chartreuse

That's an interesting point. I haven't looked into it in any detail, but I get the impression that, round here, they make out that DWI's a big deal but it's really all about revenue generation. Seems you can buy your way out of most things, or at least pay to have them expunged after the fact, come to mention it.

ISTR that it can mess with your eligibility for a CHL, though.

Leslie

I thought of Sheriff Joe in comparison when I met a local Sheriff the other day. He was a class act yet very imposing (intimidating?) at the same time. Made Joe look like a buffoon.

Bob

Around here, they don't really bother. Speeding though, they do like getting you for that.

Maine, they're pretty rubbish about that, but they do nail out of state cars, because unlike a lot of places, you have to contest a ticket in person even if you have a lawyer and if it is a state highway, you've got to go way up to Augusta.

Cheeky thing, unlike most places on the interstate which have those yellow speed signs on the exits which are guidance, they are proper speeds, so your going from 65 to 30 bang on the exit and at the end of the month, you'll see police cars 6-10 lined up waiting to pull people over, always out of state plates.

SDDep

Ok...its not all about tickets...

But yes some state agencies do have a hard on for writing tickets, as its a money maker...

Steerpike

If you can't tell us about the circumstances - what happened to the 'other guy', etc - then it's hard to calibrate whether or not they were 'too tough', isn't it?

Kaffy Mintcake

You got that right! He is very harsh on those who are cruel to animals though, and I like that.

penguinsix

Multiple police departments are a counter to corruption of a local force and because each are charged with enforcing different sets of laws. Having a force for incorporated areas (police), the unincorporated areas and judicial system (the sheriff) and the areas inbetween/multiple jurisdictions (state troopers) provides coverage to different sets of laws in different areas with different procedures. It also is a counter to any one official becoming too powerful in a specific area and ruling it like a fiefdom, though in reality they often work together quite frequently. But if you had a problem with a police officer and were not getting anywhere through their chain of command, you have the write to file a complaint with the state police or even the FBI to seek redress.

In case you are wondering, in many counties the coroner (i.e. Medical Examiner) also has law enforcement powers--they are the only one who can arrest the sheriff for violations of law. In fact, if you tallied up all the authorities with legal power in your area you'd be in for a huge surprise--everything from US Postal Police to university cops.

Checks and balances...

Bob

Thing is, if it's following the letter of the law, that's one thing. Up in Maine, along that stretch of 295, you never see a ME plate pulled over at the end of the month.

It's just a money earner. Quite a few small towns out that way too rely pretty much on speeding tickets to fund the town which is also a little sad.

Brit3964

You hit the nail on the head. While they go on about that nasty "Big Government", often their own state and local government are poster children for overspending and waste!

Couldn't agree more. He moans about Federal government intrusion in his affairs yet had he not made himself so high profile, they might have left him alone. He only has himself to blame but he doesn't see that. Idiot.

SDDep

I totally agree with you...

I have found that east coast, west coast and everywhere in between agencies all do different things and enforce somewhat differently...

Here in CA they teach to enforce based upon the "spirit of the law" not the letter, the spirit being the intent of the legislature when the laws were written..I think its quite fair. Use your discretion (when you can), and be reasonable....

You are right about the small towns...

Mark23

Yeah that was the charge and I was told that if I went to a trial I could get a couple of years in prison instead of jail so I agreed to plead guilty. I know it sounds bad but for some reason I picked up a bottle and used it. Like I said I felt bad about once I saw what I had done.

What I was trying to say was that before all this happened I was having a great time - working hard, enjoying the sunshine and going out. I didn't realise how much I would miss just normal thing - going outside, getting up and going to bed when you like, sending an e mail or being online, having a phone, drinking, having a smoke. That was all I meant I didn't expect to be able to do the things I normally would in jail. But going from being able to do all the normal stuff to not being able to just in one day was hard. I was my own person and then became just another guy locked up in a jail with hundreds of others. I know people would think I deserve it and I probably did.

I know alot of people my age who have been arrested - what I was saying was that was the worse that happened to me so far and that I hadn't been in jail.



I know that. I didn't mean to complain about the sentence - more about the way jail is in America and how you are treated compared to back home and things that can happen to people from outside America when they are there and mightn't expect.


Like I said before I learnt my lesson and haven't been in any trouble since and have cut down alot on how much I drink.

Leslie

Good luck. A lot of people get in trouble when they are young and foolish ... it by no means needs to define who you are for the rest of your life.

Zonie

Back to your original question. I really don't think the way in which the law is enforced in the US is too tough. I do however think that the way the law is enforced in UK is far too soft and that may be as much the fault of the courts as the police.

Anyway, good luck.

Leslie

I happen to agree with this. I actually believe that tough sentencing is a deterrent - at least for the portion of the society that might be teetering.

chartreuse

I'm less certain. The counter argument is that people don't commit crimes in the expectation of being caught. Of course, then it becomes a question of perception and calculation of probabilities and risk, a complex calculus which we know folks are notoriously poor at.