Honk Too Hard for Kelly Thomas, & You Will Be Cited
Protestors in support of the late Kelly Thomas have been swarming the corner of West Commonwealth and South Highland Avenues in downtown Fullerton every Saturday since early July. Urging drivers to honk their horns, protestors encourage these sounds of support via hand motions, signage and cheers. But these noisy drive-by protestors are not receiving much support from Fullerton police.
Fullerton police Sergeant Andrew Goodrich says that the department has been receiving "numerous" complaints from disgruntled residents, businesses and park-users about the honking plus other instances of "disturbing the peace," reports The O.C. Register. Goodrich says some drivers will continuously hold down their horns along a quarter-mile stretch along Commonwealth and Highland.
When protest organizers refused to stop encouraging honkers on Friday and Saturday, patrol officers began citing drivers for violating California vehicle code section 27001, which says motorists may only use their horns “when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation” of a vehicle.
But police do show some compassion. Three citations from Saturday have been voided. One citation was voided after a driver spoke with the captain and admitted he didn't understand what was acceptable. "We have to balance the rights of the protesters and the rights of the residents and business owners in the surrounding area,” Goodrich said.
The homeless and mentally ill Thomas was assaulted by six Fullerton police officers on July 5 and died five days after the attack. An investigation is still underway.
