Bradford Mayor Tom Riel says the problem is not with the flags. He says the concern is that they flap into a traffic lane.

Apparently, just because you can submit a story, it doesn't mean you have to read it.

never in my life have i heard of a flag related traffic accident.

log_jammin: never in my life have i heard of a flag related traffic accident.

Me neither, but they aren't telling him he can't fly a flag, just how he flies it. We've got the same kind of thing going on in Bangor, Maine right now. War vet living in low-income housing told he can't fly the flag by strapping the flag-pole to the building. They never said he couldn't fly the flag but that's what all the headlines read. As with this case, a non-issue. Respect the zoning in the area to wish to do business in or move to a less restricted area. Or even try to change the rules.

LaChanz: As with this case, a non-issue. Respect the zoning in the area to wish to do business in or move to a less restricted area. Or even try to change the rules.

seems kind of odd he's had them there for 8 years without a problem.

I'd guess its a new asshole codes officer

log_jammin: I'd guess its a new asshole codes officer

...or maybe the guy bought new, bigger flags? Not enough info.

LaChanz: Not enough info.

true.

I still vote asshole codes guy though.

Seriously, what does being a veteran have to do with anything? It seems like it's always a veteran who is the victim in these stories.

Google brings up some interesting stuff on former protestor, now mayor, Tom Riel (new window) of Bradford.

I clicked on the story ready to get mad because some homeowner was told he couldn't fly a flag, then I saw it was a business, and then I read it was because his flags were apparently large enough to flap into the traffic lanes.

Non story. Seems reasonable. Just rehang the flags and get over it.

Anybody else find the comment from Bradford-Online.com funny?

So what if he is a veteran. Just comply with the ordinance. It's not that big of a deal.

There's also a posting on the page that has better info than the farking article.

"It's too bad this sensationalist story is being propagated without any fact checking.

The owner of this business was cited over threee flags that were placed on the curb and extended into the roadway, violating both local and state laws. He was approached by the city several times and refused to work with the city to work something out.

He still displays the U.S. Flags prominently in front of his business. These flags do not extend into the roadway and were not mentioned in the citation. This incident could have been avoided had the owner responded to the city's overtures.

The City Of Bradford goes out of its way to support local business owners and doesn't deserve this type of publicity just because it sounds sensational.

For a more balanced perspective on this issue you can visit Bradford-Online.com or TalkAboutBradford.com "

The store owner is just being an arseclown.

Following up on that post from TalkaboutBradford.com comment board, most of the people there disagree with the citation and say that it does NOT block traffic. So not sure how fair and balanced the discussion is.

Its just like Kanye being rudely cut off at the Grammys while giving his acceptance speech.

Wait, you mean that just because you've had your mom die recently, that doesn't give you the right to do whatever the hell you want and try to get away with it by saying, "thats really nice, my mom just died." ?

/still hate that farking prick
//agreed on the non-story. Buy smaller flags
///U.S.A! U.S.A!

Did anyone else read that as "He says the concern is that they fap into a traffic lane."?

Obvious troll is obvious.

The problem isn't really with the flags flapping in the traffic lane, but rather once you allow flags to flap people will flap all manner of things in traffic. If you allow flags to flap then more flapping things will end up flapping!

/I has a pole!

Tyranny in the name of safety.

veryequiped

So I wanna know whats up with Link

Don't we all. (new window)

You code enforcers have to be kidding. Prove a compelling "public good" need for the code and maybe, but ...

/resistance is futile
/you must comply
/you will be assimilated

Won't somebody please think of the veterans!

I'd be quite pissed if I was in an accident caused by a flag that was violating an ordinance. 1) Flag causes distraction. 2) Car hits kid. 3) Kid dies.
Yeah, it's worth this guy fighting to keep his flag in the street.
Move it back ten feet you asshat.

nekom: Seriously, what does being a veteran have to do with anything? It seems like it's always a veteran who is the victim in these stories.

The story got greenlit, didn't it? That's all that counts, y'know. I think someone wrote a book about it once...

Since when is a flag that has been up for 8 years a 'temporary sign'?

You know, if they criminalize flying flags in support of our troops more than 4" from a wall, only criminals will fly flags in support of our troops more than 4" from a wall.

log_jammin: LaChanz: seems kind of odd he's had them there for 8 years without a problem.

I'd guess its a new asshole codes officer

It's more likely new larger flags that reach into traffic and obstruct the view of motorists.

I've been to the store in question...less than a month ago, in fact.

They're kinda big, but I don't see a problem unless your vehicle is hell of tall. My Honda could've slipped right under the flappy ends, no problem, but a Hummer might get some fabric across the windshield.

Any Boy Scouts know if it's okay to put poster-putty on or sew small weights into the edges of the American flag? That'd solve the problem. They wouldn't be as flap-snappity and inspiring in the wind, but I do bet they'd last longer.

One of my friends told me a story about a neighbor that had a flag in his yard. Some uppity neighbors didnt like to hear the flapping noise, took him to court. The judge told him that possibly a taller flag pole would suffice. He agreed and put up a taller flag pole with a bigger flag and it made even more noise than before :p

Larva Lump: veryequiped

So I wanna know whats up with Link

Don't we all. (new window)

Indeed,
But explain how it has anything to do with Link (new window)

nekom: Seriously, what does being a veteran have to do with anything? It seems like it's always a veteran who is the victim in these stories.

I think there's an inverse formula that shows that the more some guy plays the "I'M A VETERAN!!!" card, the less likely he is to have seen anything remotely resembling combat.

SpiderQueenDemon: I've been to the store in question...less than a month ago, in fact.

They're kinda big, but I don't see a problem unless your vehicle is hell of tall. My Honda could've slipped right under the flappy ends, no problem, but a Hummer might get some fabric across the windshield.

