DISPUTE UR Tickets!!!!

[GrandmaSideways]

Originally Posted by 1989E34M5 Hey Grandma, try to reschedule just for a laff and delay it another 14 months! ahhahah

UPDATE!

Well, I should've had it rescheduled. The court was all west vancouver police department officers, and my constable had five other people (!!)
Everyone else he was with pleaded guilty. I decided I'd try and cut a deal for something silly, like a $40 ticket, but he made it very clear that he wouldn't go for that despite having made deals with everyone else. Okay. Fine.
He asked me what I was going to plead, I said he'd find out in court. He goes...
"Well I need to know how to plan what I'm going to do"
"Well I think it's obvious that I plan to plead not guilty, and you've also ignored m request for discovery, do you have that paperwork here today?"
"I never received it."
"Well I sent it to the WVPD."
"Do you have the letter you sent?"
"Maybe."
"Well what is your plan, why won't you just plead guilty?"
"I'm going to ask for a stay of judgement because it's been 15 months."
"Well that's not my fault, and if we proceed with this trial I'll proceed with it as a drunk driving conviction (I was pulled over and blew a 0.001 - not a typo!) and I have 22 years experience with that..."
-- I walk into court.
He doesn't know what I have up my sleeve or if my case is completely groundless, and he sat in the far back row and eyeballed me the entire court session.

Anyways. Walk in, usual thing. One person the cop doesn't show up they're off the hook. Another, neither of them show up, the person is found guilty. What a waste of an opportunity!

One person asks for an adjournment, it's approved, he leaves. Now we're onto the people pleading guilty. Usually dropping one BIG ticket and getting like, 81 in an 80 and the minimum fine, or getting the second charge of speeding dropped and getting a 'no N' ticket and a $40 fine. Stuff like that.
Now we get on to the people pleading not guilty. My Constable only has me holding him up. Thankfully, I'm not called up first. This gives me a chance to see how the crown (WVPD Police Sargeant) questions officers.
Anyways. Hit and run, and the driver doesn't speak english. First witness is the officer that issued the ticket, and she's super nervous. We sit through that, my constable is in the front row now and keeps looking over his shoulder. I'm sitting in court watching and learning how things operate. If you're planning on fighting a ticket, I HIGHLY recommend sitting in on a case.
So the main officer gets down. The son of the little old lady gets up and basically presents a little evidence, mostly photos of the injuries and a few photos of the scene, and they're put into exhibits. About halfway through my officer pulls me outside.
Bow to the judge, go to the lobby.
"As you can see, this judge is strict. You wait for him to finish what he's saying, and answer his questions directly."
"Uh huh."
"So basically what will happen is we go up, you plead not guilty, and I'm questioned on the stand. Then you have the opportunity to cross examine me."
"Yuh huh."
Like do I not have eyes and ears? Jesus.
"Do you still want to proceed?"
"Yes."
We go back in, bow to the judge, sit down.
The little old lady comes in and takes the stand. She's 81, and she's totally out of it. She's having trouble understanding the questions, and she's going off on long stories.
About five minutes in to the prosecution's questions, again, my constable pulls me out into the lobby.
Bow to the judge, go to the lobby.
"Well it looks like this is going to take awhile."
"Uh huh."
"I have another appointment too, so depending on how long this goes I might have to have the case against you dropped. I don't think this is going to be finished anytime soon."
"No, it doesn't seem like it at all."
We go back inside, bow to the judge, take our seat.
The east indian gentleman is asking questions with his translator, and actually did a good job of interjecting doubt in the prosecution's case.
annoyed. The old lady is gong off talking about a blue coat and how she usually wears a blue coat, and she 'most likely' was wearing that. Blah blah blah. My officer looks back at me and rolls his eyes. Good sign.
20 minutes after being pulled outside last time and I'm getting annoyed.
It's a bit assinine to pull me outside again, and I'm pissed. But okay.
Bow to the judge, go to the lobby.
"Well I think I have to go, so it looks like you're going to get lucky today."
"Uh huh."
*being all buddy buddy now* "Just don't drink and drive at all, again, until you have your non-restricted license and then, don't drink much."
"Yeah, I know. But a 0.001 is a joke."
"Well you have ZERO tolerance, even a 0.001 is above the limit."
*puts his hand on my shoulder*
"Be careful buddy."
"Yuh huh. Okay."
"So I'm going to leave and when you're called up just tell the judge that I had to go and we talked outside and that I would like to withdraw all charges against you."
"okay."
"See you later!" *big shit eating grin*
Back into court. Bow to the judge, sit down.
Finally we take a recess. And there's still two more witnesses to go. God. By the time the recess is over, it's 3:30 and I've been there for two hours.
Before they start back up the other two people have their officer stand up and say she wants to withdraw charges on them.
"Well looks like it's your lucky day, gentleman, you're free to go."
They're all excited of course.
I stand up.
"Your honor, Constable _____ has left for another appointment, and he asked me to tell you that he too would like to withdraw the charge against me."
At that point another constable, the female, pipes up "Yes your honour, constable _____ told me as well that he would like to withdraw the charges."
"Well it looks like it's your lucky day as well! You're free to go, have a good day!"
"Yes, thank you your honour, you too!"

