The case of the $909 parking ticket

On Fri, 4 May 2007 04:55:26 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm, "Roger Shoaf" quickly quoth:

That would be a definite bummer. My hope is that it gets global attention by the PTB (powers that be) and they learn that they can't pull that crap and get away with it any more.

Now, to Nick's disdain, you'll have to recite all those stories here, too, Roger. Give!

It sounded as if you were baiting him, which is never a good idea.

That's always a dangerous habit in front of the man who thinks he's God, at least in his county. I'm glad you weren't of that mind.

Excellent. I hope that was a kindred spirit's smile, that he may have something to settle with the DA himself, rather than a vengeful smile.

G'luck!

Now out with the other stories while we wait for Chapter 2 on this one. ;)

-- Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. ---- --Unknown

Interesting idea, but I feel that if the story were to be made brief enough for the press, the story would get spun in a way that would be unfair or misleading. There is far too much of that nonsense, and since the facts are not particularly sensational I doubt the press would take much notice.

On the other hand, one idea I am toying with is to rattle the cage of the beast the civil service fears the most, i.e..e. the bean counter. It is my observation that each little fiefdom of entrenched bureaucracy spends much of its time fending off and/or kissing up to these strange creatures. The problem with this plan is the bean counters might not react in a good way. For instance if I were to successfully scare them into action, it might be that the bean counter might press the chief to step enforcement of trivial parking violations in order to build up the war chest to pay claims that may come into existence from department screwi-ups.

Hard to predict outcome sometimes.

Geeze Nick, You are really a pain in the ass.

Snipped...

The only other suggestion I would make would be to send your narrative and a copy of all your backup documentation to the county grand jury and ask that they investigate this harrassment and unjustified use of city resources.

Of course he does. Hes German. He will be defending the Authorities shortly.

Im surprised his Einstatgruppen Kommando has internet access there in Poland.

Gunner

"If thy pride is sorely vexed when others disparage your offering, be as lamb's wool is to cold rain and the Gore-tex of Odin's raiment is to gullshit in the gale, for thy angst shall vex them not at all. Yea, they shall scorn thee all the more. Rejoice in sharing what you have to share without expectation of adoration, knowing that sharing your treasure does not diminish your treasure but enriches it."

- Onni 1:33

"Jim Stewart" wrote

The local TV station may be interested, too.

However, if you do that, you can expect to meet each and every PO in your jurisdiction in the very near future.

Steve

Nick,

You just got to understand that this list is majority populated by a lot of Americans and you are not going to change how we interact.

It would be nice though if the OT stuff was prefaced by OT so those that object could just filter and pretend that the list is pure.

Perhaps you should just ask for a OT preface in Subject and filter accordingly. You might have more satisfactory results.

As always, I just use my brain, I know I can mark a thread to kill it but don't, I just ignore.

There are a few posters like TMT and Cliff that are dead to me. That is a term that comedienne Stephan Colbert uses to describe those that have outraged him so that he no longer acknowledges their existence, just to give you a cultural clue since you are in Germany.

Just to put some metalworking content in to make this metal related, I made a scraper last night. I silver brazed a piece of T type parting tool to some cold rolled. I still need to sharpen the edge and fashion a handle on the other end but it is a start.

Wes

You are in my prayers, Roger....

Jeff

This is one of those statements that can be taken different ways.

My first choice would be to think that you are rooting for me, but the second would be that you think I am doomed without divine intervention.:>)

"Gunner" wrote

LOL. What's the source of that quote?

Max

"Roger Shoaf" wrote

The chances of the world ending before next week:

As Judy Tenuda would say, "IT COULD HAPPEN!"

Steve

Funny you should mention this song. remember the part about the color 8 X10 glossy pictures with the circles and the arrows and the paragraph on the back of each one?

Well an omitted detail in my story was when I had drawn my letter writing to the court to an end where they had given me a ultimatum, I concluded that I was going to be forced to fight a battle so I went to the court on a fact finding mission. There I inspected the file and one surprise that I found was two digital photographs of the truck parked.

In CA this is a no-no.