Any Boy Scouts know if it's okay to put poster-putty on or sew small weights into the edges of the American flag? That'd solve the problem. They wouldn't be as flap-snappity and inspiring in the wind, but I do bet they'd last longer.

I was waiting for some other McKean county resident to show their face. Thanks for being here

Kane PA GO Wolves!!!

FTFA - A citation filed earlier in the week accuses shop owner Mike Smith of violating Bradford's sign ordinance because his flags flap into the street.

Somehow, I knew the situation wouldn't be as idiotic as the headline suggested. Hang the flags in the store window or some such thing and we're done. Keeps them from being damaged by the elements and vandals to boot!

I'm all for flying the flag. I just wish people would show it some respect.

These moron car dealers that fly 3,000 sq ft flags ("Look at us! We're more American than anyone! Buy from us!") or drape strings of little flags all over the used cars, along the fences and through the mud ought to be prohibited from flying it.

At least we're not as bad as the Brits. They seem to like to wear the flag made into every imaginable piece of clothing.

Just want to say this is my mom 's hometown. Stay classy Bradford.

Sgt Otter
I think there's an inverse formula that shows that the more some guy plays the "I'M A VETERAN!!!" card, the less likely he is to have seen anything remotely resembling combat.


what does combat have to do with being a veteran? If you join the military and serve your contract out, you are a veteran. you don't decide if you go to war or not

What flag did they want him to fly? Mexico's???

Shakespeare's Monkey: The problem isn't really with the flags flapping in the traffic lane, but rather once you allow flags to flap people will flap all manner of things in traffic. If you allow flags to flap then more flapping things will end up flapping!

/I has a pole!

flap flap

log_jammin: never in my life have i heard of a flag related traffic accident.

JFK had flags on his car.

Stick to treating sick animals vets!

Bradford Mayor Tom Riel says the problem is not with the flags. He says the concern is that they flap into a traffic lane.

Being a veteran or a "patriot" (aka China-made-flag waving 'tard) does not give you the right to endanger others. Sheesh. National flags should be banned just to force people to THINK about what patriotism really means (hint: it's not shouting slogans and waving emblems).

This is a late parrot: SpiderQueenDemon: I've been to the store in question...less than a month ago, in fact.

They're kinda big, but I don't see a problem unless your vehicle is hell of tall. My Honda could've slipped right under the flappy ends, no problem, but a Hummer might get some fabric across the windshield.

Any Boy Scouts know if it's okay to put poster-putty on or sew small weights into the edges of the American flag? That'd solve the problem. They wouldn't be as flap-snappity and inspiring in the wind, but I do bet they'd last longer.

I was waiting for some other McKean county resident to show their face. Thanks for being here

Kane PA GO Wolves!!!


Haha, here's another one for you. I'm from Kane, too.

I haven't been to Bradford in a while, so I can't really comment on the flags. All I know is every other person in Bradford is batshiat insane. I used to live there when I was a little kid.

mikec2003: Sgt Otter
I think there's an inverse formula that shows that the more some guy plays the "I'M A VETERAN!!!" card, the less likely he is to have seen anything remotely resembling combat.


what does combat have to do with being a veteran? If you join the military and serve your contract out, you are a veteran. you don't decide if you go to war or not

No shiat.

What I was getting at is that my personal observation is that when a veteran decides to loudly play the Veteran Card (when it almost always has nothing to do with the issue at hand) tend to be the guys who never to went war.

Case in point, my old neighbor. Has about a million "disabled veteran" shirts, hats, stickers, and crap on his house and car, and will let everyone he comes into contact infer that he was wounded in Vietnam. Starts every arguement and tries to win every arguement with the "I'm a disabled veteran!" card.

Well he is disabled, and he is a veteran. Once you pin down his actual service record, he was a radio repairman in West Germany who farked up his back in a car accident on the Autobahn.

nekom: Seriously, what does being a veteran have to do with anything? It seems like it's always a veteran who is the victim in these stories.

if you mention that someone is a veteran you have an instant audience of present or former military for your article.

check out the thread count any fark mil thread and you'll see the tendency for these guys to fall in and line up.

re-elect_jimmy_carter: nekom: Seriously, what does being a veteran have to do with anything? It seems like it's always a veteran who is the victim in these stories.

if you mention that someone is a veteran you have an instant audience of present or former military for your article.

check out the thread count any fark mil thread and you'll see the tendency for these guys to fall in and line up.

Just like liberals get together to protect one of their own when they do some supidarse thing.

dofus: I'm all for flying the flag. I just wish people would show it some respect.

These moron car dealers that fly 3,000 sq ft flags ("Look at us! We're more American than anyone! Buy from us!") or drape strings of little flags all over the used cars, along the fences and through the mud ought to be prohibited from flying it.

At least we're not as bad as the Brits. They seem to like to wear the flag made into every imaginable piece of clothing.

Businesses flying the US flag in a disrespectful manner is one of my pet peeves. We have a Harley dealer in a nearby town who flies a gargantuan flag, 24/7, rain or shine, with no illumination, as required by the US Flag Code. It is also against the code to use the flag in marketing, but nobody ever pays attention to that part either.

Hey Hibno Check your inbox

This is a late parrot: Hey Hibno Check your inbox

Holy crap, thank you! I've never been a TFer before. Now I get to see what it is like for those elite few.

/Wolfpack pride!

You can't fly a flag on the street edge, yet peoples kids can play in traffic without any charges, Other than death by car.

/Ban umbrellas in the rain. Those suckers are dangerous when certain people use them.

Wouldn't it be disrespectful of the flag to leave it where it could be hit by a car?