When Did Our Justice System Change To “Guilty Until Proven Innocent”?
Posted by Michelle Moquin on August 18th, 2010
A little over a month ago, on my way to see a client, I was busily reading my directions to his house and missed a “right turn on arrow only” sign, and proceeded to make the right turn. Oops.
I landed at another small intersection 20 feet away, which didn’t feel like I should have been there, but I waited till that light turned green before I crossed it. It was a bit confusing. At the time I had no idea that I had even broken the law, so I was quite surprised when an officer waiting on the opposite corner pulled me over when I crossed through the second light.
I did get a ticket, not for running a red, which would’ve been a moving violation and a more expensive ticket, but for failing to obey the traffic sign. I was nearly in tears as he handed it to me. I have a stellar driving record and I like to keep it that way.
I bring this up not because I am pissy about the ticket; that goes without saying. But because of what I experienced when I went to the courthouse to “deal with it”.
I can’t even remember the last time I got a ticket, so as I was standing in line in room C-10 to resolve the ticket, I noticed a yellow flyer. The heading of the flyer said, “Resolving Traffic and Minor Offense Citations – Frequently Asked Question”. “Hmm…reading material”, I thought. “I might learn something while I’m here.”
And in fact, I did learn something – Enough for me to want to blog about it here. Note: This is for Marin County, California. It may be different in your county and state.
- Why can’t I dispute my ticket today? The Court hears testimony from both the defendant and the officer in contested court, and needs at least 30 days to subpoena the officer.
- Am I qualified to go to traffic school? You are eligible for traffic school if you meet the following requirements: You have a valid driver’s license, do not have a class A, class B or commercial class C driver’s license, the current violation(s) did not occur within the past 18 months.
I have no problem with the above.
3. Why do I have to post my bail to fight my ticket? Vehicle code section 40519(a) and (b) requires the Court to collect the deposit of the entire bail amount for the purpose of guaranteeing your appearance at the time and place scheduled.
Okay, this I have a problem with. The fact that if I feel I am innocent of the traffic violation or charge, and I want to fight it, doesn’t matter. I have to hand over my cash, as if I was guilty of the charge, before I get my day in court to prove otherwise. Hmm…sounds to me like I am guilty until proven innocent. When did our justice system change?
Now that I am paying for this charge before I have legally been found guilty, which could take up to months before I get my money back, should I prove I am innocent, just how easy is it going to be to for me to get my money back, and just what do they do with it while I am waiting for my day in court? Unfortunately this little yellow flyer of “frequently asked questions” didn’t answer my questions.
4. How do I fight my ticket if I don’t have the money to post my bail? You can contest your ticket without posting the bail by obtaining a bail waiver from the Traffic Commissioner in “walk-in” traffic court.
FYI: Walk-in traffic court allows you to request a payment plan beyond the 90-day option. (see pt. 6 below) Walk-in traffic court is held every Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 10:00 a.m. To appear in walk-in traffic court you must register first at the Traffic Counter in room C-10 before 9:00 a.m.
So if you happen to be there already on a Wednesday or Thursday, or it is after 9:00 am, and you can’t pay the bail that you didn’t think you would have to pay to fight your ticket in the first place, sorry….you are going to have to take off work again (if you are employed), and come another day to appear in walk-in court. Or…
5. I want to pay my ticket but I don’t have the money right now. What are my options? You can request a payment plan from one of the clerks at the counter, request a one time 30-day extension or request that your bail amount be converted to community hours.
6. What are the payment plan options? The 30/60 day payment plan has no set up fee and you may put down however much you can afford at the time you set up the plan. The remaining portion must be paid over the next two months. The 90 day payment plan has a $35.00 set up fee and 25% of your bail amount is due when you request it. You must pay the remaining portion in three even installments.
Okay, so if you have a little bit of money on you, and you can afford to fork some over, there is a payment plan that just may work. My ticket was $219.00. What if I was a person living paycheck to paycheck, with no extra cash, as many people are today in this economy? Or what if I was unemployed as many people are? Just how easy is it going to be to make this payment, even if I took the 30/60 day plan offered and paid $19.00 that day. I would still need to come up with $200 over the next two months. That would be a lot of money for me, a person on a limited income not to mention if I was unemployed.
