$10,000 To beat a $65 Parking Ticket

[Pintman]

Originally Posted by Rye

1. He wasnt charged with anything it was a parking infraction, a fine.

For which he can lose money and perhaps his license, and maybe have his insurance rates jacked up. He's got the right to fight it. He was charged with _something_, and he's entitled to defend himself.

Originally Posted by Rye

2.Lawyer Sanford Young spent two years and almost $10,000, but finally beat the $65 ticket he fought all the way to Manhattan Supreme Court.

"All the way" to the Manhattan Supreme Court means it simply went to the local trial court. To use a KATG analogy, this is equivalent to going before a local judge at the Courthouse in Somerset, PA. So what?

Originally Posted by Rye

He entered a plea of not guilty on the Parking Violation Bureau's Web site. He called the ticket "absurd and wrong," and said that as "lifelong New Yorker and lawyer," he knew when he could park.

"Therefore, I respectfully ask that the summons be dismissed," he wrote.

The city Department of Finance offered to reduce the fine to $43, but Young declined the offer.

In March 2006, a city administrative law judge found that Young was "not persuasive," and was guilty as charged.

Young appealed the ruling and lost - which led to his suit in state Supreme Court.

Where he won. So, he was right and they were wrong.

Originally Posted by Rye

you make it sound like he just went straight to court. It took what 2 years of BS.

B.S. caused by the government, not him. Look, I would have just paid the ticket, but if he wants to fight it on principle and is willing to spend his own $$$$$$, he's got that right.

What's the alternative? Pass a law that says you can't defend certain charges because they're too little? What happened here is that a cop did something chickenshit. Maybe there are other facts we don't know, but that's the way it looks to me.

[Annie]

Originally Posted by Pintman

He's got the right to fight it and blow $10K of his money if he wants.

Actually - and perhaps I read it wrong - He didn't actually spend the money... he "lost it". As a lawyer, it sounds like he just used himself as representation. So the 10k is money he "could" have made if spending his hours working on another case.

Which - really - is like my saying I lost $240 when I slept last night.

[Rye]

Originally Posted by Pintman

For which he can lose money and perhaps his license, and maybe have his insurance rates jacked up. He's got the right to fight it. He was charged with _something_, and he's entitled to defend himself.

Umm you do not 1 lose a liscence for parking infractions, 2 it DOES NOT affect your insurance.

[Rye]

The New York City Supreme Court is the trial court of unlimited original jurisdiction, but it generally only hears cases that are outside the jurisdiction of other trial courts of more limited jurisdiction. It exercises civil jurisdiction and jurisdiction over felony charges.

[Rye]

Originally Posted by Pintman

Where he won. So, he was right and they were wrong.

What the Fuck does winning have to do with being right? Are you actually being serious?

[Rye]

Originally Posted by Pintman

What's the alternative? Pass a law that says you can't defend certain charges because they're too little? What happened here is that a cop did something chickenshit. Maybe there are other facts we don't know, but that's the way it looks to me.[/COLOR]

Cops dont give parking tickets....meter maids do.

[Incognitum]

Are you seriously arguing that citizens shouldn't stand up to government injustice? Where do you stand on Japanese interment? There are over 40,000 military style swat raids on private residences per year in this country. When they smash tear gas canisters through your window, bust down your door, and possibly shoot your family members because they read the address wrong, we'll see if you just bend over and take it 'cause you don't want to challenge the government.

When the civilian defence force is turned against the people as a weaponized municipal revenue generation mechanism it is important to stand up and fight back at every turn. It is indisputable that the tax payers ultimately are paying the cost of the legal process, but it comes out of the city budget. Just because the tax payers payed into the city budget for a year doesn't mean spending that money causes higher taxes next year. If every $65 ticket written ends up costing the city $10,000 to pursue in court they will be forced to re-evaluate their priorities, and just maybe police will be asked to start catching crooks again, instead of spending their time targeting mostly law abiding citizens who's only infractions are violating arbitrary parameters set by politicians who have no particular expertise in any field.

[Rye]

Originally Posted by Incognitum

Are you seriously arguing that citizens shouldn't stand up to government injustice? Where do you stand on Japanese interment? There are over 40,000 military style swat raids on private residences per year in this country. When they smash tear gas canisters through your window, bust down your door, and possibly shoot your family members because they read the address wrong, we'll see if you just bend over and take it 'cause you don't want to challenge the government.

When the civilian defence force is turned against the people as a weaponized municipal revenue generation mechanism it is important to stand up and fight back at every turn. It is indisputable that the tax payers ultimately are paying the cost of the legal process, but it comes out of the city budget. Just because the tax payers payed into the city budget for a year doesn't mean spending that money causes higher taxes next year. If every $65 ticket written ends up costing the city $10,000 to pursue in court they will be forced to re-evaluate their priorities, and just maybe police will be asked to start catching crooks again, instead of spending their time targeting mostly law abiding citizens who's only infractions are violating arbitrary parameters set by politicians who have no particular expertise in any field.

Dude your wrong on sooo many levels.

Comparing a parking ticket to internment? Thats exactly my point. Umm Im done on this subject.

[Incognitum]

Originally Posted by Rye

Dude your wrong on sooo many levels.

Comparing a parking ticket to internment? Thats exactly my point. Umm Im done on this subject.

Injustice is injustice. What's so special about you that you get to decide how much injustice is too much? This guy thought $65 is too much, and I agree with him. I don't have the means to fight it when it happens to me, so I support those who can.

But, you're done on the subject.

Every police department in this country's primary function now is collecting revenue for cities and municipalities.

...But you're done on the subject.

You have enough time to write I'm wrong on so many levels, but not enough time to say how... OF COURSE you're done on the subject.

Go live in your fascist little fantasy world and stop hating on Americans who want to live with a little freedom.

[Annie]

There's an old saying that applies to the original news story AND the responses on this thread:

"Choose your battles wisely"