offtherecord.com

[matthewb0051]

Along with juvenile cases, I also refuse to do tickets these days. When I first started practicing I would get a few traffic ticket cases from my BMW mechanics. I knew a lot of the prosecutors in municipal court and usually if you had an attorney they would dismiss the case/ticket.

Not so much these days. I went to Muni court a couple of years ago and refused to ever go back. It just sucks that bad and the DA's are intolerable.

We have this guy locally. His company car looks just like a local police vehicle. DB

[Ayles]

The guy I used/mentioned drives this thing, check the personalized plates. Good advertising…

Don't forget to peep those two very sweet 911's in the background... One belonging to me and the other to Jeff

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

..... Jeannie (is) worth every penny.

Yes she is. Expensive and worth it.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

Along with juvenile cases, I also refuse to do tickets these days. When I first started practicing I would get a few traffic ticket cases from my BMW mechanics. I knew a lot of the prosecutors in municipal court and usually if you had an attorney they would dismiss the case/ticket.

Not so much these days. I went to Muni court a couple of years ago and refused to ever go back. It just sucks that bad and the DA's are intolerable.

We have this guy locally. His company car looks just like a local police vehicle. DB

Those DA's have no reason to even talk to you in today's environment. Traffic court is just so broken in so many states today that they need not waste their time. If it goes to trial at all the verdict is always "guilty". There is no way to argue the facts nor the merits of the case. It just doesn't matter anymore. If the cops says your client did it, your client did it. The cop is under no obligation to prove a goddamned thing. The only way to "win" is to find some technicality on which the case can be dismissed. But you know that.

Originally Posted by Ayles

The guy I used/mentioned drives this thing, check the personalized plates. Good advertising…

Don't forget to peep those two very sweet 911's in the background... One belonging to me and the other to Jeff

That was a fun day, and one awesome car. He obviously didn't get that by doing traffic court, so good on him - a real attorney who will take traffic cases.

[sugarwood]

Is that supposed to be a Batmobile tribute car ?

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Is that supposed to be a Batmobile tribute car ?

Whatever it is, I can't decide whether boorish or gauche.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

It just doesn't matter anymore. If the cops says your client did it, your client did it. The cop is under no obligation to prove a goddamned thing. T.

I had a family violence trial a few weeks ago. Cop took statement from the complaining witness (male) at the scene. The defendant was not present and therefore they took no statements from her.

When that cop testified he said:

- if both parties are at the scene, we take a statement from each of them

- then we decide who is going to jail

Genius didn't realize he said the quiet part out loud. No middle ground, someone is getting locked up. I did not go easy on him. He tried to walk it back but he had admitted what everyone believes.

[ADDvanced]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Does it work out? For everyone? Really?

The ticket itself was $200. That's not "money" to me. Even less so to the majority of folks I meet in our hobby. It is, however, very real money to some single mom with several kids working two jobs and driving some 40 year old beater. The difference in impact in my life vs. hers is very real, and quite unjust.

It's a bad system. It really is. There should be a more just, more fair, more equitable way.

They want me to change my behavior. Nothing in this current system will ever entice me to do so. What I was doing was not unsafe in any way, shape, or form. I was on a motorcycle on a perfectly straight, flat stretch of open road with unobstructed visibility for a couple of miles. No driveways, no cross streets, way out in the country, with absolutely nothing around. The speed limit there is beyond ludicrous. Enforcement of it only serves to breed disrespect and disdain for the officers tasked with doing so, and for the system that supports them. The limits are set so low not as any sort of a safety measure, but purely because it's "easy money" for the county. Shameful.

Some states have what is known as an "average speed" or "prevailing speed" law. Under these laws, the speed limits are set to an "85%" rule. Speed limit signs are removed and traffic is monitored for some period of time. Remarkably, most of us prefer to drive safely, at a speed we are comfortable with on any given stretch of road. The theory is that 85% of us will always do so, driving at a speed at which we feel safe. That data is collected, and the limit set accordingly.

Not in Washington. We have had several "pilot projects" under which speed limits in the area under study were set in this manner. Traffic flow improved markedly, and the accident rates actually went down as the speed limits in each and every study area were increased. Some by as much as 15-20 mph.

But, alas, in the end the limits on these roads were ultimately reduced to their pre-study levels. Traffic returned to its pre-study gridlock, accident rates increased. In each and every case. It's frustrating. If we had realistic, reasonable speed limits on these roads, I would have little to complain about. But having our limits consistently 10, 15, 20 mph lower than similar roads in other states (or countries) is pretty tough to justify.

Unless, of course, all they really want is our money...

Love your energy, agree 100%, **** the police.

Speed limits haven't changed since cars had bias ply tires, leaf springs, drum brakes, and lap belts, for the most part. Look up Montana Speed Limit Paradox as well; no daytime speed limit, DEATHRATE DROPPED TO ALL TIME RECORD LOW. Because people were driving fast, and paying attention.

Cops are tax collectors with badges, and all tickets go toward is more of their tacticool John McClane wannabe gear, and their gas guzzling SUVs they idle all day. ACAB.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

When that cop testified he said:

- if both parties are at the scene, we take a statement from each of them

- then we decide who is going to jail

Genius didn't realize he said the quiet part out loud. No middle ground, someone is getting locked up. I did not go easy on him. He tried to walk it back but he had admitted what everyone believes.

Incompetent leo, flawed system, ect.

Why do you still practice?

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

Incompetent leo, flawed system, ect.

Why do you still practice?

Just trying to help the little guy. I take a lot of court appointed cases. There are the hardened criminals, the naïve, the stupid, and probably some other category. Most are happy to have the help. Some are not.

That case I referenced above resulted in a Not Guilty verdict. I even got a hug. So that makes up for the dodo heads that aren't appreciative.

[Arizona_928]

That's honorable. You're a good guy.