The 90-day payment plan is even worse. Yes you get more time but you’re paying for it in the $35 set up fee. Plus you now need to pay, 25% of the bail at the time that you request this payment plan. If we are working with my $219.00 ticket, one would still need to come up with $35 + $54.75 for a total of $89.75 that needs to be paid. If one is penalized for asking for a 90-day payment pan, what will be the fee for appearing in walk-in court and asking for a plan that is beyond 90 days? I don’t know, but I bet it is more.
Readers: If any of you know, blog me.
Okay…so what if I really can’t pay anything? I am jobless and broke. Oh the court says, “We have a solution for that too.” This brings me to pt. 7 on the yellow “FAQ” sheet:
7. What are Community Service hours? This is volunteer work that you can perform with court approved organizations in lieu of paying your bill. There is a $27.00 set up fee and for every $10 of your bail, you must perform one hour of volunteer work.
Okay, just face it. It doesn’t matter whether you are innocent of the charge or not, you are going to have to fork out some cash. And if you really can’t afford to pay this ticket that you are planning on fighting because you feel you are innocent, you’re going to have to volunteer some of your time too, until you get your day in court.
So let’s figure this one out. Because I am broke, and on a very limited income or unemployed, I opt for the least amount of money out of my pocket. I decide to volunteer. I fork out the $27 for bail and I sign up for community service hours. Basing it once again on the $219.00 ticket, I will have to spend roughly 22 hours of my time performing volunteer work for a ticket that I don’t feel I am guilty of.
What happens when I go to court and I am found not guilty of the charge? Who is going to give me my time back? How will I get reimbursed for the 22 hours of my time in my life, that I gave to volunteer simply because I was guilty until proven innocent?
I think of the wealthy who have no problem writing a check, and going on with their lives. And then I think of so many people who cannot afford to pay their ticket. People who opt for either a payment plan, which gouges them of even more money. Or they opt for volunteering which gouges them of their time…their life. Something that is not tangible for the court to hand back. Sorry, if when you go to court and you are found innocent, you simply do not get back those hours of your life.
(FYI: My court date would’ve been in November. Plenty of time for me to pay my entire bail via a payment plan, or work off my Volunteer hours before I have the chance to fight my ticket. Yes, you can opt for a speedy trial but then you are waiving your right to appeal personally for arraignment and that in itself is not a good thing to do if you are fighting your ticket to win. And an entire other subject that I don’t want to delve into right now. )
So I conclude that I cannot help but think, the system is once again set up for the rich, and a scam to get more money and free labor from the poor.
It is easy for the rich to pay their ticket. They simply take out their checkbook and write the check. And the poor, who cannot afford to pay, are either paying more for time, or giving their precious time away regardless if they are guilty or not.
Now, I am not saying that all of the people who are rich are guilty of their charge, nor am I saying that all of the poor are innocent of theirs. But what I am saying is that when one has to pay in advance of the verdict, according to this Vehicle code section 40519(a) and (b) , and the court is basically saying that you are guilty until proven innocent, it is the ones who can not afford the bail that are going to suffer. It is the poor.
Comments? Rants? Experiences you want to share? Blog me.
John: Thanks. Love when a man makes up his mind to doing something and commits to it right away.
Claire, Anna of Guam: Thanks for passing it on.
Thanks Saul!
Lea: I agree but there are decent men out there too that can help, they just need to man up. Hopefully they will follow John and Mike’s examples of change.
Zen Lill: My pleasure.
Doug: I got that one too. PS. You left your phone at home.
Mike: Thanks for your commitment too.
Have a great day everyone and drive safe. :)
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michelle Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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August 18th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Michelle
Wonderful topic I have been trying to get in all day. The traffic ticket and collect system has always been used by towns and cities without any real revenue generating source as a means of funding the building and repair of those towns’ courts and police departments.
