scrubbedexpat099

Firstly I was just there for moral support.

Local town court, population short of 2,000.

Seemed to be held in a meeting room in the somewat old and tiny town offices.

Quite surprised as to how many people were there, must be 50 plus, and this was the first of 2 sessions for the month.

So groups of people 5 or so strong were called into another room, turns out they go to to see the Prosecutor and arrange a plea deal. All but 2 opted for this, they had trial dates set.

ThevJudge I can only describe as an American Rumpole both in demeanour and appearance (gown and wig excepted)

Anyway apart from two Dog on the loose charges, $75 each, all the rest were speeding. Maybe the more interesting ones were reserved for the second session.

So each one gets called up, given the brief outline of the charge and the plea bargain (usually half whatever points were awarded) and told to pay the lady. If you wanted time to pay you usually got 6 weeks with a commentary on what would happen if you did not pay on time.

It was quite a jolly atmosphere, there seemed to be quite a few regulars who knew each other and the Judge threw in a few comments about the relative fines and speeds. No moralising interestingly.

One of the top winners was a 16 year old girl there with her Mum for doing 54 in a 35 Construction zone. She had her $300 odd fine reduced by $200 because of her age, but was also given an essay to write, 500 words, and a $40 course of defensive driving lessons to take.

I suppose it was inevitable that the Town was quite willing to trade off points, but not so easily fines, which benefit their own coffers.

Anyway, if you have the time, an entertaining morning out.

Elvira

We had a taste of this quite early on, about a month after we moved.

One of my boys was ordered to appear in court because he had cycled without a helmet (not knowing this was against the law here...)

So he turns up in his ManU shirt and explains that he's fresh off the boat from England - and they let him off. I think the accent may have helped...

Another defendant that day was not so lucky - a 17-year-old girl was find over $500 for driving in the wrong direction in a CARPARK!!

Chorlton

Aren't car parks private property?

scrubbedexpat099

RTA applies to Car Parks in the UK, no idea here, probably varies state by state.

I would have expected a capital sentance turning up in a Man U shirt.

Funny thing about helmets in CO, the cyclists wear them but the bikers do not.

psb182

[QUOTE=Elvira]We had a taste of this quite early on, about a month after we moved.

One of my boys was ordered to appear in court because he had cycled without a helmet



QUOTE]


brilliant that init......10 miles from my house you can legally drive a motorbike 65mph on the highway without a helmet :scared: :scared:

kevntrace

I had my first (and so far, only) court appearance about a year ago. I was "caught" by a CHP biker who was travelling in the opposite direction to me. This was on a residential street with a 35MPH speed limit. He did a u-turn and came after me.

At first I didn't realise he was coming for me, so when I saw him in the rearview I just pulled over to the right to let him pass - of course, he followed me, so then it dawned it was me he was after. So when he finally came over he asked the "do you know why I pulled you over" question, and I honestly had no idea why he had.

Transpires he believed I was not wearing a seatbelt, and proceeded to give me a ticket - $25. He saw me take off my seatbelt after he pulled me over, so I could get to the glove compartment and get my insurance and registration. He put that down to the fact I had put it on between him first seeing me and doing the u-turn to catch me Since I was the only person in the vehicle, it was his word against mine and I'm always going to lose in that situation.

So, because the charge was complete hogwash, I decided to have my day in court to protest my innocence. The cop never showed up in court so by default the ticket was dismissed. But I did notice with the folks that got processed before me, there was definitely some familiarity between them and the judge. And for every case where the cop showed up in court, the judge went with the cop's decision, but reduced the penalties for some of them.

gruffbrown

Ooops, I need to start saving

Rushman

So far:

I got pulled over for failing to signal (indicate) when I pulled into my driveway. (I live on a very quiet residential street). I was asked if I had been drinking, I said that I had 2 beers an hour before (we had been out for dinner). I was then given some stupid tests to do.
1:
Walk the white line in pidgeon steps, 9 paces then turn around and walk back.....No problem.

2:
Officer "Press my thumb against index finger of same hand then count up each finger and back down to index finger twice 2, 3 ,4 ,5 5, 4, 3 ,2, 2,3,4,5, 5,4,3,2".
Me "Do what? Puzzled look
Officer "Like this" he then proceeded to show me but f**ked it up
Me: "You really expect me to do that after you just messed it up and you're sober"
He then made me follow a pen he was holding with my eyes.
Officer "I'm arresting you Sir for DWI youthe right to remain blah blah blah"

Was taken to the police station, and breathalised on the machine. I blew 0.2. Well under the 0.8 NY limit.
They then charged me with failing to signal into my driveway. Went to court and was fined $30 with a $50 surcharge (WTF??) and given 2 points on my licence.

Absolute load of bollocks!!! Mickey Mouse cops, Mickey Mouse charge, Mickey Mouse court, Mickey Mouse Judge!!!!!!!

psb182

was it in Orlando?

Rushman

Ha f**king ha!!!

(OK I did ask for that)

gruffbrown

Lord Lionheart

No need to get ratty about it, it's a good thing you were not rat arsed though

Rushman

Dont know why they just dont give you a hand held breath test at the scene instead of all that fannying about.

Lord Lionheart

Coz they are *****, I was stopped a few years ago pissed one block from my house. I did give the cop some lip as I was pissed and on foot, he took me in, drove past my house and put me in the 'drunk tank' overnight I guess to teach me a lesson? But he used taxpayer money to drive his car 2 miles or so to Santa Monica police station, have the desk sargent book me in and released without charge the next day, just to **** with me. Then they wonder why you grow to hate the uniformed clowns.

Rushman

I've been pulled over so many times for speeding so many times I've lost count. Everytime I've flashed the pink UK licence and given it the old "Here on holiday, sisters car, Yes Sir Yes Sir 3 bags full Sir" routine and been told to take it easy and have a nice day.

I've always been courteous and polite when I've been stopped, and I have been stopped a few times with a bit more in the blood than I should've had and been told to clear off home, but that night that I got collared for not signalling onto my driveway at 10.30 at night and a deserted road really pissed me off. So I did tell the cop I thought he was being ridiculous, especially as it was Senior prom night and there would be loads of pissed up kids he could intimidate and play robocop with because he didn't intimidate or impress me. In hindsight I think that might have been my problem and the reason I got shafted for 2 points.

I wish The Adirondacks had British cops, it'd be like the f**king Nurburgring!!