POLICE WRONG TO TICKET EVERYONE AT EVENT

I'm writing to express my outrage at the actions of the Racine Police
Department ("Police arrest 3, ticket 445 at rave," Nov. 4).

Several friends - over age 21 - went to an event to dance and listen to
music. None of these friends possessed, bought, sold or did drugs or knew
anyone who had. Each of these innocents received a $968 ticket.

Patrons paid for entry to this event. What happened is comparable to police
raiding a concert and issuing everyone a ticket for possession because a
few have marijuana. It's similar to a person over 21 getting an underage
drinking ticket in a bar because someone there is underage. It's not right.

It's not illegal to go to a rave, and there's no excuse for giving someone
a ticket for being at an event where, unknown to them, individuals are
doing illegal things. The Racine Police Department is making an example of
those at this event.

It would be understandable if officers had searched people and ticketed
those in possession or under the influence of drugs, but they didn't. They
lined up people against the walls, arrested three people and issued tickets
to everyone, without bothering to search most.

I suggest action against the police for issuing these citations.

Jessica Grey, Whitewater