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LAPD on Hollywood Blvd.
Here is the story of my ongoing adventure with the LAPD.
Aproximately one month ago, Officer S__ and his partner (who did not give me a name) approached me while I was performing my magic act on Hollywood Blvd between Highland and Orange. They asked me for my identification. I gave them my drivers license, and they began writing on what appeared to be a ticket pad.
They then asked if I had a permit to perform on the Boulevard. I told them that according to my information, Los Angeles had no permit system, but that I did have a permit for Santa Monica. They asked to see it and I showed it to them. S_'s partner stepped close to me in a menacing manner so that I was nose to chest with him (this is a big guy...with a very big gun.) and said, "This is not a Permit...we both know that this is not a permit."
I repeated that it was a Santa Monica permit and that there were no permits required in the city of Los Angeles.
"This is Hollywood blvd," said Seguin..."This is something different." S__ then explained that street performers were not welcome in Hollywood. I told him that the Supreme court had declared street performing to be constitutionally protected speech, and that the issue had already been before the courts in Hollywood.
"Well, you can take this one to court." he said, as he continued writing on what appeared to be a ticket pad.
"What is your purpose for being out here?" said S__.
"I'm doing a magic show"
"Yes but what is the purpose for doing the show?"
"I'm an artist...it's what I do." At this, the Big Man With the Big Gun snorted loudly.
"What are you charging?" they asked.
"I'm not charging anything, I pass a hat, and ask for donations."
It was apparent at this point that they were trying to get me to admit that I was charging money, and therefore vending and not performing.
S__ snapped his ticket book closed. "All right, Zack, I'm going to allow you to continue," he said "At this point we do not have clear guidelines as to what we can do with you people, but we are talking with the City attorney as what exactly can be done. We do not want Hollywood boulevard to turn into Venice beach."
The absurdity of this statement will not be lost on anyone who has been to Hollywood boulevard:Santa Monica and Venice draw millions of tourists every year. The performers are mentioned in all the guidebooks. Hollywood boulevard is an ugly shadow of its former glory, wallowing in tattoo parlors, head shops, and cheap electronics stores...a tragic waste of what should be a glorious urban center.
S__ informed me again that he was in contact with Julie San Juan, the city attorney. Further he told me that if I charged any fixed price, he would charge me with vending, and that he would cite me if my crowds blocked the sidewalk. He then gave me his card and left.
On February 23rd I was approached by Senior Lead officer Michael S__. Mike was off duty and not in uniform (He was moonlighting as security at the Hollywood and Highland mall). He informed me that he was a cop. He said that he knew that I was not vending, and that for the time being he would not try to stop me from performing, but that:
1. The merchants of Hollywood and Highland (the new mall)were complaining, and because of this, street performers would almost certainly be shut down soon.
2. That I would not be allowed to perform in the month of April because of the Oscar ceremonies.
3. That my amplifier was illegal.
On February 25, I saw S__ again. He approached me angrily and said "Didn't you get told about that amplifier?" I said no.
He than asked if I had a permit for the amplifier. I said I did not and asked him where I could get a permit. "They won't give you one for Hollywood Blvd," he said. He told me that there was an ordinance against amplified sound in Hollywood, and that I did not have the right to be so loud that people complained. "Did someone complain?" I asked?
"I'm complaining," S__said angrily.
"I'm not going to cite you, because I don't have the ordinance with me," he said, but he warned me not to use the amplifier. Later I asked him for the ordinance number, and he said it was in his car.
Seguin at this point told me that he was "In cahoots" with the city attorney to shut down all street performers, because "Venice Beach is a zoo." and that "we" want Hollywood to be the kind of place where parents could take their kids.
I voiced my opinion that if parents were afraid to take their kids to Hollywood, it probably had less to do with the free magic shows and more to do with the tattoo parlours and prostitutes. He said that there was nothing they could do about the prostitutes and that they would always be there. I felt that arguing the point would just make him mad...I didn't want to end up like Rodney King.
Upon checking the municipal code at lacity.org, I discovered that it was perfecftly legal to run an amplifier as long as it was not audible for more than 200 feet.
