, up on concrete blocks.

If you're surprised that the filling station owner was Mayor, why heck it was one of only two businesses in town, the other being the Laundromat. (Yes you could wash your clothes or buy gas; anything else entailed driving to Marmet.)

They have cool patches though

**Me cousin Jack** · 31st May 17, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by KMCMICHAEL

The law is complicated. No one knows it all. I spent 29 years in law enforcement. I spent many years at a training academy in my career. I have won lunches over something that I am an expert in and the other officer gave tickets for and saw fines levied by a judge. There was no law regarding this offense.

thats a crime

**Prisoneratvillage** · 31st May 17, 06:49 PM

What is it that the police say to us? Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Well he was ignorant, probably overzealous, and apparently not so
worldly. I don't believe I have ever run into a soul who has not heered or seen a kilt, either on TV, photos of the Royal family and such.

**Luke MacGillie** · 31st May 17, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by lewtherin

I may be the only person on this planet arrested for wearing a kilt

I can say with 100% certainty that you are not the only person arrested for wearing a kilt, there were a number of Scots who had that happen to them in the post 45 period......