While the City scrambles to prepare a new ordinance to replace criminal sanctions with civil fines, Panto has assured everyone that there is a five-step appeals process for those who feel they've been ticketed unfairly. You can have the matter reviewed by the guy who gave you the ticket, his boss, or by high-ranking city officials. They hardly qualify as independent and neutral judges. Moreover, nobody seems to know that this appeals process exists This was only discovered recently, when DA John Morganelli received a ticket improperly that he deliberately ignored to see what would happen.
Earlier this week, the City supplied me with an 89-page record of all tickets forgiven, indexed by license plate and make of car. I shared that with you, and thanks to several readers, was able to convert the file provided and sort it to determine whether some people seem to be getting breaks, I have finished my review, and I believe the answer is yes. To be very clear, the evidence shows that some people who received tickets received very favorable treatment In one instance, it may have been a police officer.
When I see a license plate whose first three digits are EPD, I think it's very possible that the car in question is owned by an employee of the Easton Police Department (EPD). The information supplied reveals that someone with a Dodge bearing License Plate EPD5263, managed to have five tickets voided that had been issued in April, May and September. They were all invalidated at once.
Without running the plate, something I have no legal authority to do, it is impossible for me to determine whether this is a coincidence or an Easton police officer. but it certainly looks suspicious.
This suspicion is intensified when the record reveals that a very large number of tickets were voided for a special few. Altogether, 1135 tickets were forgiven for just 395 people One individual, driving a Ford with License Plate YMA7245, had 21 tickets invalidated. These were issued at numerous dates throughout the year and were invalidated at several of these "hearings". Who is this special person?
This person is by no means alone. Eleven people managed to get 144 violation notices forgiven.
YMA7245 - PA - 21 tickets - Ford TICKETS ISSUED AT NUMEROUS DATES THROUGHOUT YEAR AND EXCUSED ON OTHER DATES.Another two people managed to make 16 tickets go poof.
HWF2922 -PA - 15 tickets (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Dec)
GPG2779 - PA - 14 tickets (Feb, Mar, May, Jun, Aug, Nov.)
GSM9477 - PA - 14 tickets (Mar, May, Jun, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov)
KRATEST - MA - 13 tickets
JDT9558 - PA - 13 tickets NISSAN (tickets on different months)
JHY3815 - PA - 12 tiCkets (TICKETS IN DIFFERENT MONTHS)
JCS3073 - PA -12 tickets - PONT (Jan, May, Aug, Nov, Dec) tickets forgiven at different times
X6113C -NJ - 11 tickets - CHEV
ZFV3935 - PA - 10 tickets - FORD (MAY, JUN, JUL, SEPt)
VKC94B - NJ - 9 tickets HYUN ( Mar, Apr, Jun, Oct) (all forgiven at same time)
EML5528 - PA - 8 tickets - saa (April, May, Jun, Oct, Nov, Dec - tickets forgiven at different times, indicating a pattern)Four people who had collected 28 violations got them excused.
HTX2821 - PA - 8 tickets
HWH8934 - PA - 7 tickets- MAZDAFive people who collected six tickets apiece got them excused.
HTX2821 -PA - 7 tickets - FORD (TICKETS issued different dates)
VKC94B - NJ - 7 tickets
HMX2586 - PA - 7 tickets- DODGE
BHN5855 - TX - 6Another 11 people managed to have 55 tickets forgiven once they hit the magic 5 number, at which cars can be booted or towed.
6BC2455 - MD - 6
DBH8946 - PA and NJ - 6
EDY9994 - PA - 6 - CADILLAC (April, Aug, Sep. Oct Nov)
JMJ3507 -PA - 6 - NISSAN (JAN, FEB, MAR)
EPD5263 - PA - 5 - DODGE (tickets rec'd in April, May and September. All forgiven at once)Thirty people managed to get four ticket apiece forgiven.
