OK friends, the results of today's hearing was the court refused to consider my arguments (For technical reasons rather than the merits.) and the District Attorney Filed a complaint against me for the blocking the crosswalk charge and opted not to pursue the insurance issue.
So now I am only on the hook for a little less than $200.
The DA also made an offer to drop the charge against me personally in exchange for a parking ticket.
Decisions decisions.
My advice, worth just what you're paying for it...
Don't keep pushing for what could end up at best a pyrrhic victory.
Pay the $200.
Your time must be worth something to you, spend it doing more pleasurable things, and never make the mistake of confusing the law with justice.
Jeff
On Wed, 9 May 2007 13:59:45 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm, "Roger Shoaf" quickly quoth:
Suckage.
So issue the bastard a ticket. That's an easy one.
OH, hell. Just take it to jury. The pictures will bear out that you didn't infringe on the crosswalk enough to limit its use by pedestrians, right? Be sure to alert the AP Wire before you deliver the news to them.
Effem all. ;)
So give the DA a parking ticket . Can't beat that trade ;-) Well you knew someone was sure to say it . Ken Cutt
Ah Jeff,
The $200 would only be the start of the problem. Points on a drivers license can shoot up insurance rates, and inhibit certain employment.
If I were to opt for the case to go from a moving violation to a parking violation, this would strengthen your argument, but if the charge remains as is, then it might be an easy one to defend as the police officer witness was dispatched to the scene and can't testify that he had personally observed the truck being parked, only that it had been so situated.
I also hate to admit it but I love to win. This gives cause to the opponents to question if they should attempt to try and pick my pocket in the first place.
Besides, somebody has to save the world now don't they?
Roger,
If (when) you don't win, give my regards to your new room mate, "Bubba". As Jeff wisely said, don't confuse law with justice.
Go for the parking ticket. No points, and the gummint still gets a little something so they can still feel like they won and can leave you alone.
Winning here is not necessarily an advantage, if it comes with a long line of future hassle and hard feelings. Take the bargain and run.
My $0.02, --Glenn Lyford
Roger, I agree with the sentiments. But I bet that by the letter of the law, you were guilty- depending on how it reads. If your bumper was sticking any amount into a vertical plane at the start of the crosswalk, you are probably guilty.
If the parking ticket is a No Points deal with a small fine, take it and save your Righteous Indignation for a battle that you can win on it's merits. I think the PTB already realize they have overstepped. They now know you don't put up with nonsense and might leave you alone in the future.
Rex
Know when to hold em, know when to fold em....
Wes
Take the parking ticket. No Points, cheep and you can feel that you pretty much won. If not you WILL pay the $200 and get a point.
--.- Dave
Some places it just has to be within certain specified distance from the crosswalk (3' or 1m or something like that), IIRC.
Best regards, Spehro Pefhany
Sometimes it's nice to stand up for your principles. Sometimes is nice to just minimize damages.
"Spehro Pefhany" wrote
Every city has laws on its books like that. How far you can legally park from the curb, from a crosswalk, etc. They just don't post them anywhere.
Steve
the next town over from me was close to changing all civil charges into criminal charges. this means that a parking ticket could cause one to have a criminal conviction on one's record.
regards, charlie
OTOH, you could at least get a trial-by-jury instead of the incestuous adminstrator/traffic judge profit center arrangement in most places.
No, you'll feel like you've been f***ed, but at least they lubed up first...
All in how you look at it...
I figger any time you can barter EVEN A PHONY CHARGE from a "$1000 couple of point moving violation" down to a $20 parking ticket, you've pretty much won... Ya factor in how much they just paid to have the DA come to court, the Junior DA figure out what to charge ya with, the DA's sexetary type to up all the papers, the court clerk file them....... and they backtrack... Uh... you won....
Fucked is when ya piss the DA off enough he impounds your vehicle as 'evidence'......
--.- Dave
As I posted, when I used to get tickets, pled not guilty, and went in and presented a plausible lie, I got the fine reduced. Was never found "not guilty", but most of the time had the fine cut in half or better.
Steve
As long as they're wrong, keep fighting. If everyone did that, self-righteous blowhard assholes wouldn't be as common as they are. There is a risk of losing and making things harder for yourself, but I've always preferred losing honest fights than bargaining with crooks.
SO, how much is your honor and integrity worth?
You will tell a lie to save a few bucks, and even brag about it...
What does that say about you as a person? Would people do business with you on E-bay if your honesty can be sold for a few bucks?
PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.