Think of speed traps – areas deliberately designed to prevent a motorist from being able to slow down in time to meet the sudden lower speed requirement.
Although they used to be more prevalent, the are still used in many hick towns to fill the coffers of that city. It’s not about police work, it’s about giving the criminal a badge, robe and clerk to fleece you with.
When these traps are discovered and ordered dismantled my the state(rarely by these guys) or federal government no one is charged with a crime.
The crooks not only got (get) to keep all the money they stole from the passing motorists, but they get a “get-out-of-jail-free card.
So what do criminals usually do when they can steal with impunity, they continue stealing. What you are experiencing is a speed trap designed in the system to take your money up front.
And we both know that governments never like to return its citizen’s money. So you will be found guilty. They do not care about your record or the time lost by you to defend or anything but your money.
You are in the hands of Criminals with badges. In these times of financial crisis, even wealthy municipalities are resorting to ripping off the motorists as a means of filling their coffers.
Why not? Even if they are caught, there is a built in get out of jail free card in the system. And the criminals don’t have to return any of the money they stole.
Guy
August 18th, 2010 at 11:29 am
Michelle the traffic system in big cities is designed to rip off the locals to fund dwindling sources of revenue. As parking officers work on a quota requirement, so do many traffic officers. Judges and especially Commissioners also have a quota they must meet to insure they continue to wear their robes. And since the locals who have the less pull are usually the OTWS. Who do you think get’s ripped off the most?
Walk into any court house in America where the population is at least 10% OTW and their traffic court will be more that 60% full of OTWS dealing with traffic tickets.
My husband and I often rail at that black Robert that opines all the time about racism in this country, but I (a white girl ) will beat him to it this time.
We, my husband and I both work in the court house system. We have worked with thousands of different people who also work in the system. We network with them via the net or during various intercity or state conferences.
It is a topic that often comes up in fun among us whites. Usually on the lines of how the wets, chinks or nigs just can’t drive. I think we joke about it because most of us feel the injustice of it but we are afraid to call it what it is – blatant racism.
I’ve said my two cents, Mr Robert.
Lila
August 18th, 2010 at 11:35 am
Hafa Adai,
Just thought I’d identify myself up front. I hope this isn’t the start of something worst.
————————
6.5-magnitude earthquake hits far from Guam
18 AUGUST 2010 9 VIEWS NO COMMENT
HAGATNA (BNO NEWS) — A strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck 236 miles (379 kilometers) west-southwest of Guam on early Thursday morning, seismologists said.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the earthquake at 2.28 a.m. local time (1628 GMT Wednesday) struck about 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) deep.
No tsunami warning was issued.
———————————
I’m not saying I believe in aliens. But I’m beginning to ask the same questions that Zen Lill asked earlier about earthquake in this area.
George
August 18th, 2010 at 11:57 am
Looking for a Job?
Audri Lanford, PhD
Internet ScamBusters
Even in the face of improving unemployment rates, many people are still looking for work and many scammers are on the prowl, ready to take advantage of desperate job seekers beaten down by the toughest recession in many decades.
Most employment scams are too unsophisticated to fool savvy job hunters. They make claims such as “earn $200 a day stuffing envelopes at home” or “make big money processing corporate e-mails.”
Lately these transparent ploys have been joined by cunning job scams that can snare even the most skeptical job seekers.
Among the trickiest…
STIMULUS PLAN SCAM
A scamster’s official-looking e-mail, letter or phony government Web site informs you that because you recently lost a job in a particular sector, you qualify for a grant from the federal economic stimulus plan.
You may be lured to the phony Web site by a suggestion on a job-search site or in a pop-up ad. The message says that this money is intended for retraining in a different sector… or that it is part of the government’s bailout of the sector that you worked in.
You are told that you must fill out a form to obtain your stimulus money. This form asks for your Social Security number and perhaps your bank account information so that the stimulus funds can be directly deposited.
No bailout program provides added benefits for those in particular professions.
The notification really is from a scammer. This scammer might have learned that you lost your job from a résumé that you posted on a career Web site… or a résumé that you mailed to a potential employer that fell into the wrong hands.
