August 11, 2026

Can one “rock out” to John Denver?

In a post that perhaps my siblings but not my father can appreciate (since they complained that I don’t have enough pictures here), a man was cited for rocking out to John Denver.  From Lowering the Bar:

According to the report, Officer Ryan Williams pounded on the man’s door and, while doing so, “recognized the songs of the late singer John Denver.”  The man did not answer the door until the officer called him by name after talking to one of his neighbors.  When Williams asked the man why the music was so loud, he responded that he was just “rocking out.”

If You Play It Backwards, You Get a Message From Marie Osmond

I know I just got done criticizing a judge for ordering searches and seizures based only “on a hunch,” but I think this is different.  If someone tells police he is “rocking out” to John Denver music, that alone should be probable cause to search him and his apartment, and possibly his car and all his friends too.  Because something just isn’t right there.

If subjecting the neighbors to John Denver music is worth a visit by the police, then it’s possible that my parents subjected me cruel and unusual punishment for years.

About Daniel Burton

Daniel Burton lives in Salt Lake County, Utah, where he practices law by day and everything else by night. You can follow him on his blog PubliusOnline.com where he muses on politics, the law, books and ideas. He is active on social media, Republican politics, and has been named to PoliticIt’s list of the “Top-50 Utah Political Opinion Leaders” on Twitter. You can reach him directly at dan.burton@gmail.com

Comments

  1. it truly was cruel when they blasted it as loud as the stereo could go at 7:30 on a Saturday morning. Yet I hold no grudges 🙂