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Schumer Wants To Crack Down On "Adrenaline Junkies"
By
Lauren Evans
Published Oct 14, 2014
Modified Oct 14, 2014
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By
Lauren Evans
Published Oct 14, 2014
Modified Oct 14, 2014
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Senator Chuck Schumer wants to crack down on thrill-seekers looking to get their kicks by breaking into city landmarks and other places where civilized society, according to him, doesn't belong.
If Schumer gets his way, antics such as the Brooklyn Bridge flag hijinks over the summer and snapping illicit shots from atop the newly decreed tallest building in the city would be an offense punishable with up to five years in prison.
“It must be made loud and clear to any would-be trespassers, adrenaline junkies or potential criminals that the federal government and the NYPD take trespassing on critical infrastructure and national monuments very seriously,” Schumer said. Just not seriously enough to properly patrol them, amirite?
Trespassers currently face a maximum of one year of jail time, a slap on the wrist that Schumer does not feel adequately prosecutes the crime. "We can't have people for evil purposes or just for fun trespassing on vital parts of our infrastructure that we know are terrorist targets,” he said.
Demidism, alias of the 17-year-old Instagrammer who scaled 432 Park for fun and art, tells us he doesn't foresee the new bill impacting him.
"I already decided to stop going about my explorations illegally, so this doesn't really change anything for me," he wrote in an email. "Also since this bill only pertains to 'critical infrastructure' where trespassing barely occurs according to my count, I think this will only stop inexperienced trespassers from climbing bridges. Which is fine by me."
The tighter laws would distinguish between minor trespassing offenses and landmarks regarded as terrorist targets, including the Indian Point Nuclear Plant in Westchester County, bridges and tunnels and the Statute of Liberty.
Tagged
charles schumer
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Lauren Evans
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