Calif. Vehicle Code §40505 provides:

"Whenever any traffic or police officer delivers a notice to appear or notice of violation charging an offense under this code to any person, it shall include all information set forth upon the copy of the notice filed with a magistrate and no traffic or police officer shall set forth on any notice filed with a magistrate or attach thereto or accompany the notice with any written statement giving information or containing allegations which have not been delivered to the person receiving the notice to appear or notice of violation."

They did not supply me with copies of the photo's before they filed the ticket with the court. Sounds to me like a typical case of American blind justice...

chuckle ........ and don't forget the "8x10 glossy photographs with a paragraph on the back explaining what each one was "............

I went to see "Alice's Restaurant" with a friend the night before he headed out to helicopter school. It was the last time I saw him.

Steve

How about another version of ' Alice's Restaurant'. Rogers Banking Excursion.

John

But before you sic the media on it make an appointment for a friendly visit, go talk directly to the Sheriff or Police Chief of the jurisdiction. Might even want to bring a Lawyer along with you on this 'friendly chat', just in case they get ideas of trying something underhanded... ("But he attacked me!") Have all your facts straight, and before you go compile a very complete list of all the local Print, TV and Radio outlets in the area, and the contact people and phone numbers you need to make that problem good and public.

If the Chief can't get this citation dismissed or get all the Officers and Clerks involved to start playing by the rules and get the information to the Court for the Judge to decide who is right, you show him that media contacts list you have (IOW show that you're willing to "kick it up a notch") and see if that elicits an attitude adjustment.

What the hell did you do (or what do they /think/ you did, even if you didn't) that has them peeved enough to issue bogus tickets and try making your life miserable?

-->--

Ummm...no, Roger, you seemed to have missed that little tidbit.

And an interesting tidbit it is, too!

Rule #3...never piss off the gods unless you are abou to move FAR away!

Rule #4...Police chiefs think that they are god

Mike

No I refuse to use extortion to gain a dismissal. If I talk to them at all, it will be after I get things dismissed.

As far as what I might have done, I can think of nothing. I have been living in this county for 12 years and never had one cross word with any member of that police department. I suspect that the public works director probably has some irk with trucks. I suspect the chief may have been trying to help a fellow city employee or perhaps he is under influence of the bean counters to raise more revenue through increased traffic enforcement or something.

For the moment I have pretty much ruled out any personal motivation for this bizarre problem.

My (short lived but extremely trying) runin with local LEOs started whsn, on a Good Friday afternoon in the late sixties, I was working at the shop on my '35 Chevy and a constale, in his private car, stopped and wanted to buy gas. Bylaws at the time did not allow our pumps to be open, and the pumps were locked. I didn't have the key or permission to turn the pumps on, so I told him I could not help him.

Over the next several months I was threatened with (but never charged) unnecessary noise - with abrand new stock exhaust on a '63 valiant, having a defective licence lamp - which I replaced without even testing - and was stopped for again on my way home that night (and it WAS working) along with being generally hassled by the "jerk" until I took it upon myself to lodge a complaint with the desk sargent. I didn't name any names, or even provide any details - just "the officer on duty last night at 9:30 PM who has hassled me ONE too many times" and "if he charges me with ANYTHING, I'll beat him if it takes the best, most expensive, nastiest lawyer in the county - I'll have his badge" From that day on, he was a pussycat, because he had NO IDEA what I (or someone else) had or had not reported, only that someone had lodged a complaint about his behaviour that evening (which was reprehensible - and he knew it).

I have a 64 valiant sitting in my driveway right now.

I am tickled to hear of your successful spanking of the rogue. I hope that he not only stopped bothering you, but thought better of the practice for all your fellow residents of that berg.

The few interactions I have had with Canadian policemen has left a strong impression on me that you folks up north might do a bit better job in training them than we do down here. The couple of times I crossed into BC with a semi, I was ready for grief but I was asked about three questions and wished a pleasant trip. The one time I got flagged into a truck scale the officer was also pleasant and reviewed my papers and discovered that one permit was missing. No problem, he took US funds, no fine, and I was on my way. I wish all truck inspectors I have done business with were that pleasant. I had one guy in California that called me on the carpet for being 15 minutes behind on my log book and while I did not get a citation that night, I definitely took an alternate route rather than talk to him again.