Traffic Fines

The mexican got herself a ticket.. First one in her life.. The inspection
sticker expired on the car.. Since I normally handle all that, she wasn't
aware.. Since I never drive that car, it slipped by me.. dammit..and all
those other excuses for it.. The constable who cited her was in Irving and
the jurisdiction he wrote is in Grand Prairie.. That sharp eyed dude spotted
the sticker while she was stopped in a school zone..waiting for children to
cross..

I went with her to appear on the ticket.. The fine was assessed at $350.00
... Whoa.. isn't that a little steep for an infraction such as this ? So.. I
leaned over to her and told her to plead "not guilty".. The nice lady, whose
painted on smile, told my wife that she'd could make payments on the fine..
No thanks.. don't need favors like that.. "Preciate the offer, but we'd like
to speak with the judge"..

The courtroom was packed.. standing room, only.. sheesh.. The fine assessed
on my wife was small compared to some of the fines being assessed on others
for similar infractions.. Man.. that's one helluva bid'ness to be in, ain't
it ?

The very attractive little attorney for the court smiled and made the same
offer as the smiling lady cashier.. As witness for the bride, I pointed out
that the inspection sticker was expired for less than a week, the expiration
was my own oversight and that the car is registered to me.. Her attitude
commenced to change.. I also explained to her, that the mexican never had a
ticket before and wouldn't knowingly violate any law.. I asked her if there
was a possiblity of keeping the ticket off her driving record, since it
technically was not a moving violation.. more like a clerical oversight..
Whew.. you'd have thought the mexican had committed some kind of major
crime.... That nice lady turned into a ferocious prosecutor who was trying a
major felony case.. Damn.. lady.. this is a traffic ticket.. and the first
one she's ever received.. check her driving record.. the cop did.. "That's
not my job".. she told me..

"Yep.. you are right... it not your job.. Forget it.. We'll talk to the
Judge."

Come on guys.. what I saw and heard in that courtroom was ludicrous.. and a
bad joke.. There was definitely some shady looking characters in that
courtroom, charged with a variety of traffic infractions.. Most were just
ordinary people and charged with minor traffic infractions which we all
commit.. Those fines being imposed were obscene.. designed to enhance
revenue for the county, state and city of Grand Prairie.. Those fines,
imposed extreme hardship on some of those people and they didn't deserve to
be penalized to that extent, in a court of law and our justice system..
Sure... if you get a justified ticket, pay the dues and go on.. when those
dues become as extreme as the ones that I saw and heard, that's way over the
line..

I sat there and listened to that lady while she so kindly imposed those
fines and so helpfully offered payment plans and I wondered.. I came to the
conclusion, that if I ever appeared in that court, a fine of those
magnitudes were imposed on me, I'd serve the time before I'd pay it.. The
entire process that is evident in that place of so called justice is nothing
more than a collection center.. Those are taxpayers who are being assessed
weeks and even months of income.. Is this what we are all about ?

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

You missed the point of the post, Steve.. A court date is set for March
17th.. The fine hasn't been paid and the judge hasn't heard the case.. The
exchange between my wife, me and the little city attorney was nothing more
than a one sided negotiation.. The final disposition of the case will be
made after the judge hears it, or perhaps a jury will be involved..

The total cost of this ticket is $349.00 which is close enough to 350 for
me.. The posture of most of the court participants is that the defendent is
obligated to pay whatever fine is assessed or whatever they wish to assess..
I may pay that amount, but it'll be after they have exercised the full
process of their system..

Be that as it may, the point of the entire post was to emphasize the system
and the manner in which it victimizes anyone who gets caught up in it..
Whether it is me or anyone else.. This system which should represent a means
of justice is being used as the tool to inflict extreme harship on ones who
can least afford it.. I can pay that fine.. Some can't, without extreme
hardship which affects families .

Before any officer writes a ticket for a minor infraction such as this, he
should consider the consequences of the cost's to the offender.. or the
effects such a fine imposed on his own family would affect.. I had the
opportunity to observe this constable, close up and personal in the
courtroom without him being aware of my relationship on the ticket.. I
watched him carefully while some of the other offenders did what they had to
do, to take care of their citations.. Arrogance and non-concern for the
predicaments of some of those people was his attitude..

The law and all it's intricacies are not the forte of anyone who appeared in
that courtroom, that day.. Neither is it my arena of expertise.. Our courts
are there to determine the fairness of our systems, not to penalize good
citizens, beyond their means.. That isn't justice.. that's robbery.. Good
law enforcement and fair judicial process has become a mockery .
...
The standard fine is normally significantly lower

The impression from these comments are well taken.. The city of Grand
Prairie has obviously taken the liberty of maximum fines assessment.. I saw
two of the tickets dismissed and those two were required to pay a "dismissal
fee".. Any dismissal fee should be paid by the officer or the court, since
the offender didn't deserve to be there in the first place.. I made that
argument in Ft.Worth a few years back and the judge ruled that the dismissal
fee would be waived..