If you fill out the phony stimulus application, you will become a victim of identity theft. If you provide an account routing number, your bank account may be emptied.
PAYMENT-PROCESSING SCAM
You are offered a job as a US payment-processing representative for a foreign firm after the phony company representative finds your résumé on an Internet job site and interviews you over the phone.
This company’s American customers are to send their payments for items purchased off eBay or the fake company’s own Web site directly to you.
Your job is to forward the money to your employer overseas, keeping a small percentage for yourself as compensation.
The payments might be deposits in a PayPal account (a free, secure way to make online payments), wire transfers or checks, and you are told to forward the money through a wire-transfer service, such as Western Union.
The fake employer might explain that hiring an American payment-processing representative has legal or tax advantages… or that sending money to a domestic address is more convenient for the firm’s customers.
The job goes smoothly for weeks or months — until the police show up at your door because your fake employer’s customers have never received their orders.
By using you to forward payments, the thief was able to supply a domestic address for payments, which increases buyers’ trust.
You could be sued or even prosecuted. Prosecution is unlikely, assuming that the police believe you were an innocent pawn in the deception, but a civil lawsuit against you requires only that you failed to use “reasonable care” concerning the whole process.
GOVERNMENT JOB SCAM
An official-looking e-mail, Web site or letter explains that state or federal government jobs are available in your region.
A phone number is provided for those who wish to hear updated job listings. (Or the jobs are listed in the original message, but you must call a phone number to ask for an application.)
The message drones on endlessly when you call — no surprise, considering that you are dealing with the government.
When you receive your next phone bill, you find that you have been billed an astoundingly high rate for this call — perhaps $5 per minute.
If the phone number was in area code 809, 876 or 284, you unknowingly called the Caribbean.
Scammers in some Caribbean countries impose high fees on incoming calls, much as companies in the US can charge high fees for calls to 900 numbers.
There are many legitimate phone numbers and employers in the Caribbean, but there’s no legitimate reason that you would be asked to call the Caribbean to find out about a US government job.
BACKGROUND-CHECK SCAM
You recently were interviewed over the phone for what you thought was a job with a well-known company located in a far-off region of the US or overseas.
The fake company might have posted a help-wanted ad on a job Web site, or it might have contacted you when it found your résumé on such a site.
Now things are looking good. You’re told that as long as you pass a routine background check, you’re in line for an in-person second-round interview.
The fake company’s human resources rep asks for your Social Security number and permission to access your credit history.
You even may be asked to provide a copy of your driver’s license for “security purposes.”
Legitimate employers do request Social Security numbers to conduct background and credit checks — but so do identity thieves.
Before giving out this information to an apparent employer, confirm that the job opportunity is legitimate.
If the firm is well-known, call its switchboard and ask to be connected to the human resources rep to confirm that the person you’ve been dealing with really works there before handing over any personal data –
ideally before the initial interview. If the company is unfamiliar, do a Web search for its name and phone number to find evidence that it really exists… or evidence that it is a scam.
TRAVEL-COST SCAM
A scammer claiming to be from the human resources department of a well-known company located some distance from your hometown calls to tell you that your résumé was found on an online Web site (or that your résumé was passed to the company by a headhunter) and asks you to come in for an interview.
The company won’t pay your travel costs for this initial interview, but you are told that you can get its discounted corporate airfare if you buy the ticket through the company’s travel department.
The phony human resources rep makes it sound as if the company is doing you a favor by allowing you to access this discounted travel program, in which costs for last-minute travel are well below what you would pay if you bought the ticket directly from an airline.
You accept this offer, and the phony human resources rep takes down your credit card number or asks you to wire a payment to cover your airfare.
He says that he will contact you with your flight information shortly. You never hear back.
When you call the real company’s human resources department, no one there has ever heard of you — you were talking to an imposter, not the employer.
Call the real company’s human resources department before giving out any credit information.
Personal interviewed Audri Lanford, PhD, cofounder and coeditor of Internet ScamBusters, a Web site that has educated more than 11 million people about scams and cons. Lanford is based in Boone, North Carolina. http://www.scambusters.org.