FOH5039 - OH - 5
GDS5606 - PA - 5
HTX2443 - PA - 5 - ACURA (all tickets issued same day)
HZS2373 - PA - 5 - NISSAN
JCK9959 - PA - 5 - BMW (Feb, Mar, Nov)
GPH4439 - PA - 5 - LINCOLN -
LUTES - PA - 5 (5 DIFFERENT DATES, 5 DIFFERENT REVIEWS)
JKK8457 - PA - 5 - BUICK
JLS9698 - PA - 5 - HONDA (Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov)
L82CNP - NJ - 5 - MAZDA (Feb, Jul, Sep)
BHN5866 - TX - 4Seventy-eight people who had collected three tickets apiece had them voided. Another 254 people had collected two tickets each.
DCB9692 - PA - 4
DCF7247 - NJ - 4
EHK8842 - PA - 4
EKA8529 - PA - 4
FCB5068 - PA - 4
GDA1539 - PA - 4
HLF9475 - PA - 4 - VW
HLK7581 - PA - 4- BMW (Jan, Feb, May)
HFG2382 - PA - 4 - KIA
HKH1335 - PA - 4 - MITS
HST7272 - PA - 4 - HONDA
HVP6851 - PA - 4 - HONDA
HYE1025 - PA - 4 - LANDROVER
HYL7417 - PA - 4 - MITSU (March, April, October) Forgiven different dates.
JBN7699 - PA - 4 - HONDA
JFL8357 - PA - 4 - MITSU
GCF8111 - PA - 4 - NISSAN
GGY5691 - PA - 4 - SUZI
GNC4838 - PA - 4 - LANDROVER & VW
GPG2233 - PA - 4- JEEP
JCK9959 - PA - 4 - BMW
JCN8997 - PA - 4 - CHEV
JDD7178 - PA - 4 - DODGE
JDM4772 - PA - 4 - TOYOTA
JGR6653 - PA - 4 - GMC
JJC0052 - PA - 4 - CHEV
JNK8465 - PA - 4 - SUBARU (Jun, Jul)
JNP4758 - PA - 4 - JEEP (Apr, May, Sep)
JPA8606 - PA - 4 - SCION (Jun)
Is this conclusive proof that tickets were forgiven based on connections? No, but it raises some serious suspicion of ticket fixing that should be addressed.
On a lighter note, I came across some interesting license plates while researching this matter.
AAA had two tickets forgiven. 2
ATDPREZ, driving a Lincoln, had a ticket voided. I'd give him another.
Some dude in a BMW, with a LAFAYETTE license plate, had two tickets written off.
His license might say DUMMY, but this Bentley driver had a ticket expunged.
If you drive a BMW, I don't think it's a good idea to have a license plate that reads, DRSUGAR. But a Mini-Cooper that says MYZIPPY is ok. So is NANNY3X .
RUBYSRU - Probably not a good idea to drive this in the West Ward.
SHESBAK - Depending on who this is, this could be good or bad news.
VENUS27 - in a BMW. Damn! Where's my Viagra?
A Lafayette tag on an import is excused. Shocker--NOT!!!
ReplyDeleteBetter yet, how many College Hill addresses were excused compared to other addresses in the city. Also, I'm willing to bet many south side addresses get them tossed. Meanwhile, West Ward residents probably get nailed the hardest.
I wish the best for the fine people who live in Easton--even when they foolishly always elected the WORST mayors!!! Seriously, that seat has been a shit show for about 35 years now.
Why is it the best Democrats the city has, never run for mayor??? Especially since the residents foolishly allowed the charter to place the mayor on the throne as it's king.
The city at least was better in the days the council was more independent of the mayor. Which was great when Mittman occupied the seat. Which was about all he did. Everything else his right hand man Stewie handed off to some Politics Inc. consultants for high sums to come up with his new "visions".
The study group who changed the charter for self-serving interests included the likes of Fleckster, King Sal, and Donodda Freeman. The latter is the nicest one, but they all had political interest ahead of the city's interest. And this is what you get folks with a "strong mayor", (which sounds like a goon).