I can't speak to the policies in Luling.. or very few other jurisdictions,
for that matter.. Only the ones where I have actual experience.. Obscene
fines amounts for minor traffic violations are the issues which should be
addressed.. The city of Grand Prairie is one such jurisdiction.. This was my
first experience in that courtroom and what I observed was disturbing .. I
plan to project my concerns to legislators during the upcoming session..

With all due respect for your position as a law enforcement officer, as well
as your expertise in interpretations of the law, the system that we've
allowed to prevail in our courts and law enforcement is punitive to the very
public that it is created to protect and serve.. Dismissal and
Administrative fees are perfect examples.. When a ticket is dismissed
because the defendent is not at fault, he is still required to pay for the
privilege of being forced to take a day off from his work to address the
issue.. The policeman who wrote the ticket should be required to pay the
fee, if any.. He's the one who didn't execute his job properly and
inconvenienced the citizen.. The taxpayer is paying his salary .. Seemingly
... we've lost sight of the concept which detemines our responsibility..That
policemans' responsibility is not to penalize and punish the law abiding and
conscienable citizens in his jurisdiction.. He is there to serve and protect
them... In the Grand Prairie court, that was evidently a foreign concept to
all the participants.. They were imposing extreme hardship on the people
that were unfortunate enough to be captured in their system.. And then to
add insult to injury, they were trying to make those people believe they
were doing them favors..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

Damn, $350 for an inspection sticker ticket.

Maybe you should look at a lesser charge plea, like murder,
child pornography, political assassination, or terrorism.

Based on your comment about serving time, I just had to laugh
at the thought of your response of "inspection ticket", to a cell
mates query - "whatya' in for"?

Gary Walker

 

ROTFL... ain't that the truth.. Whew.. now we're talking criminal.. huh ?
While I sat there and listened to some of the fines being levied on those
people, I couldn't help but think.. damn.. I'd just do the time for that...
to hell with 'em.. Chances are, by the time I was in jail for 24 hours, I'd
be paying the fine.. That's what they are counting on, I'm sure..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

I dunno', that could be a bargaining/negotiating tactic. I suspect
they're not interested in supporting you in jail, just the money please.

Unfortunately, it's not you, but your wife that would have to agree
to such a stance of denial. Don't know about you, but my wife
wouldn't be "sent up the river" no matter what the cause.

Gary Walker

 

Sheesh.. heaven forbid.. The mexican wouldn't be a party to even a
consideration of such an idea... Whew..

She's been raised in a very close family .. The father was protective as
hell with her older sisters, plus she has three older brothers that shielded
her from anything that could have been perceived as a threat.. In our
fifteen years together, she's been under my own solid protection..

Now .. this woman is independent and has definitely got a mind of her own,
but just the idea that she might go to jail would be unthinkable... If I
should allow that to happen, you could count on half of Mexico invading
Texas to "spring" her.. I'd more than likely wind up getting a good dose of
"springin" myself.. For the most part, they didn't really cotton to the idea
of her marryin' one of those gringoes, anyway... LOL..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

Bill,

With all due respect to your position as a moron, you should listen to
people outside your family once in a while.

Just because you got duped by morons, doesn't mean you have the right to
blame other police officers or city attorneys.

Best wishes for your reincarnation.

 

ROTFLMAO... wheee oooie.. same to ya'.. Chalupa.. Best wishes for you to
cross up with Grand Prairie's finest, next time you go through the
city...See ya'..

Bill Walker
Irving, Tx.

 

Gosh, $350 is a lot. I had a friend get the same citation, and I think
his was $150 or little more, I think. Shoot, speeding 5 0r 10 over, isnt
that much, I didnt think?
Seems, another friend got a speeding citation, and it was about $300.
I dont thiink the Expired Inspection fine
varies, because it a State law, right?
(Maybe my memory is off) probably is!

<>Happy Holidays<>Bjay,.

 

Each jurisdiction varies their fines somewhat..As Stephan Rothstein pointed
out, dismissal charges, court costs, administration costs, etc.. affect the
amount.. Most base their assessments under the state requirements for
fines.. With endemic budget shortfalls in most of the jurisdictions, we can
always expect citations to increase and the fines will become as much as the
traffic will bear..

Goes with the territory when the economy is as weak as it's been for the
past few years..

