I have recently found out that the police were called during Christmas and new year’s eve, exact time/day is not yet known but my neighbors reported that there were 2 incidents during that holiday week, on my property, and that is unacceptable. The court will have to issue a request for the police records during that time in addition to the call traces (using *57 on my land-line via Verizon and TAP service) to add some weight of urgency to this case.
Since my original post, many concerned citizens have forwarded very valuable information regarding harassment enabled by the use of blocked/restricted calls and of course stalking – there is a much deeper psychology that plays into the reasons why any of this may occur, there is a very fine line between stalking and harassment in the eyes of the law and reparations will happen differently depending on how the judge or court hears the claim – I have provided some links to useful information that could help you to keep these types of situations from escalating.
For New York State: http://www.safehorizon.org/page.php?page=stalking_nylaw
Most statutes define stalking as the willful, malicious and repeated following and harassing of another person. In addition to a pattern of conduct, many state laws mandate that an imminent, credible threat of violence be made against the victim for the activity to be considered stalking. But thirty-two states also consider the stalker’s intent to instill fear as illegal, with all but six states defining criminal stalking as any activity that would instill fear in a reasonable person.
Why do I take this so seriously, here is a report from last week, of a 23-year-old woman killed outside her Orlando office by a stalker had asked for a protective order but was denied. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,585535,00.html
Resources:
– For Blackberry users, a new service that will be offering more options as they develop and expand their product line, thanks Roseann for reaching out to me! http://www.privacystar.com/Default.aspx
– Very valuable information regarding recent rulings, i.e. California Penal Code 646.9, www.leginfo.ca.gov –> http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs14-stk.htm
– http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs3-hrs2.htm#2
– http://news.cnet.com/FAQ-The-new-annoy-law-explained/2100-1028_3-6025396.html
– http://www.stalkingvictims.com/home.htm
– A very informative site: http://www.safehorizon.org/page.php?page=stalking_nylaw
– http://trac.syr.edu/laws/47/47USC00223.html
– http://www.wiredsafety.org/cyberstalking_harassment/stalker.html
Of course, it is very difficult to get a restraining order or order of protection, BUT if you can prove reasonable damages in Civil Court, there are ways to effect change. Preliminary Hearing is next week and hopefully, with an Advocate on Privacy Policy and support from the Telco’s , maybe we can effect some change.
Why do I care so much?
I lived over a year with fear and helplessness every time my phone rang from a blocked number over and over again, late at night, early in the morning – it effected my ability to work, to sleep and to simply answer my phone – I missed a great deal of work because of the harassment! Since I began writing about it has stopped, but that does not make it “ok“.
Remember, when you sign up for your mobile phone, you are agreeing NOT to abuse the use of said device.
Thank you to all those who reached out to me and shared their stories, I hear you loud and clear!