Just remember as horrible as King Sal is. He is a great improvement over the previous mayor he twice replaced. And, he was better than all candidates he faced in his 2007 election. Both the Republican and Democrats were all terrible against him. The firefighter was the only decent candidate he faced, and since only knee-jerk Democrats vote in their local elections, the King remained on the his high throne.
King is waiting for Freeman to step down. Mark my words.
EPD may be an undercover vehicle the city actually owns. Adam 12 just had their cover blown. Time for a new tag. Perhaps they could get BAREBCK, then they can double as undercover johns with it.
ReplyDeleteMr. O'Hare will no doubt be sued for using privileged information to defame people. He is exposing innocent people to ridicule and harassment.
ReplyDeleteIn the past he escaped lawsuits because he has nothing. Now he has crossed a line in which he may be sued and lose whatever he has, regardless of how pitiful that may be. He supposedly owns property now, so that will go as fast as it came.
This is a disgusting abuse of innocent people in order to attack a politician he is feuding with.
Shame on Bernie O'Hare.
Bernie, I don't personally believe that anybody in the City of Easton involved with this meant any harm . The evolutionary ticket and meter issues were changed because the costs would theoretically be easier in the violator to pay and bypass court costs ,except no follow though ! Now our example of BHN5866 TX for example is same folks here as BHN5855 Tx on another vehicle,that's 10 violations. This is how it goes from my ticket days , It is highly likely that these are basically undocumented 'hibernators' of this city.We have over 5,000 here according to my estimate. It is likely they work someplace and don't report it, and the City does would historically not even know they exist.It is also highly likely the landlord has not reported them ,puts the rental CASH unreported in his pocket and failed to get a rental inspection. This is the demise of the West Ward,to the tee..Debate me ,if you want.
ReplyDelete1:35, You are an idiot.
ReplyDeleteBernie, that EPD plate might just be a coincidence, but if the numbers following the letters match a badge number... that would be a 10,000-1 coincidence.
A RTK request to find out if badge number 5263 exists?
I think you're barking up the wrong tree with the police/EPD plate theory. It's doubtful that the plate with "EPD" is a police officer, or is an undercover car. In order for it to be owned by an individual, it would have to be a vanity plate, and that combination is unlikely to have been available, since it would have been part of the regularly issued plates (originally issued around 2002). If it is a vanity plate, the little keystone symbol would not be between the letters and the numbers. We will never know, because the information supplied doesn't reflect that. Also, wouldn't it be foolish for an undercover car to sport such a plate?
ReplyDeleteYet another beat the horse to death meaningless attempt by the pitiful old drunk. Laughable
ReplyDeleteAmazing that New York allowed a vanity plate with the message you've posted here. Why not checked the special provision for Handicap plates to see if this person really does deserve the plate or not.
ReplyDeleteCollege Hill reference indicates perhaps educational professionals or even buddies of certain people working downtown.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteYet another beat the horse to death meaningless attempt by the pitiful old drunk. Laughable
6:49 AM
Yea Right. So some of us have special privilege and other none?
so is a license plate that starts with EPA**** the parking authority? Jumping to conclusions without any shred of evidence to bash cops.
ReplyDelete"Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteMr. O'Hare will no doubt be sued for using privileged information to defame people. He is exposing innocent people to ridicule and harassment."
If People have parking tickets fixed, are they really innocent?
A whole lot of sound and fury signifying nothing.
ReplyDeleteYou have to love the logic in using a killed police officer as a reason not to question parking tickets that are suspect. Police bashing?
ReplyDeleteI give canned goods I own to those who don't have enough to eat. Does that make me a communist?
It's an attempt to divert attention away from the real problem - the potential for city hall corruption. The system that Panto put in placed, based on greed, is flawed and is designed so that certain people have nothing to worry about while others get screwed. If the 21 tix belonged to someone who had 40, then that defeats the purpose of going civil. Panto stated that making ordinary people pay while excusing the scofflaws is wrong. Yet he is doing it.