August 18th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
My experience with traffic court is that you get a cop or ex cop masquerading as a Commissioner because he wears a rob who is there to take your money.
You used to have a chance where the officer might not show up or would not submit a statement during the Arraignment phase of your contact with the court.
In those events you could have your case dismissed because of no witness, or no officer.
The crooks have taken that away by combining the two phases into one. This is constitutionally illegal or it should be.
Nowhere in the constitution does it say that to save money the government is permitted to short the citizen on his/her constitutional rights.
But as the previous poster said, they do not have to fear retribution. They can act with impunity.
So they rob you of your constitutional right to an arraignment, then force you into a situation where the cop is there to testify usually all day on the people he has handed out tickets to the previous month.
The municipality has conveniently set up their Kangaroo court so that no one escapes the fleecing.
Good luck
You will be fleeced
Ricardo
August 18th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
Si Yu’os Ma’ase!
Visiting Guam might get a lot easier, just as long as you’re not trying to get there from the nifty fifty. The island territory of the United States is getting its very own airline, as Fly Guam is set to take to the skies later this year.
Freedom Air and World Aviation Incorporated are teaming up to offer flights on the new airline from several locations in and around Asia.
Just like an old fashioned airline, they’re even looking to have an in-flight magazine as well as in-flight meals. We’re guessing from the emphasis on in-flight service that this is not a low-cost carrier, so don’t hold you breathe for crazy cheap fares.
The airline also seeks to incorporate the local Chamorro culture on all its flights with plans to include local foods and images of the island on all aircraft, all to ensure that the Guam vacation begins as soon as passengers step aboard the aircraft.
For now the airline will be utilizing Boeing 737 aircraft with both economy and first class seating options. The website is still on the drawing board, but there will be ticket offices in the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and China.
So we guess that cities within these countries will be some of the first new routes to be served. We’ll be sure to let you know when things go live, or when Los Angeles service is offered on slightly larger aircraft. Because who doesn’t want to go to Guam at least once?
August 18th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
We always knew that a huge campaign to end the stranglehold that lobbyists and big corporations have over Washington could only work if we had a huge groundswell of people behind it.
Well guess what? We’re this close to having 500,000 people endorse the Fight Washington Corruption pledge.
That’s a movement of half a million people to make our candidates and elected officials change the rules so that the political process works for the other 98% of us. And we’re only 15,000 people away from that.
We want to alert the media that our campaign is now 500,000 strong and we can do that if we all help get a few people to sign by midnight tonight!
Can you grab someone you know right now—a friend, a colleague sitting next to you, a family member on speed dial—and have them go right now to http://www.fightwashingtoncorruption.com and sign the pledge?
There’s a counter on the site which refreshes every minute so you can watch our progress as we cross 500,000.
Here’s the link where they can sign, and where you can watch our progress towards the big goal:
http://www.fightwashingtoncorruption.com/?id=22684-7692656-NLsCn.x
Corporations and their lobbyists have grown used to throwing their weight around in Washington. From weakening health reform legislation to fighting to block new financial regulations and protect big banks, they’ve come to expect they’ll get their way.
But they weren’t counting on hundreds of thousands of people joining together to make politicians close the door on corporate money and influence peddling in Washington.
Our Fight Washington Corruption pledge can change our democracy.
Already 43 candidates and members of Congress have signed on to support the pledge and its reform agenda. As a movement of 500,000 people we can make enough politicians agree to support our pledge to really change how Washington works.
We’re on the cusp of announcing 500,000 strong for ending corporate influence in Washington. We can get there today if we all find someone to sign right now.
August 18th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
So Rush is now calling Obama our first Anti-American President. You don’t think that could be because the Right considers only whites as true americans.
No, I’m certain there must be another reason.
Madge
August 18th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
The Best Breast Exam
Shannon Puhalla, MD
The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
A team of researchers reviewed studies on manual breast exams involving nearly 400,000 women.
They found that those who regularly either performed breast self-exams or received them from a health professional did not have lower death rates from breast cancer — and they had twice as many biopsies.
