7 ms·

Hopefully covered by the same laws that protect banks that use dye packs. Porch bandits are entering private property that is not theirs and not by invitation,

Hopefully covered by the same laws that protect banks that use dye packs. Porch bandits are entering private property that is not theirs and not by invitation, then stealing private property. Instead of pot smoking convictions, I'd rather see more prison time for porch bandits caught by dye pack-like bait packages.

pavel_lishin 8y ago
I'm not shedding tears for people who break their legs trying to jump a fence into someone's backyard so they can steal their TV, but the laws are what they are. I can't exactly put down Home Alone style traps in my house; I'm not sure why this is any different.
- jrockway 8y ago
  I think the difference is degree of injury. Having glitter in your car is a lot different than having a bullet through your face, which is where the booby trap case law comes from.
  - tjoff 8y ago
    Yes, but... What if the passenger opened the package while the car was being driven, and the commotion with the glitter and fart bomb (and perhaps a exaggerated response by the passenger) might contribute to an accident. Maybe the smell and the shame might make the thief stressed and make bad decisions in traffic. Both scenarios might seem silly, but I think they are in quite a different legal light when there is intent to disrupt.
    - craftyguy 8y ago
      They don't seem silly, they are silly.
      - tjoff 8y ago
        Many accidents are.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- ufmace 8y ago
  It's about the degree of harm. Spreading glitter and fart spray in somebody's car doesn't really hurt anybody, and it's very unlikely anyone would prosecute over it, no matter what the circumstances were. Breaking someone's legs is very different in the eyes of the law. Booby traps are generally illegal because they are indiscriminate. It may be justified self-defense to hurt somebody, even to a crippling or lethal level, if you knew it was necessary to save your life or prevent some other serious violent felony. Booby traps could harm anyone, regardless of their intent. If you were to set up a shotgun trap to fire on anybody who opens your door wrong, for example, it might kill a burglar or rapist. Or it might kill a fireman, cop, paramedic, pushy salesman, handyman, etc. Even if you don't want some of the previous in your home, you can't shoot them to keep them out, at least not without requesting them to leave and going through a chain of escalation first. Even booby traps that aren't that harmful could cause a lot more damage than expected if somebody very old, very young, disabled, or otherwise more physically vulnerable happens into them. So you can (at least in the US) defend your home yourself with an appropriate amount of force, including lethal force if the situation calls for it. But only because it's you making a reasonable judgement about the appropriateness of the force involved. You can't set a booby trap to harm anyone who goes to the wrong place, regardless of who they are or what their intent is.

pavel_lishin 8y ago

I'm not shedding tears for people who break their legs trying to jump a fence into someone's backyard so they can steal their TV, but the laws are what they are. I can't exactly put down Home Alone style traps in my house; I'm not sure why this is any different.

jrockway 8y ago
I think the difference is degree of injury. Having glitter in your car is a lot different than having a bullet through your face, which is where the booby trap case law comes from.
- tjoff 8y ago
  Yes, but... What if the passenger opened the package while the car was being driven, and the commotion with the glitter and fart bomb (and perhaps a exaggerated response by the passenger) might contribute to an accident. Maybe the smell and the shame might make the thief stressed and make bad decisions in traffic. Both scenarios might seem silly, but I think they are in quite a different legal light when there is intent to disrupt.
  - craftyguy 8y ago
    They don't seem silly, they are silly.
    - tjoff 8y ago
      Many accidents are.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
ufmace 8y ago
It's about the degree of harm. Spreading glitter and fart spray in somebody's car doesn't really hurt anybody, and it's very unlikely anyone would prosecute over it, no matter what the circumstances were. Breaking someone's legs is very different in the eyes of the law. Booby traps are generally illegal because they are indiscriminate. It may be justified self-defense to hurt somebody, even to a crippling or lethal level, if you knew it was necessary to save your life or prevent some other serious violent felony. Booby traps could harm anyone, regardless of their intent. If you were to set up a shotgun trap to fire on anybody who opens your door wrong, for example, it might kill a burglar or rapist. Or it might kill a fireman, cop, paramedic, pushy salesman, handyman, etc. Even if you don't want some of the previous in your home, you can't shoot them to keep them out, at least not without requesting them to leave and going through a chain of escalation first. Even booby traps that aren't that harmful could cause a lot more damage than expected if somebody very old, very young, disabled, or otherwise more physically vulnerable happens into them. So you can (at least in the US) defend your home yourself with an appropriate amount of force, including lethal force if the situation calls for it. But only because it's you making a reasonable judgement about the appropriateness of the force involved. You can't set a booby trap to harm anyone who goes to the wrong place, regardless of who they are or what their intent is.