ReplyDeleteBernie,
ReplyDeleteWhat's the difference between a BMW and a porcupine?
The porcupine has pricks on the outside.
Bernie, Stick with this story it needs to be uncovered! Hopefully the DA will push this up the latter for further investigation because it stinks! Hopefully Easton will have to pay back all the money it illegally collected but something tells me they won't have the records to do so. Great story Bernie!
ReplyDeleteEPD is a common 3 letter prefix to standard PA plates. Look around they are everywhere. Look into this stuff before you go trying to incite. Enough with this story already! Move on!
ReplyDeleteEPD badge numbers do not start with start with that numeric series.
ReplyDeleteThe PA Plate for "LUTES" is for a guy who is friends with multiple Easton Police Officers.
ReplyDelete"EPD is a common 3 letter prefix to standard PA plates. Look around they are everywhere. Look into this stuff before you go trying to incite. Enough with this story already! Move on!"
ReplyDeleteExcuse me, but that's what I'm doing. I am looking into this stuff. That is what apparently bothers you. I have clearly stated in my story that there are several exxplanations for an EPD plate. I am much more concerned abut 21 tickets being forgiven to just one person, as well as the numerous other multiple ticket recipients who were excused. As for EPD being a common designation, that may be so. I do not know. But I believe the city's own records raise the possibility that tickets are being excused based on who people know.
"The PA Plate for "LUTES" is for a guy who is friends with multiple Easton Police Officers."
ReplyDeleteInteresting.
You got special privileges in the county courthouse while Stoffa was executive. Everyone knows about it. Why not do a story about that?
ReplyDeleteBecause you're lying. I've never received any kind of special treatment when John Stoffa was executive.. Please advise what special privileges I received that were not available to the public.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you do a story on plates from Allentown Parking or Bethlehem Parking authorities. And the number of plates excused there. Curious as to what your motivation behind just Easton. It is Lehigh Valley Ramblings, right? Not just Easton Ramblings. Before you cite the whole thing with the DA, tickets excused and how they are processed are two very different things.
ReplyDeletethis is another attempt at deflection. If I were writing about Bethlehem you'd be asking why am not writing about Allentown or Easton. What really bothers you is that I'm writing at all. And incidentally I may very well be writing about tickets another municipalities very soon
ReplyDeleteMy guess is O'Hare couldn't get hi s Easton tickets dumped and is pissed. Could this be another vendetta?
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work Bernie....Easton has been corrupt for years and your leg work helps to prove that.
ReplyDeleteThis is absurd! Someone needs to investigate why individuals had numerous tickets flushed down the toilet. If I got a ticket, I'd have to pay it.
ReplyDeleteThe jerkwads above criticizing Bernie for covering this are the same people who believe our laws don't apply to them. The ones who believe that they don't have to pay court judgments. The ones who believe they know more than our DAs do. Crawl back into whatever fox hole you crawled out of.
Not an attempt at deflection, most people who write a "story" like this would want to have, to quote Paul Harvey, the rest of the story. I'm just sayin it seems like you have a very specific ax to grind
ReplyDeleteSounds like you may be the one with the ax to grind. Bernie isn't law enforcement. It's someone else's job to conduct a thorough investigation into this. Bernie's done as much as he can.
The amount of time spent by this vile blogger to connect 89 pages of information, to number of tickets dismissed, by plate number, and to regurgitiate what he has already printed at least 4 times speaks volumes about his lack of life, his obscene amount of free time, his lack of desire to have a life, his nasty spirit, and his lack of effort to improve upon himself in any way imaginable.
ReplyDeleteThen to take the large jump, and call it criminal ticket fixing is a huge leap that moves beyond speculation, and moves into libel per se.
When one seeks to recover damages for a reputation lost, look no further than the damage he does to himself, daily. If Morganelli is interested in justice, he would pluck your computer from your hands and throw you in jail, where you have belonged for years.