And that is where it stands.
I'm talking to a lawyer.
Aproximately one month ago, Officer S__ and his partner (who did not give me a name) approached me while I was performing my magic act on Hollywood Blvd between Highland and Orange. They asked me for my identification. I gave them my drivers license, and they began writing on what appeared to be a ticket pad.
They then asked if I had a permit to perform on the Boulevard. I told them that according to my information, Los Angeles had no permit system, but that I did have a permit for Santa Monica. They asked to see it and I showed it to them. S_'s partner stepped close to me in a menacing manner so that I was nose to chest with him (this is a big guy...with a very big gun.) and said, "This is not a Permit...we both know that this is not a permit."
I repeated that it was a Santa Monica permit and that there were no permits required in the city of Los Angeles.
"This is Hollywood blvd," said Seguin..."This is something different." S__ then explained that street performers were not welcome in Hollywood. I told him that the Supreme court had declared street performing to be constitutionally protected speech, and that the issue had already been before the courts in Hollywood.
"Well, you can take this one to court." he said, as he continued writing on what appeared to be a ticket pad.
"What is your purpose for being out here?" said S__.
"I'm doing a magic show"
"Yes but what is the purpose for doing the show?"
"I'm an artist...it's what I do." At this, the Big Man With the Big Gun snorted loudly.
"What are you charging?" they asked.
"I'm not charging anything, I pass a hat, and ask for donations."
It was apparent at this point that they were trying to get me to admit that I was charging money, and therefore vending and not performing.
S__ snapped his ticket book closed. "All right, Zack, I'm going to allow you to continue," he said "At this point we do not have clear guidelines as to what we can do with you people, but we are talking with the City attorney as what exactly can be done. We do not want Hollywood boulevard to turn into Venice beach."
The absurdity of this statement will not be lost on anyone who has been to Hollywood boulevard:Santa Monica and Venice draw millions of tourists every year. The performers are mentioned in all the guidebooks. Hollywood boulevard is an ugly shadow of its former glory, wallowing in tattoo parlors, head shops, and cheap electronics stores...a tragic waste of what should be a glorious urban center.
S__ informed me again that he was in contact with Julie San Juan, the city attorney. Further he told me that if I charged any fixed price, he would charge me with vending, and that he would cite me if my crowds blocked the sidewalk. He then gave me his card and left.
On February 23rd I was approached by Senior Lead officer Michael S__. Mike was off duty and not in uniform (He was moonlighting as security at the Hollywood and Highland mall). He informed me that he was a cop. He said that he knew that I was not vending, and that for the time being he would not try to stop me from performing, but that:
1. The merchants of Hollywood and Highland (the new mall)were complaining, and because of this, street performers would almost certainly be shut down soon.
2. That I would not be allowed to perform in the month of April because of the Oscar ceremonies.
3. That my amplifier was illegal.
On February 25, I saw S__ again. He approached me angrily and said "Didn't you get told about that amplifier?" I said no.
He than asked if I had a permit for the amplifier. I said I did not and asked him where I could get a permit. "They won't give you one for Hollywood Blvd," he said. He told me that there was an ordinance against amplified sound in Hollywood, and that I did not have the right to be so loud that people complained. "Did someone complain?" I asked?
"I'm complaining," S__said angrily.
"I'm not going to cite you, because I don't have the ordinance with me," he said, but he warned me not to use the amplifier. Later I asked him for the ordinance number, and he said it was in his car.
Seguin at this point told me that he was "In cahoots" with the city attorney to shut down all street performers, because "Venice Beach is a zoo." and that "we" want Hollywood to be the kind of place where parents could take their kids.
I voiced my opinion that if parents were afraid to take their kids to Hollywood, it probably had less to do with the free magic shows and more to do with the tattoo parlours and prostitutes. He said that there was nothing they could do about the prostitutes and that they would always be there. I felt that arguing the point would just make him mad...I didn't want to end up like Rodney King.
Upon checking the municipal code at lacity.org, I discovered that it was perfecftly legal to run an amplifier as long as it was not audible for more than 200 feet.
And that is where it stands.
I'm talking to a lawyer.
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