[jeffm725]

Over the last year or so, but I would say even more so in the last 6 months, I have noticed am alarming rate of news articles that are linked on the front of RUkind that are pertaining to the arrest of people at DSO shows on drug related charges. In particular they are getting people for felony trafficking of hallucingeons.
How lame is it that authorities still feel the need to profile Deadheads 15 years after the bands demise.

it would be wise if everyone gets the word out to all the brothers and sisters out there to be VERY careful about what they are doing outside of DSO shows. They are running undercover stings. I feel bad for DSO. They are just trying to bring the music they love to others and keep the vibe alive. Knowing that your righteous enterprise is a vehicle for entrapment must suck.

[erock]

they have been cracking down on Nelson's ledges since last year. I guess they busted one of the normal vendors there last year, and found the mother load of herb in his u-haul. I would say DSO there is just a coincidence.

it is a shame the ledges are a wonderful place to see a show. I was going to head to that festival this weekend, if that darn rainbow gathering wasn't in my home state that is

[jeffm725]

they have been cracking down on Nelson's ledges since last year. I guess they busted one of the normal vendors there last year, and found the mother load of herb in his u-haul. I would say DSO there is just a coincidence.

it is a shame the ledges are a wonderful place to see a show. I was going to head to that festival this weekend, if that darn rainbow gathering wasn't in my home state that is

The Nelson ledges article obviously triggered my post, but there have been a half-dozen other ones recently that were specific DSO shows.
Tarrytown NY
Bridgeport CT
Some Michigan show .....

on and on...

[erock]

Yea, I've noticed that as well.

I just wanted to say this one was more because of the environment surrounding the ledges than just DSO.

[strumminsix]

From what I've read dealers have been strongly targeted but not users, is that not the case?

[JonnyBoy]

I think this has always happened, I remember narcs being on dead tour too. It may not have been as advertised since we are not hooked up to the net and 30 news periodicals every time we open our browser, but cops always have thought they are doing the society's good work by putting stupid, over indulgent, self centered 20 year-old's in jail with felonies. I have no idea how I made it, I was one of them at one time. They are supplementing their tax revenue with costly drug busts and a festival like this, since its inception, has been like shooting fish in a barrel. Its funny, how come none are Nitrous busts? those are SO easy to find. That is against federal law by misusing it by is labeling, isn't it? Some places are cool, some aren't. But being a total dumb ass will get you busted anywhere. Its usually on the highway to and from the show. Drinking in the car, smoking in the car, carrying anything in your car within a 100 mile radius of the venue is suicide, that's always been the rule of thumb too. They can't reasonably search your car if you are sober, have nothing in your car and you are driving safely, but It has been my experience cops have their magical ways of bending the rules, so get a GOOD hiding place if you have to carry such things, and don't bring a 6 ft bong with a gas mask to a concert, that was their own dumb ass fault .

[jeffm725]

From what I've read dealers have been strongly targeted but not users, is that not the case?

It is both, I have seen plenty of possession arrests both at the aforementioned Tarrytown and Bridgeport venues on the recent tour.

Also it may be semantics on my part, but a 25 year old swinging a sheet of some clean paper or fungus to other peaceful people as a way to get to the next show is different than the Colombian bringing a kilo of white in Bridgeport Harbor, but guess who is going to get more jail time?

Why no Nitrous busts? Easy, the Nitrous Mafia is real. The south Jersey/Philly contingent Pays off cops to the tune of hundreds of thousands a year to swing tanks at festies every summer. That is pure sketch. Dont get me started on that. I love nitrous (or used to) but I will NEVER EVER buy a balloon from anyone at any show or festival. That cash is NOT going into the "right" hands.

[strumminsix]

Also it may be semantics on my part, but a 25 year old swinging a sheet of some clean paper or fungus to other peaceful people as a way to get to the next show is different than the Colombian bringing a kilo of white in Bridgeport Harbor, but guess who is going to get more jail time?

Guess it's just me but I knew plenty of folks who got from show to show selling legal goods and services and plenty more who went from show to show to simply vend their illegals. Guess I don't see much of a difference between a dude selling coke on the streets and the dude selling paper in a lot who only go to shows to sell drugs and never even hear the music, enjoy the people or like the fans.