Keep littering the internet with your poison and you will reap what you sow
I did spend a lot of time on this bc i consider it an important story. I was also assisted by several readers, who also consider it an important story. The DA considers Easton's parking mess an important story. I lectured a college class this morning, and they consider it an important story. I don't really give a shit what you or the Blog mentor may think.
ReplyDeleteAs for you, you are in violation of the no-contact provisions of the conditions of bail set by Magisterial District Judge Yetter. You have also failed to surrender a levied asset, and one that I purchased. You have refused to cooperate with the detective, while admitting your crime. At the Preliminary, I will be requesting the court to require you to cooperate with sheriffs as a bail condition. I believe a specific bail condition should be disclosure of the location of the levied asset. Sooner or later, you are going to jail, and the world will be a better place bc of it.
Why don't you call the magistrates offices and find out how many tickets they excused when it went to them? I would be interested to see that comparison.
ReplyDeleteThose records are readily available and have not gone "poof". None of them are excused. A person is either found guilty or acquitted. It is a matter of record, making oversight possible. Here there is no oversight.
ReplyDeleteHey Sal, have a shitty weekend.
ReplyDelete"At the Preliminary, I will be requesting the court to require you to cooperate with sheriffs as a bail condition. I believe a specific bail condition should be disclosure of the location of the levied asset. Sooner or later, you are going to jail, and the world will be a better place bc of it."
ReplyDeleteIn setting bail, a judge needs to know that she failed to appear for her libel trial and then fabricated a story about not receiving notice. A judge also should know that she deliberately failed to appear for duly noticed depositions. A judge considering bail also needs to know that she threatened to drown a public official (for which she was charged by Easton police with disorderly conduct and convicted). Additionally, a judge should know that two sheriffs concluded that her character and reputation are such that she presents a danger to the public and should not have the the right to carry concealed firearms. Did Judge Yetter require her to surrender her guns?
little dick sydrome, dissassociative personality, narcissim and sociopathic behavior are a wild and dangerous combination
ReplyDeleteIts a good thing you were 302'd years ago, and continue to fails PICS, therfore, never getting your hands on any firearm.
do yourself a favor, worry less about Easton Parking, John Brown, Mayor Panto, Mayor Donchez, Mezzacappa, Gregory, Pawlowski, Blog Mentor, Henry Schaadt, Gracedale
pack up and head to a puzzle factory so a psychiatrist can perform clinical trials for some new psych meds. You are beyond help and should be a guniea pig for future lost causes.
Maybe Panto and his staff should stop fixing these parking tickets and who knows what else. Then maybe the City of Easton can pay for their own retirees pension plans rather than us commuters!
ReplyDelete5:50, aka Mezzacappa, you are violating your bail conditions again, and providing me with more ammo. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteLutes is a contractor who has built numerous shit for police officers. Probably the cheif too. Doubt Panto knows.
ReplyDeletePanto set up the system that makes this possible.
ReplyDeleteHe did? Sounded to me like city attorneys did. You are making a link between the mayor and the officers forgiving tickets that just doesn't exist. A picture is being painted that the Mayor pick and chooses.
ReplyDeleteWell, you are wrong, as usual. City attorneys had nothing to do with the system put in place. It was Panto all the way.
ReplyDeleteWay I see it ALL the parking tickets should have been forgiven as they were ALL illegal. These people who's tickets were tossed might have used that angle? Then you can't say favoritism? The Contractor is a good guy who is Thomas Lutes, hangs with a bunch of the EPD guys and I know they know him. Hey if he got his tickets dismissed because of some "Professional courtesy" good for him. Guess it's all in who you know right?
ReplyDeleteI always thought that was the big perk of being these small town mayors.You control the police department and get friends tickets fixed.What is different in Easton ?
ReplyDelete"These people who's tickets were tossed might have used that angle? Then you can't say favoritism? "
ReplyDeleteSince that "angle" was not really known until this year, I'd say you're wrong and, inc case you haven't noticed,Panto is not the tyope who likes admitting he is wrong.
