Viral Hammock Video Raises Eyebrows Across the World

Who doesn’t love an excellent, old-fashioned hammock? They represent the classic American way to unwind after a demanding workday: kick back and relax. They offer unmatched versatility, and people can place them almost anywhere. However, a viral video showing a man setting up his hammock on a bus challenged this notion.

The clip shows a bus driver standing beside a man in a hammock strung across the aisle. The man wraps himself up, and his face peeks through the fabric. The driver attempts to make the man take down the hammock, asking him calmly and gently. 

The man fires back, saying, “Where’s the no hammock sign?”. He even covers his head with the hammock’s material, seemingly trying to hide from the bus driver. The argument between the man and the bus driver continues back and forth without resolution.

Attorney Ugo Lord’s Analysis 

This video has caught the attention of people worldwide. In an elegant analysis by the attorney Ugo Lord, we can gain a deeper insight into the legal implications of setting up a hammock on a public bus.

Ugo Lord asserts that just because there is no rule sign does not mean there aren’t any rules. Thus, the man arguing by saying, “Where’s the no hammock sign?” is simply unnecessary. 

At the end of the day, the bus driver must ensure his passengers ride safely. This includes ensuring that they ride legally, whether seated or buckled in. Therefore, the man is unsafely secured in his hammock while blocking the driver’s vision, which impacts the driver’s ability to do his job. 

Interfering with public transportation is a crime. Thus, stringing up a hammock like the man in the video could land you a criminal offense! 

A Staged Viral Hammock Video 

You are correct if you considered the viral hammock video too implausible to be true. The video’s creators explained that it was a staged skit.

The video comes from Lexi and Ocean, two popular influencers. They are famous TikTokers who have made a name for themselves by creating entertaining skits and clips on various social media platforms. Ocean commented on the video, saying, “This video was made for entertainment purposes only.”

Although he did not share the location or details of where he filmed the skit, Ocean went on a livestream to explain his motivations. In his explanation, Ocean describes how he always thought bus seats were rigid and restrictive. He wanted to play on this idea by using one of his favorite lounging implements: a hammock. 

Although his skit stirred up much controversy, he wanted to clarify that he was joking around and not serious about using hammocks on buses. 

Trespassing on Public Property 

Despite its playful roots, the viral hammock video does open up a conversation about the legalities of using public spaces. While it is common to think that you can do just about anything on public property, some legal intricacies regulate what exactly you can do on public property. 

Even though it is called “public,” some specific group or organization usually controls public land. For instance, public service groups generally manage parks. If the manager or owner of the public property asks you to leave and you refuse, law enforcement can arrest you for trespassing. While police cannot compel you to leave public property, they can arrest you for disregarding the owner’s request.

In the viral hammock video, breaking laws or disturbing the peace can result in arrest. You must adhere to basic rules and regulations even when on public property.

The bottom line is that you usually must be causing some significant disturbance by trespassing on public property. Staying after someone asks you to leave is trespassing on public property.