Burning Man’s Future in Question Amid Fight With Government Agency

Damn Hippies!

Nytrunner said:

"I know there are drugs there" isn't a legally defensible position or evidential grounds for a warrant.

https://reason.com/2018/10/31/burning-man-drug-arrests-tossed/

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I'm not talking about getting a "warrant". When you have a lot of "undercover presence", combined with drug-sniffing dogs and their officers "strolling through" the crowd. ( since it's Federal Land. DEA & ATF would be employed ), and if the dog "alerts", there is no warrant required, since they have "probable cause" to search.

The difference between Rocketeers and "certain individuals" in the Burning Man crowd ( drunks, underage alcohol users, "vice" offenders, drug-users, drug dealers, etc. ) is that those people, unlike Rocketeers, are actively and intentionally breaking the law.

If you roust and arrest enough of them, along with confiscating their vehicles ( vehicle used in the commission of a crime ), those "problem people" will stop going to Burning Man and the event will shrink, accordingly.

The "key" here is the "legality" of people's conduct, not the existence of Burning Man itself.

Controlled substances are not permitted under Burning Man's policy, nor are they permitted on the federal lands on which Burning Man is held. Although Nevada legalized recreational marijuana in 2017, the drug is still illegal under federal law.

From 2018 . . .

https://snowbrains.com/burning-man-warning-read-this

From this, you can see there are an awful lot of people worried about getting busted . . . https://burningman.org/culture/stories/jrs/archive/

https://survival.burningman.org/rules-regulations/law-enforcement/

QUOTE :

This isn’t a comprehensive list of rules and regulations or laws that apply in Black Rock City, but here are some of the frequently asked questions and most common violations. Violations could result in arrest, citation, and/or eviction from the premises. For the most current information applicable to any given situation involving an arrest or citation at Burning Man, you should consult with a lawyer.

• The use and possession of illicit drugs and drug paraphernalia are violations of the law. Depending on the violation, you may receive a citation or be arrested and/or evicted from the event. The possession of large quantities or a variety of drugs may be interpreted as evidence of intent to distribute, which is a serious felony offense. Giving illegal substances to someone else could be considered drug trafficking.
• Prescription drugs must be transported and kept in the bottle you received from the pharmacist at all times.
• Driving with an open container or under the influence of alcohol (DUI) is illegal. Nevada’s blood alcohol limit (BAC) is 0.08 for drivers 21 years of age and older, and 0.02 for drivers under 21.
• Serving alcohol to minors is illegal. If your Theme Camp has a bar where alcoholic drinks are gifted, the person serving alcohol must check that any person being served is at least 21. It is a state and local offense for anyone under 21 to consume alcoholic beverages or to try to pass themselves off as being of age. It is a violation of Pershing County law for minors to even possess alcoholic beverages.
• Any act of assault or theft is a violation of the law and may be cited as a felony federal offense.
• Possession or discharge of firearms or weapons is prohibited.
• Dumping, leaking or spilling gray water, black water, oil or fuel is illegal.
• Use of drones or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) is prohibited unless the operator is registered through and complies with the Remote Control BRC program (RCBRC) and operates the UAS in accordance with federal laws and regulations.
• Human waste (urination and defecation) on the playa is a violation of federal regulations. You may be issued a ticket that will cost you hundreds of dollars.

The federal government does not recognize state laws decriminalizing marijuana for medical or recreational purposes.
The possession or use of marijuana is a federal infraction in the Black Rock High Rock National Conservation Area where Burning Man takes place, and having a medical marijuana card is NOT a defense.

As of 2017, adults aged 21 and over are permitted under Nevada law to possess and transport up to one ounce of marijuana (1/8 ounce of concentrated marijuana) and marijuana paraphernalia within the state. But the use of marijuana in public places is still prohibited, as is possession or transportation of more than an ounce (which could be evidence of trafficking under state law). Other restrictions also apply.

See Nevada Revised Statues Chapters 453A and 453D for the full text of Nevada’s laws regulating medical and recreational marijuana. Remember that marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and BLM may cite anyone for possession of any amount.

END QUOTE :

Well that settles it, no drug activity going on at Burning Man.

One of the main goals of Burning Man is leave no trace (Wikipedia)!! Yet they leave it worse and worse every year.. Look up any large gathering of people that support this type of BS? Burning Man, Chilli Fest, Woodstock... What is left when it’s done? A crap ton of trash that someone else has to pick. It’s always easy when you make it someone else’s problem. Well maybe the kids might do better next time?? Horse Sh/?. Excuses don’t work.

Back when I was a kid (Middle Ages), I was taught that one should always try to leave a place in better shape than the way you found it. I guess that might be kind of sappy in this 'enlightened' age. It's a policy that makes for better, cleaner public areas and improved self esteem however.

Jim

State and federal parks in my area have recently removed all trash receptacles and put up signs requiring people to leave with there own trash. This was, presumably, to save the cost of having to haul away trash and maintain trashcans, etc.

Last time I was at one of those parks, I went to use a spot-a-pot and could not, because the hole was full of trash. Soda cans, boxes, aluminum foil, plastic cups, you name it. No, people do not clean up after themselves. How many times have you seen smokers flick butts out of their car window while driving?

It may have started with a few individuals who actually cared about the environment, but it has devolved into just being a place to party.

Bat-mite said:

It may have started with a few individuals who actually cared about the environment, but it has devolved into just being a place to party.

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Ding, ding, ding . . . We have a winner !

There is the TRUTH of "Burnout" Man !

I once worked for a company that had started with just a handful of employees five years earlier. The company president always insisted that "our company is like family" and had some policies that made sense for a company with less than 20 employees. But there were a few of us who shared an unpopular opinion that policies that worked for a "family" company of 20 no longer made sense when they had 150 employees. The people who were there when they had less than 20 employees always had difficulty seeing that they no longer had what they used to have. The entire company had become something utterly different. I see the same thing with Burning Man and it's organizers.