Resistance heroes Finn and Rose were shocked into unconsciousness and arrested for parking on a beach at Canto Bight in Star Wars The Last Jedi. Would law enforcement handle such parking violations in a similar manner in the United States?
There are beaches that allow for parking, such as Oregon, which allows for the creation of zones that prohibit motor vehicles or landing of aircraft, except for an emergency. Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 390.678.
Beach parking violations are subject to local ordinances. Los Angeles County has a $35.00 fine for unauthorized parking on a beach. Los Angeles County, California Code of Ordinances Sec. 15.200.010. Beach parking that is for other than public safety, cleanup, or repair, in counties in Florida are prohibited, with one having a fine for $500. See, Beverly Beach, Sec. 46-1 and Indian Rocks Beach, Sec. 38-117, Florida Code of Ordinances.
There are no illegal beach parking cases with the occupants stunned and jailed. Moreover, the arrest of Finn and Rose was not because they failed to pay a parking ticket after being properly noticed, but arrested for the act of parking on the beach. This is extremely excessive for a mere parking violation.
The arresting officers on Canto Bight did not give any sort of reason for the arrest as required by the 4th Amendment or Miranda Rights. It does not appear there was any right to counsel or writ of habeas corpus. Moreover, while illegally parked vehicles can be impounded, destroying illegally parked vehicles with an air strike is unprecedented.
Canto Bight is legally similar to a gilded Mos Eisley predicated on gambling. Children are either enslaved or in horrible work conditions in stables with no regard for child labor laws. There is a heavily armed police force to ensure the “house always wins.” Rose’s summary of Canto Bight was accurate that it was a beautiful and horrible place…showing that it needed attorneys to uphold civil liberties.
