The State Attorney-General thinks that Aqua Teen Hunger Force lite-brite signs qualify as a hoax:
BOSTON – This morning, two men were arraigned in connection with the hoax devices found in and around the Boston area yesterday. Sean Stevens, age 28, of Charlestown, and Peter Berdovsky, age 27, of Arlington, were each charged with placing a hoax device (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 266, Section 102A½), and disorderly conduct.
The language in law cited is pretty funny:
(a) Whoever possesses, transports, uses or places or causes another to knowingly or unknowingly possess, transport, use or place any hoax device or hoax substance with the intent to cause anxiety, unrest, fear or personal discomfort to any person or group of persons shall be punished by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than two and one-half years or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the term “hoax device” shall mean any device that would cause a person reasonably to believe that such device is an infernal machine. For the purposes of this section, the term “infernal machine” shall mean any device for endangering life or doing unusual damage to property, or both, by fire or explosion, whether or not contrived to ignite or explode automatically. [emphasis & link mine - dff]
Clearly, this marketing campaign constituted a terror hoax and the perpetrators should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It’s also clear that we have the best law enforcement guys in the country - other major cities around the country had these things planted in public places for two weeks without anyone noticing! Note how proud everyone seems in all these press conferences… no one’s wearing a look of irritation at having been revealed as a complete ass-clown or anything. Further, notice all the resignations being accepted in law enforcement agencies in other cities, coupled with calls from an outraged public for increased vigilance.
Oh, wait.
As an aside, note that it’s perfectly OK for a certain class of citizen to perpetrate infernal machine hoaxes on the public:
(c) This section shall not apply to any law enforcement or public safety officer acting in the lawful discharge of official duties.
At least the low bail set suggests the AG isn’t taking this too seriously.