And I walked out. Sun was shining, birds were singing... I gave the other two guys each a high five, hahahaha


________
So what have I learned?
Unless your initial plea bargain to a lesser charge is damn good, and you don't want the points... ALWAYS plead not guilty no matter how guilty you may be. You never really know what might happen...

[1989E34M5]

Thats a good one, I hope everyone on the board reads this and disputes their tickets, backs up the courts till hell freezes over. The police aren't invincible and just because they rite up some BS ticket it doesn't mean you pay it no questions asked, good on you Granny!!!!!

[nuts4bmw]

Granmasideways got lucky here eventhough technically speaking he was guilty.

It's important to fight a ticket if you're not guilty, or in this case barely guilty. But to back up our court system just for the sake of it is stupid. Tax payer money can be better spent elsewhere.

[1989E34M5]

A lot of tax $$$ is very well spent, I am sure. Here is a another good story for you as far as tax $$ goes. I will try to make it as short as possible. Was unemployed one summer, collecting unemployment, enjoying my youth. A friend calls says he got a job distributing sports draw lotto tickets, 1 time a week, all you had to do was drive around a set route, collect tickets/$$$ distribute new tickets, took around 5-6 hours out of your day. they paid $200.00 cash plus $10.00 for lunch, and this is back in the early 80's. Thats a pretty good wage back then. I told him I was on UI he said it doesnt matter you dont have to claim the income! when you called for the job the first thing they asked you was who you voted for last election, strange I thought???? If you voted Liberal you got in, if you voted for any other party sorry no positions available. I voted "Liberal" instant job 1 day a week tax free to add to my ui $$$. Here's the kicker, obviosly government run told me not to claim it as income, also everyone in the office was a Liberal Party Member, Federal Government!!! and not just normal members the guys managing the show were Liberal Fund Raisers etc. The higher your position in the party the better job you got! All signed to lengthy contracts, 3-5 years. A year or so later the liberals got voted out, and the PC government decided to shut Sports draw lotto down. Guess what, they had to pay all the managers with big contracts out, cost over, better sit down $$$$$200,000,000.00 thats rite 200 million, it was in the news etc. big scandal. what a crock. better look after your own $$ first, our tax $$$ is at work all over in BS political scams just like Sports Lotto. Look at the advertising scandal recently in Quebec with Chretien, before that it was Mulroney, with the German businessman Schriver, getting kick backs, same shit. Dont think its not going on, it is and its every low life politician in power, from mayors to the premier to the rite "honorables" running this country, they are all out to get their own pound of flesh, just like everyone else. Also take into account that was $200 mil back in the mid eighties, that was some serious cash. Thats how our hard earned tax $$$ are well spent!!!!

[JimB]

There comes a point when you have realize that some people are just too stupid to reason with.