What most people don’t realize: Most breast exams aren’t long enough (and therefore thorough enough) to detect breast masses.
Better: The Two-Minute Breast Exam designed by William Goodson, MD, a surgical oncologist.
Presented at the Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in 2008, the exam is far more effective than the typical exam at finding breast masses.
Dr. Goodson says that 30,000 breast cancers a year are missed by mammograms…
that breast exams in the doctor’s office can find most of those breast cancers…
but that only half of American doctors routinely include clinical breast exam in an annual physical — and those exams usually are too short to be effective.
What to do: Ask your doctor to do a two-minute breast exam.
Refer your physician to a video of the two-minute exam at http://www.2minutebreastexam.com.
A woman can do it herself, but a doctor also should do it as part of a yearly exam.
Personal interviewed Shannon Puhalla, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the Magee-Womens Hospital of The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a breast cancer specialist in the division of hematology/oncology at UPMC Cancer Centers. Her scientific articles on breast cancer and other cancers have appeared in several medical journals, including Journal of Clinical Oncology and The American Journal of Hematology/Oncology.
August 18th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Looks like President Obama kept another campaign promise the troops are leaving Iraq today.
Hurrah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 18th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
To Improve Your Golf Game…
Joel Zuckerman
Modern technology can help you improve your golf game and make it more enjoyable…
BETTER CLUBS
More accurate driver. One of golf’s hottest new drivers is the Tour Edge Exotics XCG-V, which is noted for delivering real power off the tee.
This modern marvel combines titanium and magnesium alloys with a heavier high-density steel bottom plate.
The heavier bottom helps to align the club at impact with more force, resulting in longer, more accurate drives. $300. 800-515-3343, http://www.touredge.com.
Easier iron set. The best-performing iron set in the legendary TaylorMade line is the new TaylorMade Burner 09 irons.
Each of the eight irons features a blend of curves, angles and lines — with the result being high marks for distance, accuracy and forgiveness.
The long irons are easy to hit… the middle irons are easy to control… and the short irons give plenty of feel. $700 for a set of eight steel irons… $900 for graphite irons. 866-530-8624, http://www.taylormadegolf.com.
Lighter “heavy” putter. As its name implies, the Heavy Putter is, well, heavy — but at 750 grams, the new midweight series is lighter than previous Heavy Putters yet still significantly heavier than traditional brands.
The line consists of a heavy head and counterbalancing weight in the grip end of the shaft, which forces the body to stabilize the muscles of the midsection for a more consistent, pendulum-like stroke without altering a golfer’s motion. $169 per putter. 888-788-8374, http://www.boccierigolf.com.
DISTANCE GAUGES
Portable radar. Practice aficionados will find The Radar from National Golf Products a highly useful instrument.
It’s an extremely accurate portable ball-flight monitor with custom calibration that lets golfers practice more efficiently.
The Radar tells you your ball’s velocity and carry distance on shots ranging from 10 to 420 yards. This handheld device can be combined with a hitting net for indoor or outdoor use. $229. 888-647-8873, http://www.vjsradar.com.
Top GPS rangefinder. The best distance-gauging product for use on the course itself is the SkyGolf Sky Caddie.
This instrument eliminates the guesswork of yardages, offering players the precise distance to the green. Not only does it eliminate speculation on distance to the intended target, it also saves time, as players don’t have to walk around the course looking for yardage markers.
In testing by Golf Digest magazine, SkyCaddie was the only gold medal recipient in the 2009 “Hot List” for GPS rangefinders. $399.95. 866-759-4653, http://www.skygolf.com.
EASIER TRAVEL
Clever travel bag. The new standard in golf travel bags is the Sun Mountain ClubGlider. This roomy-yet-sturdy rolling bag features extendable and retractable legs and wheels that support 100% of the bag’s weight.
When the legs are engaged, the nose of the bag and main handle sit up at waist level, as opposed to lying flat on the ground like other bags.
This eliminates the repeated bending and lifting required in airport queues with traditional travel bags. $229 to $299 depending on model. 800-227-9224, http://www.sunmountain.com.
