Police get locksmiths to enter homes

[Treasure Chest]

No. Most gas appliances have electric pilot lights and gas valves. For instance, my propane heater in the house doesn't have a pilot light, it has an electric ignition and a valve that controls when gas is released. No gas in the line, no light. If there's air in the lines, the system shuts down after trying to light twice.

There are safeties on things and have been for quite a while. There was zero reason to do this just as there was zero reason during Katrina to confiscate weapons and kick people out of their homes

That is assuming that all of the appliances in all of the houses have the safeties in place. There are no guarantees that every single one of the appliances in every affected home are new. It's really a damned if you don't/damned if you do situation. If they go in, they're intruding on the homeowner's
privacy, but if they assume that all appliances have safeties, and one house goes boom, they are liable because they didn't take the needed precautions.

[Forever_frost]

No. Most gas appliances have electric pilot lights and gas valves. For instance, my propane heater in the house doesn't have a pilot light, it has an electric ignition and a valve that controls when gas is released. No gas in the line, no light. If there's air in the lines, the system shuts down after trying to light twice.

There are safeties on things and have been for quite a while. There was zero reason to do this just as there was zero reason during Katrina to confiscate weapons and kick people out of their homes

[Treasure Chest]

This isn't a search or seizure. Sounds like officers are making entry under exigent circumstances - which is to get the gas shut off before something bad happens. They aren't looking for drugs in this situation. Does the article say anything about arrests made? Nope. Just officers and gas company killing the gas. Not sure why the can't cut it at the meter.

Haven't read all the way through, yet. If they shut off the gas at the meter, then turn it back on, wouldn't the pilot lights will be out and once the gas starts flowing again, it would just fill the house?

[TENGRAM]

How about this scenario: There is a gas leak, they shut it off at the street or at the box at the end of the street and put a notice on every door instead of breaking and entering.

I don't work for the gas company, nor do I fully know the circumstances in this specific situation but I can't imagine why, if that was possible, they would have wasted man hours going in each individual house to turn off the gas.

[Forever_frost]

How about this scenario: There is a gas leak, they shut it off at the street or at the box at the end of the street and put a notice on every door instead of breaking and entering.

[TENGRAM]

I guess you would be okay with them coming into your house under the assumption of your safety and finding something in your house that they find 'disagreeable', and being able to use it against you for a conviction even if they didn't have a warrant to search for it?

And before you say something about not having anything 'disagreeable' in your house, there have been numerous time that evidence gets manipulated or outright fabricated.

Stevo

So, wait... they are going to break into my house to, say, shut the gas off and while they're there they are going to plant evidence? Why would they do that?

How about this scenario: There is a gas leak, the police know about it, but rather than break in without a warrant they just let it go and your house blows up killing your pets and destroying a lifetime of memories in the form of pictures, heirlooms, and other possessions. That would sit well with you?

[stevo]

Seriously, I would be very grateful if the cops came around and protected my home from potential disaster. Isn't this exactly the kind of thing police should be doing rather than, say, popping people for dime sacks of weed?

I guess you would be okay with them coming into your house under the assumption of your safety and finding something in your house that they find 'disagreeable', and being able to use it against you for a conviction even if they didn't have a warrant to search for it?

And before you say something about not having anything 'disagreeable' in your house, there have been numerous time that evidence gets manipulated or outright fabricated.

Stevo

[Forever_frost]

Exactly. It shouldn't be done at all and anyone entering a home without warrant or the expressed permission of the homeowner should be shot.

[95DRGT]

This same mentality is the one police used during Katrina. "We are coming in your house to save you from a threat. You don't have gas? Tough. We have to make sure." Then they kick down the door (or in this case get a locksmith) and enter to do as they want. Hell when they seized weapons during Katrina and put people out of their homes it was for their 'own good' as well.

Fuck that. If there is a gas problem and I did not ask you to come in, you do not come in. I will handle the reprocussions

Same thing happened post Katrina by Animal Rescue- They entered peoples homes to retrieve dogs and cats at free will often breaking and entering. I understand why they did it but it still doesn't sit well.

Can I get $50 off you?

No shit. I've got a blown out Chuck Taylor and haven't felt like throwing the scratch around to replace the pair.

[TENGRAM]

Someone who has it to spend.

Can I get $50 off you?

[Broncojohnny]

I will tell you what happened and you can take it from there.

My buddy owned a loft downtown and the FBI wanted to talk to him about someone that he knew from serving time with them. They called him and he politely declined to discuss anyone or anything with the agent. The agent decided to show up in person and try to talk to him. I was sitting in the parking lot waiting for my friend to come down stairs to go fishing with me. When he exited the building 2 agents confronted him; once again he refused to talk to them. They told him that they would get a material witness warrant for him and told him that he was not free to go; in the mean time the local PD showed up and one of the agents took my friends house keys from him and gave them to an officer and instructed him to enter my friends house to retrieve his lap top computer. The officer did just that without asking any questions and the FBI discovered information on the computer that got my friend a very long sentence for bank and wire fraud.

My friend has a checkered past and would not be my friend today if I had not known him since the 7th grade. He was also as guilty as hell for what he is now in prison for.

I forgot to ad that they let him go after half an hour or so but they impounded his car (and kept it) and never came up with the warrant that they threatened to get.

Oh so the FBI pointed the fingers at the local PO-lice and the local boys pointed at the FBI. Meanwhile no one has been disciplined or removed from their job and your friend has had his life ruined. Why am I not suprised? I love our system.

[Unicorn Jeff]

Why would you need shampoo, when you are bald? ;b

Probably because of that forest he's carrying around he keeps gloating about.

Oh, everybody got jokez today.

[Silverback]

Nail clippers and shampoo are serious business.

Why would you need shampoo, when you are bald? ;b