My Court Experience

[bennyfizzle]

Rape a nigguh.

[Hooked_on_240]

im not reading it, but GL…

Also, i love how i got a muffler ticket 10/31/2007. Had court that december and for some reason my license is being suspended for not showing up to court. :lol

[McLen]

TL;DR version? prease?

[votblindub]

Shawn, thats complete crap on their part. all parties should be separate, like the judge, the arresting officer and such. either way though, they end up doing pretty much whatever they want to and as of late they seem to do things that just generate more revenue for them at whatever cost.
the whole points thing is crap now. i remember when i had a “disobeying a traffic controller device” ticket, which is like running a stop sign and stuff and it was only 2 points. somehow miraculously its 4 points now. a 100% increase for no reason.

[GATVILLE]

@Chris07SS

Read all of it. Good read.

Can’t wait to go to NISKY for my reckless driving, 70 in a 30, and unlicensed operation…

GL with having a liscense after that

[ReDevil]

The courts are almost as bad as DMV. Everything is more expensive. I let my insurance lapse over the winter, and didnt turn in the plates. So when I tried to reg my Z last month, th snatch at the counter tells me I have to wait till July 20, or pay $628 to reg a car in my name. So can I reg a car in my dads name, have him as the primary driver, and me as occasional on ins, to get around that?

[silverandslow1]

@Shawn96VR-4

I had traffic court today so I decided to give a play-by-play as I was disgusted with the experience. I will be the first to admit that I am biased against cops as I feel the middle class is exploited. It’s also a bit ironic given my girlfriend is an attorney but she is involved with contracts/corporate/tax/etc… rather than traffic. Let’s get it on!

Flash back to a few weeks ago. I was driving a family friend’s SUV but parked waiting for my family (my aunt/godmother) to call me to be picked up. My aunt just had foot surgery and could barely walk. She was at the corner behind my on a fairly busy road. I was on a side street and pulled out of my parked spot doing a UTURN while the light was red. Yep, guilty. However, for the record, I did it for a reason as I was unfamiliar with the area and I didn’t want her to suffer while she waited as I drove around and/or get lost. A copy was sitting in the middle of road behind me watching the entire time. Is that even legal? So, when I pulled the UTurn, I was facing him but he was across the street. He pulled me over and was rude as expected by a local cop. I was extremely polite and told him why I did it. He must have been about 21 years old and barely about 5’6” and 140LBS soaking wet. He came back to the car and just kind of slapped the ticket in my hand and left. Then, the car turned on his lights/siren and stopped traffic while he pulled a UTurn to get back into the middle. It was almost humorous. I guess his logic is that when people see a cop car pulling a UTurn, they will use the brakes and not hit it but when they see my SUV, they will just plow into me. I read the supporting deposition and it said I was traveling and I congested traffic. This is incorrect. I was parked and I made the UTurn while the light was red.

So, I contact the traffic court’s clerk and find out the prosecutor is the cop. How the fuck is that fair? Seriously, the person who gave you the ticket decides your fate? You are naïve if you don’t believe that the judge doesn’t take the recommended plea (It’s always a plea; they want your money). In fact, it’s probably already predetermined even before you get to court. So why waste the tax payer’s money? Just sent out a bill and be done with it. So, you are screwed because the typical rude ass cop who gave you the ticket also determines your plea. So, if you were rude or pissed him off by trying to get out of the ticket or didn’t suck him off, you basically feel the wraith. Sounds fair right? Since it wasn’t a ADA, I didn’t want Crystal to contact the cop or the judge. It’s a touchy subject given it can be construed as ex parte. So, Crystal called her cousin who is a detective in Orange County and a previous Harlem Cop (He is a champ) who made several phone calls to the guy. Apparently, he is a douche canoe. The plan was for him to tell the judge that he forgot and that the ticket would get thrown out.

I show up to court today at 8:45AM as it was supposed to start at 9:30AM. First of all, the White Plains traffic court is NICE. I hope so given the amount of tax we pay. I never met so many miserable public servants in my life. It’s depressing to watch like 5-10 cops/workers sitting around with a miserable look and a fake “how can I help you sir” attitude. It’s surprising given they get paid well and don’t have to do a frigging thing. Where do I sign up for this job? So, I ask a female officer which court room I go to. She told me I wait in a line against the wall until the cop calls me so they can negotiate a plea. It’s the lottery. Everyone gets a plea! No points! Of course, you think they give a shit about points? So, I wait in line and some rather old cop sits at this cheap little table and pulls up a couple of chairs. I see the future unfold in front of my eyes. He waves me over and says it’s a 4 point violation (4 points? Isn’t wreckless driving or DWI or 30MPH+ 4 points? I thought it was 2?) but he is going to give me some 11 something with no points and just a fine. I ask where the accusing officer and the cop told me he is out on the field. At this point, I know I am fucked. So, I decide to throw that cunt under the bus. I said, “Well, he was supposed to be here. I was told that the ticket would be dropped.”. There was a slight pause and the cop basically said he didn’t believe me but I just sat there and shrugged my shoulders. He tried the old “I don’t know what you mean” expression but he knew what I meant. The cop said he would ask the cop if he saw him. I know he wouldn’t but at least someone knows this prick tried to play games.