Jim

[GrandmaSideways]

Originally Posted by nuts4bmw Granmasideways got lucky here eventhough technically speaking he was guilty. It's important to fight a ticket if you're not guilty, or in this case barely guilty. But to back up our court system just for the sake of it is stupid. Tax payer money can be better spent elsewhere.

The fact is though, if everyone fought speeding tickets, and fought the silly little cash grab tickets... Suddenly all the traffic court would have time for is the cases like the one above. Pedestrains struck, hit and run, etc...
That's really what it's all about. And the cops would have to stop writing silly tickets that are simply a cash grab.
I saw that ticket as nothing more than an excuse to pull $109 out of my pocket, and I said no.
Realistically... I could have probably made about as much by working in those few hours.

[1989E34M5]

Sorry Jim ur way beyond help, and u should get ur headout of ur azz as far as tax dollars are spent

[nuts4bmw]

don't get me started about misapropriated funds spent by our governments....or ICBC for the matter.

Did you guys read about the golden handshake those clowns got who were fixing ICBC write-offs and selling them? $850,000.00!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!

So where do I sign up to pursue illegal activities, get a regular paycheck for it with benefits, pocket the money for my illegal persuits tax free, and then get a bonus cheque after I get caught????? oh an no jail time.....

This kind of crap that goes on in our govenments is OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!
Man does this piss me off!!!!!

[Cacciatore08]

Originally Posted by JimB There comes a point when you have realize that some people are just too stupid to reason with. Jim

Ahha, why do you think I gave up on Post #15

[JimB]

Originally Posted by Cacciatore08 Ahha, why do you think I gave up on Post #15

Yah, you're right. It's one thing to enter into a debate with people who are well informed, intelligent, and can acknowledge differences of opinions,...and where we all gain a little insight from anothers point of view.
But what can possibly come from arguing with someone who really only wanted to impress his piers because he "beat the man", and responds with monosyllable atacks on anyones character who dares to disagree.

I think I misinterpreted the original post.

My mistake...,sorry.

Jim

[1989E34M5]

Jim you are so self righteous, I believe you are the one who threw out stupid first (see post 35), but hey I am only middle aged, and somewhat cynical with what goes on in this country. Particularly when it concerns some of our upstanding politicians and police departments. I am not out to get "The Man" (thats a mature saying) I am just stating some things are unjust like some tickets. Did anyone watch the news last night in Vancouver? Real nice murder, stabbed over 30 times in the Hollyburn Country Club parking lot over a $$ loan, bargain plea down to manslaughter, judge gives him 5 years because he is a "good student" at UBC law school, and has no recollection of the murder and no previous record. now there is justice in action, he will be out in 2 years for good behavior, so that means 1 human life equals 2 years jail, 1 speeding ticket over 30 kmh equals over $500.00. Sorry doesn't equate in my little pea brain. But hey thats just my opinion, you want to go on paying your tickets and taxes, thats your opinion, I can accept that, can you accept mine without personnaly attacking me??

[nuts4bmw]

I have to constantly shake my head whenever a "sentence" is handed out by one of our "god-almighty" judges.

I tell ya man, I wouldn't blame anyone from murder victims family if they exercised a little of their brand of justice on that ***** who murdered their son. Put yourself in their position. If it were me I'd be fit to be tied!

[1989E34M5]

I almost fell off my couch when I was watching the news last night, couldn't believe it. Would be time for some Vigilante justice if that were my son. Since when is someones life worth a 5 year sentence? everyone knows he will be out in 2 years for good behavior. Almost like we have a third world justice system, even then I think he would get a stiffer sentence.

[Cacciatore08]

Originally Posted by 1989E34M5 I almost fell off my couch when I was watching the news last night, couldn't believe it. Would be time for some Vigilante justice if that were my son. Since when is someones life worth a 5 year sentence? everyone knows he will be out in 2 years for good behavior. Almost like we have a third world justice system, even then I think he would get a stiffer sentence.

ahah in the third world, they'd execute you by firing squad.

[1989E34M5]

that would suite me just fine, you stab someone over 30 times and then claim you have no recolection of the incident, is BS, he deserves to be shot