Grand jury votes to indict 17 cops in scandal
 

Seventeen city cops were indicted Friday by a Bronx grand jury in a massive ticket-fixing scandal that reached all the way to One Police Plaza.
The majority of the officers charged were union delegates, sources told the Daily News after the indictments were handed down.
More than 500 cops were linked to the scandal during a two-year investigation, and it was expected dozens of officers beyond those indicted could face some sort of departmental discipline.
The indicted cops face charges including perjury, bribery, obstruction, grand larceny, official misconduct and other charges, the sources said.

What is "ticket-fixing"?

When a police officer removed ticket from a person who has violated the law as a personal favor, such as, family, friend, blackmailer, and money under the table.

OK Crymomma

I think I understand, for example if someone gets a ticket for a traffic violation then pays the police officer to "loose" the ticket.

Can you get tickets for other offences in the US?


UK Bob

Yes there are many offenses in America in which a person can get a ticket. its seem like the United States is not the land of the free to do something then not get a ticket for doing it.

I believe that most of the tickets mentioned in the article were actually parking citations. Some New Yorkers are wondering, "17 cops - not 17,000 cops?"

Drivers cited for moving violations are issued a ticket in the form of a "Notice To Appear" in court. It describes the violation (Vehicle Code section), and indicates the date by which the driver must appear or post bail (pay the fine). A driver who refuses to sign the promise to appear will be taken into custody, and thereby made to appear before a judge or magistrate. Anyone who does not contest the citation or is found guilty of the offense will be assigned points against their driver's license.

Each state uses a different point count system. In Calif. almost all moving violations are counted as one point. Two-point violations are usually those that result in arrest, such as 'driving under the influence'. Two points on one's driving record will result in increased insurance rates, usually for two years. Too many points over a one, two, or three year period will result in license suspension.

Drivers can get one point removed by attending a Traffic Violator School for 8 hours (6-1/2 hours of actual classroom instruction), for $30. An internet course is available; drivers take a course completion test at a specified location, where they are asked questions designed to make sure they actually watched all of the videos. Removing the point from one's record can prevent higher insurance rates.


I am quite disturbed by a recent development in Mass. A lawyer there paid a $20 filing fee to contest his speeding ticket before a clerk magistrate, who found him guilty. The lawyer then paid a $70 filing fee to take his case before a judge, who found him not guilty. The lawyer was then told that his filing fees are not refundable. He then took his case to the Mass. Supreme Court, which affirmed the lower court decision. He has decided against petitioning the US Supreme court.

I am astounded by the court's decision. Cops in Mass. can now write bogus citations, all the while knowing that even if they lose in court, the county will collect $20 or $90 from drivers who are later found innocent of the charges. Unfortunately, I agree with the lawyer in that the kangaroos on the US bench would probably provide no relief.


Seems to me that London is the most difficult place in the world to test for a license.

Blackhorse

You said: Well, you could be right because, as you no doubt know, London has been in existence since Celtic (Iron Age) times.

When the Victorians started to make London the centre of the UK the roads they built were made primarily for carriages pulled by horses, some of these roads are still in existence and are very narrow. As you can guess, rush hour in the centre of London can be a nightmare.

So, at London's centre, especially in and around the Bank of England, you have very narrow roads that get very congested while the further out you go the better the roads get.


UK Bob