I go into court and waited for nearly 1 hour. The judge just randomly shows up. No CELL PHONES! MUSIC! READING! EATING! DRINKING! But, the judge can drink some water. The first guy got his ticket dismissed because the time on the supporting deposition was wrong. That’s a bit trivial but whatever. I thought I was, again, out of this. The next person up was some poor old man who got an inspection sticker ticket. He got it fixed 1 day later and they charged him $130 but reduced to $105. I guess any “moving” violation is now $80 surcharge per NYS. So, $80 + $25 = $105. The old Italian man said outside the court room: “This is fucking ridiculous. $30 and I wasted 3 hours here. That’s like minimum wage.”.

I get up and the judge asks me if I am from Schenectady (I haven’t updated my license in many many years; I look good in the pic back when I was 16) and tried to catch me into admitting I still didn’t update with DMV. I explained I updated it right as I moved and I am up-to-date. I explained the situation including how the supporting deposition was wrong (trying to get the same treatment as the first guy). Nope. $100 + $80 surcharged. I asked the judge if I could ask a question and she said “make it quick” (I almost laughed as I waited nearly an hour for her to show up) and asked why the accusing officer was not available and that the clerk said that officer would be prosecuting the case). She said “this is how we do it” similar to the initial officer who gave me the plea. That’s incorrect. You have a right to question the accusing officer. But, it doesn’t matter. You have no rights. You are ignorant if you think you do. You, like I, are a sheep. Period. What can you do? You can’t piss off the judge if you disagree or try to explain your side. You will be ushered out VERY fast or told to be quiet. You just accept the predetermine fate and move on.

Law broken…fine paid…I don’t get what the big deal is.

[99FRC]

@silverandslow1

Law broken…fine paid…I don’t get what the big deal is.

Well he did admit to doing it in his post. I think it’s fair to say that anyone who gets pulled over for doing something wrong wants out of the charge, I know I do.

And I don’t think getting out of the ticket was Shawn’s main concern as was how it unfolded. I def. agree that the officer should not be the prosecutor as well. To me, it seems that is a huge conflict of interest.

They come in all forms, this one just happened to be a shriveled angry little penis.

[Shawn96VR-4]

@RBakerian

Yea it sucks, but again, was it not you who pulled the illegal manuever in the first place?

I do not deny that as I said in my initial post. However, I did have a reason albeit doesn’t justify it. It’s not the fact that I got the ticket but the abuse in the judicial system in handling it.

@RBakerian

I do agree however that our traffic court system is a debocle. My GF got a ticket, went to court, waited THREE hours AND she was there first. Officer was extremely rude and talked down to her, that is not necessary.

Aside from just being a decent person, they are public servants/workers paid by the people. I dont’ treat strangers like that.

@RBakerian

I know being an officer is no easy life, you get the brunt of the B.S, and it’s a thankless job most of the time. (Not to mention the hours blow, and that can destroy a family life) that’s probably why you see so many unhappy cops.

That’s fair and I understand that but even the court officers who direct traffic are like that. Also, there’s a diff between pulling over a guy vs being in a random court room and dealing with a guy that has done absolutely nothing. Treating them like snot is just unecessary.

@JRubino

That’s what they signed up to do though. They can’t handle maintaining themselves in an orderly manner maybe they shouldn’t be cops.

Exactly.

@votblindub

Shawn, thats complete crap on their part. all parties should be separate, like the judge, the arresting officer and such. either way though, they end up doing pretty much whatever they want to and as of late they seem to do things that just generate more revenue for them at whatever cost.
the whole points thing is crap now. i remember when i had a “disobeying a traffic controller device” ticket, which is like running a stop sign and stuff and it was only 2 points. somehow miraculously its 4 points now. a 100% increase for no reason.

Reason = Money.

@silverandslow1

Law broken…fine paid…I don’t get what the big deal is.

I don’t expect you to given you can’t get a job at Lids in the mall.

We have the right to a fair trial and to confront the accuser. Both were not offered to me. People have died for hundreds of years for these basic rights. I don’t get why you can’t comprehend that.

[Shawn96VR-4]

@99FRC

Well he did admit to doing it in his post. I think it’s fair to say that anyone who gets pulled over for doing something wrong wants out of the charge, I know I do.

