Now I'm not a crook. But I am currently experiencing the wheels of justice and how they turn. I'll tell you that they don't turn very well.
My crime is speeding. Yes, photo radar caught me driving at 41 kmph in a 30 kmph speed zone. We're all surprised when out of the blue we get a speeding ticket in the mail. There were three things that caught my eye when I looked at my ticket(1) The quality of the photo was very poor. (2) You could not identify the location from the photo(3) something labeled 48 Ave NB didn't make sense. If it hadn't been for these three issues I'd have gone down and paid my $105.00 fine.
So I started with some basic research. It took them 46 days to get my ticket to me. I found out that in our bill of rights we have the right to have justice in a reasonable time. A ticket is to be delivered in 21 days. I decided to fight the ticket.
I met with a prosecutor and told him I would plead not guilty. He told me to go and arrange for a trial date. This was the most efficient of the whole issue. I then had to make an application for disclosure. These people looked at me if I a nut. I was not amused with these people. They didn't want to take my application for disclosure.
Now I'd previously written about my issue with entering the courthouse and security. It was not a great day.
This week I received an email out of the blue from the solicitor general's department. They were answering my Dec. 8, 2016 email. What really got me going was that the writer's name was not on the email. We phoned the solicitor General's dept and got nowhere asking for the name of the person who wrote the email.
To say the least, I'm not very pleased with how our justice system functions.
My court date is April 4. With the gong show I have been dealing with , I'm not sure what could happen at my court case. I am asking for the ticket to be withdrawn.
Okay , stay tuned.
Gosh. What a mess.
ReplyDeleteWe'll sort it out sooner or later.
DeletePlease do keep us informed!
ReplyDeleteI'll report back later.
DeleteLooking forward to hearing what happens. I hope it gets withdrawn.
ReplyDeleteI'M HOPING IT'S WITHDRAWN.
DeleteGood luck!
ReplyDeleteIt is worth to stand for your rights.
ReplyDeleteIt's the first time I've ever had top do anything like this.
Deletethey have banned the cameras here, not reliable
ReplyDeleteI think the technology is accurate. I think it's used as a cash cow in some places.
Deletei got a photo parking ticket in Calgary. When I looked closely at it, I was sitting in my car in the photo. I appealed by email and it was quashed, but if I hadn't looked closely...
ReplyDeleteI hate going in the Red Deer courthouse, the security is over-the-top. I had a one and a half inch lock blade knife on my key-chain(I use it for work, which I showed one of the cops at the entrance. I told him just hang on to it for a second and I will go in. He didn't want to give it back to me afterwards and I had to be insistent with him. Why do we have to go through a search to pay a speeding ticket to somebody behind bullet proof glass? It is beyond reason.
The security boggles my mind. They have no sense of reality. I didn't know you could get a parking ticket by photo.
DeleteHi Red, We have these “speed cameras” all over Seattle. Recently they added a bunch of them around school zones. The local newspaper reports the city is collecting quite a bit of money from these cameras. I do think they should be required to work properly and take good, clear photos before charging anyone with speeding. It sounds to me like you have a good case. Don’t let them intimidate you. Keep us posted on the results please. I expect this case to be dismissed.
ReplyDeleteThey are now putting the radar at red lights. I will post when this is over.
DeleteWell, good for you, Red, for fighting for your rights. I look forward to hearing how it all turns out. Hopefully in your favor.
ReplyDeleteI'll post the results.
DeleteI hope you win! They are holding you to the law; they should be held to the law as well. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteI agree that's the way I see it.
DeleteI've only had one traffic ticket, for reckless driving. It was my fault (though I still say the bridge hit the van as opposed to the other way around), so I paid the fine. It was like three hundred bucks.
ReplyDeleteThey did catch me red handed speeding but i'm protesting their inept system.
DeleteGood luck, Red. It doesn't sound promising so far, but maybe things will be better in court. We had a disturbing experience years ago on a business matter, and our faith in the justice system was quite shaken. It's not like TV where the good guys always win.
ReplyDeleteThe wheels turn slowly. There's much time elapsed between court dates.
DeleteI've heard if you challenge a ticket they usually drop it rather than have a police officer show up in court. Don't know that it would work well with a camera ticket.
ReplyDeleteCourts are so busy that they prosecutor sometimes withdraws the ticket
DeleteInteresting post, especially sine the same thing happened to me yesterday. I was turning right at a light and the camera flashed at me. I don't know why, but I'm hoping I don't receive a ticket in the mail.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen the flash so when the ticket shows up six weeks later it's a very unpleasant surprise. I hope you don't get a ticket.
DeleteJUSTICE FOR RED!
ReplyDeleteSOLIDARITY WITH SENIOR RACING DRIVERS!
I don't like the idea of cameras unless they can only ding you going over something ludicrous
ReplyDeleteThe case should be dismissed. Of course they are dragging their feet they want the $. Most people would just pay the fine, but if they are supposed to get you the ticket in 21 days and they didn't then you are right and they are wrong.
ReplyDeleteBe prepared when you go to court...with a copy of the law...GO RED! :)
I think you are doing the right thing. Good luck with it! And yes, keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteThat is crazy! I hope everything works out good for you!
ReplyDeletei can't imagine receiving ticket after 41 days? it is quite a time for reaction though.
ReplyDeletei hope all goes fine and you get what you are fighting for as i am sure you are fighting for something Right .
Best wishes for your 4th April date Red!
In my younger days. I always got speeding tickets.
ReplyDeleteI fluttered my long eyelash's back then. I got let go or points off.
If it happened now. I am afraid those eyelashes and eyes are pitiful.
I do hope you win the case Red.
Good luck Red! I admire you for going to court. My father-in-law did once years ago after he felt the ticket was unjust, and he won. I was stopped for speeding back in January. I wasn't too far over but enough to be pulled over. As I had a car full of people and we were heading to a funeral, the police officer could see the cemetery pass in the window, he gave me a break. I told him quite honestly that I was so focused on not getting lost and worrying about being in time for the funeral service, he gave me a break and even stopped traffic so that I could ease out safely. It was a very, very busy road. He was even kind enough to give me directions. He was so kind and sincere that it almost made it worthwhile being stopped if that makes sense. You hear so many negatives these days about our law enforcement, I am very happy to have one story to tell that is positive.
ReplyDeleteYay, Red! Good for you! I shall be looking forward to hearing how it all goes. These things are always irritating and enlightening. I know you'll be great!
ReplyDelete