"Thomas Lutes, hangs with a bunch of the EPD guys and I know they know him. Hey if he got his tickets dismissed because of some "Professional courtesy" good for him. "
It's called corruption.
Lutes girlfriend is a parking meter maid to boot.
ReplyDeleteAssuming that is true, this does not mean she had anything to do with his tickets being forgiven. Just as the EPD plate could be randomly generated by PennDOT, there might be a good reason why five tickets were forgiven. But when you take everything together, this is not good.
ReplyDeleteLutes built homes for a few officers.
ReplyDeleteSee the comment above.
ReplyDeleteWhy this mission of destruction. What is your vendetta against Easton?
ReplyDeleteBernie, Tom Lutz is a good guy,his nice girlfriend is a peach but she has not worked the meters in sometime. Mr.lutz must park when he works on jobs . He has done several in the city and does a quality job. He is trusted by many with high end homes to refit. He lives here and pays taxes '.He is not a taker but probably was parked at job-sights.----Anon 5.50 you had me fall off my chair ,I'm going to add some of your stuff to my own repertoire! All have a good day-lots of people in the world are under fire and without fresh water or heat, and we worry about tickets,things are good here.
ReplyDeletePeter, everything I have read about this guy tells me he does quality work.
ReplyDeleteBernie, My son is back from Parris Island =he will be going to the Marine Infantry School just like I did in two days . He was a Easton grad with honers and took Chemistry, Physics and Drafting-he was one one 10 of 500 in his class to be promoted t boot camp.He is a volunteer fireman like my other son and PUT OUT for community.
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Peter! he must take after his mom. Send me a pic (BOHare5948@aol.com) and I will do a story.
ReplyDeleteWhy this mission of destruction. What is your vendetta against Easton?
ReplyDeleteWait, I thought Bernie's vendetta was against women who call themselves young even though they are 50.
It's called corruption, not a vendetta.
"Mr. O'Hare will no doubt be sued for using privileged information to defame people. He is exposing innocent people to ridicule and harassment."
ReplyDeleteNo doubt you are a moron. He didn't expose anyone. He printed public information, and there are no names. He didn't defame anyone. You should know all about ridicule and defamation, however.
anon 11:38, are you just a butthole pirate parrot that repeats itself?
ReplyDeleteBernie, I know this is off-topic, but what do you think about Jolly Joe's retirement due to dementia? I know you've had arguments with him before so I find your opinion interesting.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mcall.com/business/mc-wgpa-radio-sold-20150303-story.html
Your question is off-topic it is another attempt at deflection
ReplyDeleteThat's a question loaded for a negative response, no matter how you answer.
ReplyDeleteIf you show compassion, you'll be accused of being a two-faced hypocrite. If you don't, then you're an uncaring SOB.
Amazing people have nothing better to do than to talk about me! I can't speak for other people who had 20 tickets but my 5?.... 2 were because new parking authority employees didn't not see my white parking permit sticker on my white tailgate because I chose not to put it on my chrome bumper! 2 more were due to someone taking my meter bag (that was paid for) off the meter I was parked at and tickets were issued.... Finally I had a jammed meter and instead of checking the meter a ticket was issued! Yes I do work for a few EPD guys they are paying customers like everyone else. We get all of our work by word of mouth and I'm glad we are respected and trusted enough! I live in Downtown Easton and love it! Sorry LUTES isn't a story!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDelete“Lutes girlfriend is a parking meter maid to boot.”
She has not worked as a parking enforcement officer for over two years.
Also, sometimes tickets are incorrectly given to those who have parking passes in the specific areas of the city. The parking enforcement officer may have missed their parking pass and gave them a ticket. Therefore, the tickets could have been excused for that reason. Stop bashing innocent people. Who cares who does work for who and who knows who. Get your shit straight first or get another job because you all have too much free time to nark and point fingers. Get a job with the FBI maybe since you know everything.