Bottom Line/Retirement interviewed Joel Zuckerman, a freelance writer and speaker based in Savannah who has played more than 600 golf courses around the world, written for more than 100 publications and authored five books.
His most recent, titled Pete Dye Golf Courses — Fifty Years of Visionary Design (Abrams), was named the 2008 Book of the Year by the International Network of Golf. http://www.vagabondgolfer.com.
August 18th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Hi Mischa, oh man…this reminded me of a ticket I got like this, six years ago on Sept 15, my BFF died that morning and I was bawling in my car, ran the right on arrow only sign, the cop approached and saw me red eyed and started to convince me that ‘it’s not that bad’ – I didn’t bother explaining but he was do uncomfortable that he handed me back my DL and reg and told me to ‘have a nice day’ – nowadays due to losing tax revenues from everywhere else and in CA ESP with all the foreclosed properties here I’m sure all agencies are scrambling to vine up with creative ways to screw everyone. You’re right though, what if you have no job, no cash – that just ridiculous.
Caio, Luv, Zen Lill
August 18th, 2010 at 8:59 pm
THESE REALLY WORK!!
I checked this out on Snopes and it’s for real!
AMAZING SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES:
6. YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE – WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE.
IF IT DOESN’T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40.
IF IT SHOULDN’T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.
August 18th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
The whole traffic ticket system is designed to rip off the motorist.
No one in the system cares whether you are guilty or innocent. It is about getting the money from you. Consider how much the tickets have risen. Finding you not guilty fines the city at least couple hundred bucks.
And of course the city rips off the defenseless first. So it preys on it poor. That’s why now if you owe ticket money you can’t register you car until you pay.
They take a car from a poor person in this country every 3 seconds because he/she can’t pay their tickets.
How does than coupled with the fact they lose their licenses make it safer to drive. The cities end up with people forced to drive without licenses and hence insurance.
But it is not about traffic safety. It is about the money.
Larry
August 18th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Michelle
When you see the word Commission preceding the name of the person who will be acting as the judge in your proceeding, you have a 95% chance of being found guilty.
That commissioner earns his position on that bench by the number of guilty sentences he produces per session.
Their quota must me met and they are in competition with other commissioners to produce or lose their vaunted robes.
It is a well run but not secret scam. Everything is for sale in those courts. Their quotas can always be reached by making it up via OTW convictions.
White cops are always joking and laughing about the citations they hand out to OTWs.
It is hard enough for them to make ends meet without being prey upon by thugs with badges.
But the cities are run by white men. And white men could give a shit less about the pathos of anyone but other white men.
I am married to a white cop. He and his friends think nothing about joking in front of me the resident filipina.
One of my husbands friends has retired and gone back to be a “commissioner.” Double dipping and sticking it to every OTW that enters his court room.
Then he rushes over to one of their little get togethers and brags about how he enjoyed this or that lying spic, n word chink grease ball etc, etc.
They especially like to use the word cunt and ask the issuing officer why he gave her a ticket in the first place. With expressions like “what was wrong with her mouth,??
It scares me to know that I could be stopped by one of those sex fiends licensed by the city to arrest me.
Florence
August 18th, 2010 at 9:36 pm
I’m from New York. Here being on the take and being a cop goes without saying. People come here to be cops so they can get rich.
Everybody in the system knows it. So everybody in the system will do anything to cover up the cop who gets caught. “Let’s not stain the department.”
The crooks with badges know that their crimes will be covered and at most they will be allowed to walk.
“SWEET” as they say.
Veronica
August 18th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
I wish I had Zen Lill’s skills. My experience with men is that they usually do what they want to do.
I’ve never been able to change one of their minds. I wish you would give me an example of how you changed a bad situation with a man into one less charged.
Gelinda
August 19th, 2010 at 9:54 am
[...] peeped in, but I occasionally do, and sometimes more often depending on the topic. But thanks to Zoila who chimed in yesterday, I got the heads up about Iraq. I had yet to turn on the news for the [...]