Boy, 7, arrested for riding dirt bike on sidewalk

[Rosuav]

Originally posted by Savaric
I also don't believe that kids are always these little paragons of innocence. They can be quite capable of bodyslamming and killing their siblings or shooting their classmates.

Ooh yes. Absolutely. Of course, it's inappropriate to automatically deal with a child the way you deal with adults (eg jail time, fines, etc), because different punishments "hit them where it hurts" - also, while they're in the charge of their parents, it's the parents' responsibility fundamentally. But this could well be the best thing to happen - if both child and parents respond to this appropriately. Child: You're scared by the whole notion of going to the police station for riding that bike on the sidewalk? Then don't ride on the sidewalk again, and it won't happen again. Parents: You're horrified that the cops had to tell your child off? Then discipline him yourself so he doesn't have to be told off by someone else, and it won't happen again.

That's not to say the cops didn't act inappropriately in this. Their response may have been a tad excessive - but it may also have been blown out of proportion by a whinging mom, too.