posted on December 17, 2005 05:38:13 AM new
FBI logo'ed clothing ... hats, shirts ...
I was reading the paper this morning about a stabbing robbery attempt ... occurred 10:30 at night when a 23 yr old man was walking a couple short blocks to a friend's house ... he said the attacker was wearing an FBI hat.
I am not able to sell a Postal worker's vintage uniform on ebay, because they say it is too dangerous to sell govt.and social services logo'ed clothing, because it can get into the wrong hands, of people who plan on impersonating a govt. employee ...
but I am curious why ebay would let FBI stuff be sold.... there's a lot of it on ebay ...
posted on December 17, 2005 09:35:51 AM new
Wow, Marcia. I'm amazed, too. And some in Congress want border patrol uniforms to be manufactured in the U.S. only, instead of other countries like Mexico, so people can't misuse them. FBI uniforms must be at least as dangerous in the wrong hands.
______________________________
posted on December 17, 2005 02:49:22 PM new
Bump Bump, Arrest Me Too
Well, here's ebay's policy on uniforms, badges and identification.
Government and Transit Uniforms
Any article of clothing or identification relating to transportation security or employment with any transportation related industry is not permitted on eBay.
Vintage commercial airline, train, or subway clothing such as ties, scarves, jackets, and similar items, may be sold so long as the item description clearly states that the item is at least 10 years old, is no longer in use by the airline, and does not resemble any piece of the airline's current uniform.
Violations of this policy may result in a range of actions, including:
*
Listing cancellation
*
Limits on account privileges
*
Account suspension
*
Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings
*
Loss of PowerSeller status
Some Examples Hide
The following are examples of items that may not be listed on eBay:
*
Articles of commercial airline pilot's uniforms, steward, or stewardess (flight attendant) uniforms, baggage or airport service uniforms, mass transit train, or subway related uniforms.
*
Postal service uniforms, including non-government mail service uniforms
Why does eBay have this policy? Hide
eBay urges its sellers and buyers to comply with all governmental laws and regulations. Since the sale of government and transit uniforms is prohibited by law, regulated, or may cause harm to eBay or its members, sellers may not list them on eBay.
Government IDs and Licenses
Government IDs and licenses, or items that claim to be, or that look similar to, government identification documents are not permitted on eBay.
Violations of this policy may result in a range of actions, including:
*
Listing cancellation
*
Limits on account privileges
*
Account suspension
*
Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings
*
Loss of PowerSeller status
Some Examples Hide
The following items may not be listed on eBay:
*
Birth certificates, driver’s licenses or passports. Further, completed applications for such documents containing personal information may not be listed. Expired United States passports that were issued more than 20 years prior to the date of sale will be permitted.
*
Current vehicle license plates, or plates that claim to resemble such current licenses. Collectible vehicle license plates that are at least 5 years old may be listed. This must be clearly stated within the listing. Government vehicle license plates may not be listed at any time.
*
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Plates, VIN Plate Rivets, Vehicle Titles, Vehicle Title Stock. Vehicle Titles may only be referenced in listings when accompanied by a functioning vehicle.
*
Any item that is primarily used to alter identification documents, licenses, or plates.
*
Fake identification cards, or any items that are designed for the manufacturer of such cards.
Why does eBay have this policy? Hide
eBay urges its sellers and buyers to comply with all governmental laws and regulations. Since the sale of many government IDs and licenses are prohibited by law, regulated, or may cause harm to eBay or its members, sellers may not list them on eBay.
Police-Related Items
With limited exceptions (partially listed below), eBay does not permit the listing of law enforcement badges or official law enforcement equipment from any public entity, including badges issued by the government of any country. This prohibition extends to police badges and official equipment from federal, state or local law enforcement agencies of the United States.
Violations of this policy may result in a range of actions, including:
*
Listing cancellation
*
Limits on account privileges
*
Account suspension
*
Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings
*
Loss of PowerSeller status
Some Examples Hide
The following contains a partial list of police-related items that may not be listed on eBay:
*
Official current or recent issue police uniforms
*
Badges from federal law enforcement agencies
*
Badges from the Bureau of Indian Affairs
*
Military police badges
*
Quasi-law enforcement badges (e.g., fire department badges)
*
State or international badges
*
Badges in Lucite
*
Movie prop badges
*
Identification cards
*
Credential cases
*
‘Badge patches’, including the National Park Service ’arrowhead‘ patch and US Forest Service patch
*
Raid jackets
*
Emergency vehicle lighting and sirens
*
Badges issued by private security companies
*
Traffic light control devices
*
Copies or reproductions of police badges. Such badges infringe upon the copyright and trademark rights of the agency that issued the badges.
Sellers may list a law enforcement badge on eBay if:
*
The law enforcement organization that issues the badge states in writing that it does not object to the sale of the item, and
*
Sellers post a copy of that letter with a valid law enforcement contact (name and phone number) on the site with the badge.
There are a limited number of police items that may be listed on the site, provided they abide by any noted guidelines.
*
Police uniforms. Uniforms must be obsolete and in no way resemble current issue police uniforms. This fact must be clearly stated within the listing description.
*
Mini-badges (size approximately 1 inch by 1 inch)
*
Historical badges that do not resemble modern law enforcement badges (a sheriff's badge from the 19th century), provided that the item description must clearly state that the badge is a historical piece at least 75 years old or issued by a now-defunct organization
*
Authorized general souvenir items, such as hats, mugs, pins, pens, buttons, cuff links, t-shirts, money clips that do not resemble badges, and paperweights that do not contain badges
*
Badges that are clearly not official (e.g., plastic or cartoon badges)
eBay has spoken to over 500 federal, state, and international law enforcement organizations regarding their position on the sale of police-related items to the public. These organizations were concerned that individuals may use a badge or other police-related item to misrepresent themselves as a law enforcement officer to the public. In many cases, state and federal laws prohibit unauthorized individuals from even possessing a law enforcement badge. For example, one federal law specifically prohibits "the manufacture, sale(s), or possession of any federal badge without the specific authority of the head of the issuing department or agency of the US government...." 18 U.S.C. 701. Based upon this information eBay has decided not to permit the listing of police related items as described above.
All in all, it looks to leave lot's of holes for "souviner" items. But in reality you can buy them anywhere. I took a tour of the FBI offices in Washington DC about a year ago and you would be suprised how many items you can buy directly from them with their logo on. Best advice is if someone stops you ask to see not only their badge but their offical picture ID as well. If still in boubt, tell the officer in question that you would like them to call their supervisor and have another unit dispached to your location.
If they broke down you door and are in your house and have not identified themselves shoot first and ask questions later. At least where I live if a on duty officer enters a house even with a valid search warrent and does not identify themselves verbally as to who they are you have every legal right to shoot them. Not that I would want to, I have all the respect in the world for police, but if someone dressed in black broke down my door and did not identify themselves they would have either a face full of 10 Gauge buck shot (head disappear's from sholders) or a chest full of 50 Desert Eagle Black Rhino rounds (their chest exit's through their spine).
