Source
r/rva•
crycrywolf

Rumor of how Belle Isle now has checkpoints

A younger kid from work who only knows belle isle as texas beach (you know that scene that comes in the middle of the day from all over, sorta trashy seeming, not pulling from a outdoorsy person vibe) said that police now stop you and talk to you at belle isle. Checkpoints on foot.

This sounds so bogus. I've never encountered that. Maybe because I bring a bike and appreciate nature rather than strut the path like I'm at Chesterfield Town Center.

Anyone had random stops at the river?

Posted Jun 12, 2015, 2:48 PM UTC

815
thisisATHENSAt the gym getting swole•

Can a man no longer enjoy a warm black label in downriver farm runoff peacefully?

13
PimpOfJoytimeMuseum District•

it's only farm runoff after a big storm. the rest of the time it's equal parts human raw sewage and detritus from aquatic copulation.

4
Danger-MooseNorthside•

There's a certain amount of farm runoff that would continue from things like farm animals entering the water.

2
PimpOfJoytimeMuseum District•

A certain amount, or an uncertain amount? I prefer to be ignorant of the chemical and biological profile of the James.

3
Danger-MooseNorthside•

I like not knowing that there are fish.

3
FromTheIsleThe Fan•

Oh god - all the storm water legislation in the news lately. People will deny anything

2
PimpOfJoytimeMuseum District•

Belle Isle and Texas Beach are two different parts of the park. There's usually cops on bikes at Belle Isle, in my experience. There's sometimes an officer parked in his cruiser on the turnabout section of Texas beach's parking area, just watching.

11
AgentBawlsShockoe Bottom•

I read an article about this earlier and [posted] (http://www.reddit.com/r/rva/comments/39kko3/follow_up_to_drunk_fest_at_belle_isle/) about it. They did a "safety blitz" on Belle Isle because people complained about it becoming a drunk fest.

4
skeezyrattytroll•

I've never heard of random stops there, although I do see police on patrol fairly frequently. I would initially suspect anyone they stopped to speak with in anything but a general manner would be doing something to catch their interest.

I have had police there 'talk' with me, but it was a pretty normal people-meeting-people kind of thing and what we discussed was 'Having a good time?" and "Having a quiet day, officers?" kind of chat. OTOH, I am older than dirt so maybe they just figured I had money and they should leave me alone.

4
tiglathpilesarChurch Hill•

There's usually a police presence on Belle on warm days. Usually a cruiser unit parked at the base of the pedestrian bridge. Then there are a couple of uniforms walking or biking around. I've never seen them stop anyone and my understanding is that they are there for public safety not busting people.

4
Asterion7Forest Hill•

I have talked to several cops in the JRPS. Usually they are pretty friendly. Always see them at pony pastures. Usually just seem to be watching.

4
Sasquatch99Henrico•

Maybe because I bring a bike and appreciate nature rather than strut the path like I'm at Chesterfield Town Center.

So people aren't appreciating nature unless they're on a bike?

4
crycrywolfOPManchester•

If you strut the path eyeballin me like you're at Chesterfield Town Center.

-3
CapinWinkyMuseum District•

I've rarely been to Belle Isle without seeing at least one patrol, it's been standard for years to keep things down to a PG-13 level.

Texas Beach is a different place that you get to from Texas St. off of Meadow St. on the north bank. It is directly across the river from the 42nd St. spot on the south bank (which is an un-shaded hellscape). In 8 years, I've never seen any kind of official venture farther than the parking lot of Texas beach and it is A LOT more popular with the bohemian crowd and a lot more lax with the rules. There's even an official, unofficial nudist area and past that is the gay nudist area.

3
ajackineverybox•

"This sounds so bogus. I've never encountered that. Maybe because I bring a bike and appreciate nature rather than strut the path like I'm at Chesterfield Town Center."

...well, this is one of the most idiotic things I've ever read.

1