Re: ticket quotas

["Michael Porter" <mpfive0@maine.rr.com>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Wilson <pwilson@pop.ma.ultranet.com>
To: Charlie Smith <charlie@elektro.cmhnet.org>; Michael Porter
<mpfive0@maine.rr.com>
Cc: Quattro List <quattro@coimbra.ans.net>; Charlie Smith
<charlie@elektro.cmhnet.org>
Date: Sunday, October 25, 1998 10:14 PM
Subject: Re: ticket quotas


>At 08:30 PM 10/25/98 EST, Charlie Smith wrote:
>>I've got to join Michael in this.
>>
>>I'm a volunteer police officer in Columbus Ohio, and have been with this
>>enough years to agree with Michael 100%.  Most officers aren't going to
>>write a traffic ticket unless someone really asks for it.  Exceptions
>>around here are CPD Freeway Patrol - and that's their job; and the Ohio
>>State Highway Patrol ... I won't get started on what I think of them.
>
>I see where you're coming from, but the general public just sees a cop
>writing a ticket(based on a speed limit that is most likely a little
>questionable).
>
>>Usually an officer isn't going to write a ticket unless it's 100%
>>defensable in court.  Probably one of the first things the officer asked
>>you was 'do you know why I stopped you?'  and, 'do you know how fast you
>>were going?'  If you say you don't know how fast you were going, forget
>>trying to plead not guilty later.  Also, if the officer tells you you
>>were going twelve over the limit, and you said 'you were only going 5
>>over' - same deal ... the officer certainly made a written note of what
>>you said, and you just admitted you were speeding!  5 over is exceeding
>>the speed limit - and usually the code doesn't say exceeding by any
>>particular amount - until you get into the codes that cover +20 and up.
>
>Err, ok.  What am I *supposed* to say so that I can plead innocent?
>
>Paul Wilson
>
Paul,

You don't have to say anything,  when dealing with an officer Miranda rules
always apply, You have the right not to incriminate yourself and  to stop
answering questions. Because anything you do say can and will be used
against you.  Now some people are going to ask why are those rights not then
read to everyone who is stopped. Miranda needs only be read to someone who
is under arrest or in a custodial enviroment ( in a police car, at the
station) and the only when the subject is going to be questioned. We almost
never read miranda to our arrestees( thats only for television)  because we
never question then, we do however write down everything they say
spontainiously.

Just be polite, I have found that alot of cops who write tickets and then
see a person in court who was polite and did not give them a big hassle will
actually help them. We have pull with the Asst DA's who do traffic cases in
getting tickets redused or dissmissed

This is getting way away from Q content so if anyone wants to talk more on
this subject feel free to contact me privately.

Mike P

mpfive0@maine.rr.com

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