Traffic Court

Posted by: Blue

I had three tickets on the docket today.

Three convictions. Two of note:

1. A guy who drove by us close enough to brush us with his mirror, while we were on a traffic stop and yelled out the window about where we had pulled the person over (she had pulled to the left of the street rather than to the right - not our decision). He received a ticket for failing to pull to the right. The original traffic stop driver received a warning. About three hours later, he was involved in a smash-up with a cabbie, fleeing the scene before exchanging particulars. He pled to both charges. Full fine.

2. In our city, there is a private contractor who runs photo-enforced speed traps in addition to officers running radar. The tickets are given without discretion or bias. I witnessed one run a stop sign at an intersection I was monitoring. When I pulled her over, she asked for a break. I asked if she had given any breaks that day. She said no, so I wrote her a tag. She fought it. The judge convicted. Full fine.

Gone Fishin'

Posted by: Blue

I just got back from 4 days on my favourite lake with 4 of my best friends.

I am relaxed.

Tomorrow I'm in court bright and early.  Nights start Tuesday.

0-1

Posted by: Blue

I testified in Traffic Court for the first time today.

It was a cell phone tag.  He said he was adjusting his seat belt.  He wasn't.  He was holding his cell phone to his left ear with his right hand.

The Judge believed the accused and commented that he didn't believe that I could have seen whether or not he was holding a cell phone to his ear from 60' away.

Tommy Solami Part V

Posted by: Blue

I've got court scheduled in May for ol' Tommy Solami.

I'm interested to catch-up on the drama between him and his girlfriend.

Court and Re-cert

Posted by: Blue

Today I was originally subpoenaed for court.  I was cancelled Friday.

Recertification for Police Vehicles Operation was cancelled for tomorrow because the track is snowed-under.

Two extra days off.

Court

Posted by: Blue

Today, JT had court on a 4 year old drug arrest.

He testified for half an hour and was dismissed.  This was the third trial date that had been set.  Apparently the accused kept firing his lawyers.

Answers III

Posted by: Blue

Courtesy of: Raindog:

7) How many officers are in your agency?
8) If you had your pick, what shift would you work?
9) How often do you go to court?
10) What are you doing to balance out your police life?

7) There are approximately 1400-1500 sworn officers and another 300-400 civilian members.

8) Evenings. I hate days. I quite like nights. Evenings is king though. All the action, very little difficulty transitioning back to daytime schedule for days off, plus I don't have to wake to an alarm.

9)I have been subpoenaed to court once in the year and a half I've been on the street. I was dismissed and not required to testify. Our Crown Attorneys seem to be lazy, unwilling to put criminals on trial, and are constantly either throwing out cases for reasons unknown, or bargaining down mountains to molehills. When a criminal does get tried and convicted, the judges are weak-kneed and never hand-out maximum sentences. Ever. It is sickening and embarrassing as a country.

10) In balance, I start with trying to avoid overtime unless it is necessary. I have enough work on my days off to overrun my time. I have a small side-business as a carpenter and cabinet-installer. I have a wife and 2 children with a third on the way. We have recently been out to the cottage and intend to go on a small trip as a family in January for a wedding. I do not socialize with a lot of cops off-duty, and I have tried to keep multiple connections with a number of people who have absolutely nothing to do with policing. This summer has been a hard one and a busy one, and I am looking forward to relaxing more this fall.