"Stop bashing innocent people. Who cares who does work for who and who knows who. Get your shit straight first or get another job because you all have too much free time to nark and point fingers. Get a job with the FBI maybe since you know everything"
ReplyDeleteI do have my shit straight. Someone with a LUTES license plate had five tickets voided. Someone else had 21 tickets voided. A relatively few number of people had quite a few parking tickets excused. You state, who cares? I care. So do a lot of people who have no connections.
I thank you for coming on here and explaining the details concerning all five tickets that were improperly given to you. You have a remarkbale memory. The one thing you fail to tell us is how you went about getting them invalidated? Who did you call? Also, I doubt very much that you are a regular here, and am guessing that you were steered here by someone else Who? Sal? Someone in the admin who does not like what I am writing? One of your connections in City Hall?
One of the dangers of this so-called appeals process is that people like you, who are connected, might vbe getting favorable treatment. That may not matter to you, but it matters to anyone interested in fairness.
II've been on here for years... More viewing than commenting! All I did was go to the station, fill out ticket appeal form then they come out to validate that I have the parking permit then it's voided. Pretty simple! I do have a great memory too.... I remember seeing you at a campaign outing kissing politicians asses then smearing them weeks later!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm flattered by your readership over the years. And you go to campaign outings too! Good for you.
ReplyDeleteanon 3:36AM Get some sleep - you need it. Maybe some vitamin supplements will help counter your deficit of brain cells.
ReplyDeleteI may be putting myself out there but I have no issue doing so. As a State Constable working for Northampton County I am at the courthouse many times during the week. Some of these visits have me going to courtroom #1 to arrest people who show up for criminal court on my summary warrants.
ReplyDeleteI am normally there for a few hours and many times I leave with a parking ticket. While I am not above the law by any means I do not feel it is right to receive a ticket while I am there on official business working for the courts to clear up...you guessed it..Parking tickets for the city of Easton. Since I think it is unfair I go to the City to fight them and ask for my day in court. In every instance they are dismissed immediately.
Again, I am on official business and feel they should be but I am also there to plead not guilty and go my way through the proper process. I am glad you are investigating this but if your final conclusion is to prove favoritism I'm sure you will find for some people but most others have to pay, it's that easy. This was done for me when the tickets still went to the District Courts. If they want to do things in house then they need to hire someone who is not affiliated with the city to hear people's cases, that is the only way a person is gonna get a fair shake here.
Fred Schoenenberger
Constable, Wilson Borough
Northampton County
If you feel this ticket should be forgiven, this should be a matter of written policy. I doubt it is. Plus, I can tell you many people resent seeing law enforcement parked at meters with no money and no ticket. If paid to enforce the law, is it too much to ask that it be followed?
ReplyDeleteBernie - I wasn't asking for the ticket to be forgiven I was going there to plead not guilty to the offense on the grounds of official business.
ReplyDeleteDon't get confused in my statement here. Them dropping the ticket immediately wasn't asked of them but I feel they felt the same way I did or was it just professional courtesy? I don't know...the bottom line is that I wasn't looking for them to drop it I was looking to plead not guilty to an offense and have my day in court as I am allowed to have, even as an official.
Now whether an MDJ or not would have dismissed it I don't know but it is still my right to fight it. I'm not gonna bash them for dropping it and catching a break either.
Fred Schoenenberger
Understood and I certainly don't blame you.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't the county have a free lot that you can park in all day long?
ReplyDeleteBernie- Yes they do, however I am taking a person into custody. Once I do that on even a parking ticket warrant I am responsible for their and my safety. For obvious reasons I need to park close to the doors to the courthouse and not a few blocks down the street.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Fred Schoenenberger
People will always bitch about parking no matter what. When they get tickets even if they know they violated their time limit and didn't bother putting more money in they still want a break. Maybe we could create a parking ticket that says the reason they're being tickets is due to their stupidity. Just feed the damn meter and you won't get a ticket or how bout park in the parking garage, you won't get a ticket there!
ReplyDelete