And I don’t think getting out of the ticket was Shawn’s main concern as was how it unfolded. I def. agree that the officer should not be the prosecutor as well. To me, it seems that is a huge conflict of interest.

They come in all forms, this one just happened to be a shriveled angry little penis.

My anger:

1. Another officer should never ever prosecute the case.
2. The ticketing officer should never prosecute the case.
3. The guy was a complete dick to me. That’s uncalled for.
4. The officer pulled a UTURN within 1 second of giving me a ticket for the same exact offense
5. 4 points for a UTURN? That’s bullshit but OK, that’s the law.
6. The entire process was a 3-4 hour ordeal. That’s a waste of tax payer money. A math lesson for silver and the court. Paying $5 to make $3 is bad business.
7. The accusing officer should be at the trial. I mean, that’s the fucking point of the trial
8. The previous person got the ticket dismissed for the hour being wrong on the supporting deposition. OK, I think that’s a bit trivial. However, how is the fact that my supporting deposition indicated I was moving (which I wasn’t) not taking into account? I am not a judge but I would consider the act not being accurate a bit more than the date/time.

[silverandslow1]

@Shawn96VR-4

My anger:

1. Another officer should never ever prosecute the case.
2. The ticketing officer should never prosecute the case.
3. The guy was a complete dick to me. That’s uncalled for.
4. The officer pulled a UTURN within 1 second of giving me a ticket for the same exact offense
5. 4 points for a UTURN? That’s bullshit but OK, that’s the law.
6. The entire process was a 3-4 hour ordeal. That’s a waste of tax payer money. A math lesson for silver and the court. Paying $5 to make $3 is bad business.
7. The accusing officer should be at the trial. I mean, that’s the fucking point of the trial
8. The previous person got the ticket dismissed for the hour being wrong on the supporting deposition. OK, I think that’s a bit trivial. However, how is the fact that my supporting deposition indicated I was moving (which I wasn’t) not taking into account? I am not a judge but I would consider the act not being accurate a bit more than the date/time.

I understand the whole the person writing the ticket shouldn’t prosecute, it makes sense. But in this case…you were guilty who cares if Donald Duck is the prosecutor you deserved the full offense penalty whatever you got under that amount is a gift that they didn’t have to do.

I still find it hilarious that EVERY time you get pulled over the cops a dick, and literally EVERY time I’ve been pulled the officer hasn’t been. Find it peculiar is all.

I’de like to also understand more. You were sitting at the stop line…at a red light and you did a u-turn?

[Shawn96VR-4]

@silverandslow1

I understand the whole the person writing the ticket shouldn’t prosecute, it makes sense. But in this case…you were guilty who cares if Donald Duck is the prosecutor you deserved the full offense penalty whatever you got under that amount is a gift that they didn’t have to do.

Your post suggests guilt before trial so the trial (or prosecutor) shouldn’t matter. So, you don’t understand because the basic foundation of the system is an innocence until proven guilty notion based on a fair and righeous trial. That was not given.

@silverandslow1

I still find it hilarious that EVERY time you get pulled over the cops a dick, and literally EVERY time I’ve been pulled the officer hasn’t been. Find it peculiar is all.

That’s incorrect. I have stated many times I have been pulled over and the cop was very nice. Everyone has different experiences. Did you pull the “My daddy is a cop card” to get special treatment? Or, are you surprsied that a local town cop being a prick is not a rare occurrence? I find your post hillarious given the fact that the Schenectady PD is/was investigated by the FBI.

@silverandslow1

I’de like to also understand more. You were sitting at the stop line…at a red light and you did a u-turn?

Parked with my back to a stop light which was red. I pulled out and made a UTURN into the other lane. This differs from the supporting deposition that stated I was moving and my act resulted in a traffic congestion. But, it doesn’t really matter because 1) I’d do it again 2) It’s not the act but the trial process, in general.

[silverandslow1]

@Shawn96VR-4

We have the right to a fair trial and to confront the accuser. Both were not offered to me. People have died for hundreds of years for these basic rights. I don’t get why you can’t comprehend that.

Lol…cry me a river everytime you get a ticket…that is all.

[Shawn96VR-4]

@silverandslow1

Lol…cry me a river everytime you get a ticket…that is all.

No response eh? Typical.

I just have a problem with how the middle class is exploited. The ticket was annoying. If I am going to pay for your unemployment, why not $180 more to White Plains?

[Vovchandr]

System is messed up simply because, two people with the same records, doing the same violation in two different counties, or even just on two different days, can have completely different outcomes/results.

[Singh1]

i think some people in the thread just dont get it… lol

anyways shawn that is FUCKED sorry to hear

i get really frustrated with shit like this