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To Fight or Not To Fight

9/21/2010

A few days ago, my husband, Ed, stopped at Kitsap County courthouse to appeal the judge’s decision on his seat belt violation ticket. Last month, he was found guilty of the charges. The judge stated the State proved he was in violation because the State Trooper said he "saw" the buckle hanging from the window, although my husband had pictures showing that was impossible.

At first, I wanted to fight the ticket, because of the principal of the ticket. My husband was obeying the law, yet was cited, because the officer was either blind or incompetent. To appeal the judge’s decision would cost us $230, almost twice the cost of the original ticket, and is non-refundable even if we win. Ouch! Do we fight or not?

The first picture is my husband the same afternoon he received the ticket, look closely for the belt, which blends with the grey hoodie he was wearing. The second photo is of the seat belt. When not in use it rests at the lap, NOT the shoulder, so again how in HELL did the officer "see" the buckle out hanging from the window?

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Mad, Mad, Mad

9/9/2010

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I could have ten fits,

I could tear my hair to bits,

I could rave and rant and roar.

I'm so mad,

I'm so mad.

I'm upset!

~ Sleeping Beauty

Those lyrics to a children's theatre production are going through my head as I write this entry.

Back in March of this year was husband was pulled over, and given a ticket for seat belt violation. (I had talked about it in another entry). Cutting to the chase, was the fact, my husband swears he was buckled at the time of the incident. He signed the back of the ticket, claiming he was not guilty, and wanted to plead his case before a judge. He also requested the presence of the state trooper, Officer Barlett who cited him.

Last week was his hearing. He arrived at court, and was the first on the docket. He had a prepared written statement explaining exactly what happened from the moment he climbed into his car, buckled up, drove through the security gate, onto the highway, under the overpass, to the point he was pulled over. He explained to the judge that in no time did he remove his seat belt, and even pointed to the belt securely across his shoulder and lap, but the officer still wrote him a citation. My husband also brought as evidence a photo of him sitting in the car, with the belt on, showing how the contrast of a grey hoodie that he was wearing that day, might have blended with the grey seat belt.

The officer then read his statement, he sated he clearly saw the buckle hanging at my husband's shoulder. This is a bold face lie or the officer is blind or incompetent!! Because the car my husband was driving that day was an older 2000 Chevy Impala and when not buckled the belt buckle hangs down at the lap, NEVER at the shoulder, which my husband testified, but because the officer "SAW" the buckle, my husband was found guilty, and ordered to pay the fine.

Yes, this ticks me off. I'm pissed that as a citizen our word means nothing. The judge will believe the officer before the citizen, who I might add, has not been in trouble with the law (except a couple of speeding tickets), holds a CDL license, and has never received a seat beat violation ticket before. I support our police, firefighters, and military. I respect authority, but things like this make me not want to respect state patrol officers. Now it's the principal of the thing. I told my husband to appeal the ticket, even though the appeal will be more then the original ticket. Nevertheless, I'm mad, why should we comply with the law, if we are going to be ticketed anyway, huh? And next time I told him to bring pictures of the car showing the judge and the BLIND officer exactly where the belt rests.

Yes, I'm upset!!

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To Fight or Not To Fight

Mad, Mad, Mad

"Hey. . . it's me."

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