BTW, the busted for carrying white would be a more effective correlation if you compared powder to crack.

[jeffm725]

Also it may be semantics on my part, but a 25 year old swinging a sheet of some clean paper or fungus to other peaceful people as a way to get to the next show is different than the Colombian bringing a kilo of white in Bridgeport Harbor, but guess who is going to get more jail time?

Guess it's just me but I knew plenty of folks who got from show to show selling legal goods and services and plenty more who went from show to show to simply vend their illegals. Guess I don't see much of a difference between a dude selling coke on the streets and the dude selling paper in a lot who only go to shows to sell drugs and never even hear the music, enjoy the people or like the fans.

BTW, the busted for carrying white would be a more effective correlation if you compared powder to crack.

strummin' I cant disagree with your stance, like I said, semantics on my part, and just a personal view. I also happen to agree with you RE: the lot swingers who are there just for making money and not the music. I was thinking more old school paper movers who were actually righteous in making sure it was good clean stuff people were taking and were actually there to GET IN to the shows. Unfortunately not many of those around anymore.

[strumminsix]

I was thinking more old school paper movers who were actually righteous in making sure it was good clean stuff people were taking and were actually there to GET IN to the shows. Unfortunately not many of those around anymore.

Sadly, I got on to the bus too late to know those cats. By the 90s the lot scene was hit or miss for me at my few shows. Sometimes found cool cats. Sadly, though, I was more likely to find bad dudes looking for trouble....

[jeffm725]

I was thinking more old school paper movers who were actually righteous in making sure it was good clean stuff people were taking and were actually there to GET IN to the shows. Unfortunately not many of those around anymore.

Sadly, I got on to the bus too late to know those cats. By the 90s the lot scene was hit or miss for me at my few shows. Sometimes found cool cats. Sadly, though, I was more likely to find bad dudes looking for trouble....

you know what, that IS sad (and I dont mean REALLY sad, seeing starving homeless person is SAD, but I mean sad as a commentary in the way the scene changed) and not just for you but for so many people who did not get to experience the pre- in the dark days where everyone was there for just the music and the experience. The few vendors (legal and illegal alike) existed solely to make enough funds to get into the next show. I remember being in New Haven Coliseum in the spring of 1984 and I had an extra ticket that I could not GIVE away. The place held 9000 people and I could not GIVE a ticket away. I tried,I really tried to give it away and simply everyone there had a ticket! Picture that in the 90's.

You know what funny though, I am sure there are heads from the 70's who says the early 80's scene sucked and ones from the 60's who said the 70's were bad so I guess it all just a matter of perspective. However, this I can state empirically, things changed in the lots after the Coma (and they were starting to change before the coma).......

[Samson]

Do you think the change after the coma was a public perception thing, an on the ground shift, or caused a wave of police presence? What was tangibly different?

p's

Sam

[tcsned]

Do you think the change after the coma was a public perception thing, an on the ground shift, or caused a wave of police presence? What was tangibly different?

p's

Sam

Things started ramping up after In The Dark I don't know how much the coma had to do with it, probably more coincidence IMO. I think it was all the attention the Dead got with having a Top 40 hit and a music video hit. Tour became way over crowded too many people in the lot without tickets hanging out and partying attracted a lot of attention from local, state, and national authorities.

i think a lot of it started because hippies were easy targets. Most were not very discrete about their partying it made them easy to spot and in a very concentrated area. Also, this was the same time that there was starting to be a lot of gun violence associated with the American drug scene. Deadheads didn't, for the most part, carry guns or use them. That made them a lot safer to bust than someone likely to be packing.

[erock]

Why no Nitrous busts? Easy, the Nitrous Mafia is real. The south Jersey/Philly contingent Pays off cops to the tune of hundreds of thousands a year to swing tanks at festies every summer. That is pure sketch. Dont get me started on that. I love nitrous (or used to) but I will NEVER EVER buy a balloon from anyone at any show or festival. That cash is NOT going into the "right" hands.

crazy... my friend just sent me this http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-07-06/ ... fia-boston

[Mick]

Sorry, I'm having trouble posting as it keeps saying I have timed out.