I first ready this story on Raswstory.com. It was so unbelievable that I had to look a little further and yes, this story is true. Judge Elizabeth E. Coker engaged in inappropriate, unethical ex-parte communication with the prosecution during a criminal trial. Ex-parte means literally “from one party.” In other words, the judge communicated only to the prosecution, and not … Read More
Ten Tips For Your Next Traffic Stop
Believe it or not, there are things you can do to improve the outcome of your next traffic stop. Put yourself in the place of the police officer who is pulling you over. The officer has no idea who you are, and the officer is ready for any number of common and uncommon possibilities. Are you drunk? Is the car stolen? Did … Read More
Police Have No Obligation To Protect Citizens
Police are government workers, salaries paid from government coffers — tax dollars and, yes, fines, sanctions, penalties, fees, and surcharges. Most people think that the police have an obligation (“duty”) to protect the citizens in the jurisdictions they serve. Many police forces even have a motto along the lines of “To Protect and Serve.” The unfortunate reality is that the … Read More
Think Photo Radar Is Fair? Think Again.
Photo radar violations do not apply to all drivers equally and here’s why. When you get flashed by a photo radar camera, the government initially mails you a sternly worded notice asking you to voluntarily pay a fine. If you ignore the initial notice of violation, the government may serve a complaint on you to compel a response. The initial … Read More