BTW.. Bowie county is also a place to watch, when passing through.. City
police and the county sheriff's dept. don't seem to be so bad, but those
state troopers are hell on wheels..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

<>~~~>BTW.. Bowie county is also a place to watch, when passing
through.. City police and the county sheriff's dept. don't seem to be so
bad, but those state troopers are hell on wheels..
Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker
<><><>><>><><><><><you always say that, about Bowie being tuff,
especially the DPS guys.......I guess, I must be a safe, law abiding old
Man driver around here,just ain't that bad, that I know about.......I do
know where to ‘‘watch It’’, every little ole community ha§
those spots to ‘‘be aware’’.....dont they?
Now, you get on that old green motorbike, tomorrow, rain or shine, hell
or highass water....you hera?

<>Happy Holidays<>Bjay,.

 

<>~~~>BTW.. Bowie county is also a place to watch, when passing
through.. City police and the county sheriff's dept. don't seem to be so
bad, but those state troopers are hell on wheels..
Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker
<><><>><>><><><><><you always say that, about Bowie being tuff,
especially the DPS guys.......I guess, I must be a safe, law abiding old
Man driver around here,just ain't that bad, that I know about...

LOL.. you must lead a "sheltered life"...Might want to talk to Coy Lorance
of DPS and the Estes boys, both DPS and the Sheriffs dept.. They are all
distant cousins of mine .. Those guys really "get off" on giving tickets to
"old guys" like you and me.. Whoooeeeeiii..

.....I do
know where to ''watch It'', every little ole community ha§
those spots to ''be aware''.....dont they?
Now, you get on that old green motorbike, tomorrow, rain or shine, hell
or highass water....you hera?

I gotta do it.. It's already been too damn long.. I'll make that toy run, no
matter what that doctor (ugly bitch) says..LOL...

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

<>Happy Holidays<>Bjay,.

 

The trial date is set for March 17th.. I really don't expect much relief, in
that courtroom.. I'll more than likely pay the full amount of the fine..
LOL.. The mexican has made it clear, that principle or not, she ain't
servin' time..

The upside is that I'll be in Austin for most of January during the upcoming
legislative session.. I haven't run the excessive fine assessment by them,
yet..but I'm thinking that TMRA II would likely be a good place to start..
At any rate, I get after politicians pretty damn strong, just on my own..
You can bet that I'll be addressing this issue with some of our illustrious
legislators while I'm there..

Bill Walker
Irving, Tx.

 

X-No-archive: yes

Heh. Actually fines are meant to be painful. If they didn't "hurt"
then people wouldn't think twice before doing it (again).
--

Mark Johnson, Ft. Worth, TX
http://www.bikes-n-spikes.org
"In my opinion you made yourself look more stupider than before." -
Bushido

 

Bill,

Wasn't myself last week. Glad you were able to laugh about it (veiled
threats aside).

Best to you and yours,

Chalupa

 

Bill, can you scan that ticket in? Is the $350 fine listed on the
back?
I checked with the "Grand Prairie" website, and they don't make the
offense amounts public via the web.
A more "normal" fine for that offense is around $100 - and they'll
usually waive that if you get it inspected and pay a "fee".


According to the Texas Transportation code:
§ 502.407. OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITH EXPIRED LICENSE
PLATE. (a) A person commits an offense if, after the fifth
working day after the date the registration for the vehicle
expires:


A justice of the peace or municipal court judge having
jurisdiction of the offense may:
(1) dismiss a charge of driving with an expired motor
vehicle registration if the defendant:
(A) remedies the defect not later than the 10th
working day after the date of the offense; and
(B) establishes that the fee prescribed by
Section 502.176 has been paid; and
(2) assess an administrative fee not to exceed $10
when the charge is dismissed.
(c) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor
punishable by a fine not to exceed $200.

 

Correction - above applies to expired license plate.

I did track the City of GP down on the internet. According to their
website:
http://www.gptx.org/MunCourt/fines.asp

The fine should be $135.

 

What threats?

Me thinks you're a "nervous elk" about it.

 

I'll do you one better than that...I sat in a courtroom where a guy was
fined $15 for going 15 over the limit (by a jury). That same "jury" fined me
$95 for a license light out. Even though the guy admitted to speeding and
had tickets on his record...and I denied the light being out and showed that
the deputy who stopped me stopped me for other reasons and wasn't able to
tell if the light was out or not. Even the judge made a comment during the
hearing about "how could you tell going down the highway and meeting him if
his light was out".

That jury was comprised of people with Mark's mentality..."it needs to hurt
to serve the purpose" and "the police have to be right, otherwise why would
they say it".

 

The ticket isn't issued by the city.. This ticket was issued by Dallas
County Constables.. I don't have a scanner, and I think the court clerk has
my copy of the ticket, now.. This whole deal has been kind of screwy all
the way...

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker