Cops Cracking Down on Pushy Times Square Vendors

Since a police officer got into a deadly shootout with a Times Square CD peddler, cops have been issuing more tickets to the over-eager salesman. In fact, they've given out 45 misdemeanor charges for "aggressive solicitation" in the past six weeks. As a result, CD sellers have nearly been wiped clean from the city's central hub, but is the eradication fair or legal?

A man selling CDs at a table on W. 46th St. said his compatriots were being "harassed by the police." "I heard they got everybody—they all disappeared," food vendor John Galanopoulos told the NY Post, referring to the hustlers who hawk CDs to tourists, posed as rappers. Other vendors have been spared because they have tax stamps or are less aggressive. Legally, selling CDs, just like selling books or art, is protected by the First Amendment.

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By Sabrina Jaszi in News on January 23, 2010 10:55 AM

Comments [rss]

David Abbey

I wish there was more exposure to this scam. These guys are nothing but dirtbags who don't want to work for a living. Just hustle people out of their money and give them a worthless CD.

non_sequitur

Seriously who is writing this stuff?

It's not legally "protected" speech. Saying it like that implies that it enjoys the utmost protection for this kind of speech - flatly it doesn't. Simply because you can do something in one scenario does not mean you can do it in all. Slight nuance is required. And while we're at it - how about getting a source next time you co-opt an article and make legal conclusions you're clearly not able to make.

dgeee

Brainless tourists need to learn the word "no".

inoyourider

Most of that shit is fake or bootlegged anyways.

In either case, fuck 'em.

Bernie Madoff-Goetz

Anytime I'm approached by one of those idiots and refuse their CDs they go off on an indignant rant about "how I suppose ta' earn a livin'?" or "maybe i should rob stores since none of ya'll care."

GTFO, losers. Go find an uninhabited island and claim it in the name of your primitive, macho, outmoded tribe. "Tupacistan" has a nice ring to it.

NannyState

There's one off the coast of Brazil that's populated by rats. The perfect choice.

Abbott

It's about time! Those CD hawkers are the worst. They're not selling their "art." They're just intimidating tourists out of their money.

Mordicai

Right, legally, when you find out someone's name, write it on a cd, then bilk them for ten bucks by being a bully, that is freedom of speech. Being a conman & strongarming people into giving you their money with threats is totally a First Amendment issue.

Actually, given the SCOTUS ruling on how corporations are legally allowed to buy elections, it might actually be...

aspiringrapper

"Legally, selling CDs, just like selling books or art, is protected by the First Amendment."

So now Gothamist is trying to elicit sympathy for these pushy, thuggish conmen?