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NonViolent Action: Traffic Ticket
In order by date. Start Here. Most recent info posted at top. Last update: March 22, 2006
This has been a decision which
wasn't easy. When my mother fell ill I curbed my
activies at the Syracuse Federal Building so there
would be no risk of jail for me (which would put her in a nursing home without
my care). The traffic ticket for unlicensed operation came in July and was
due to a Child Support suspension. It was in my
hometown and the Judge/Prosecutor were nice about it and just wanted me to plead
guilty and get it over. I was almost ready to do that, but just couldn't
say 'guilty' to a crime -- not to mention, I was still driving just about every
day. I felt the indignity of being a criminal in my hometown and felt the
matter should be resolved. On Nov 19, I wrote the
Judge/DA and reported all the driving offenses and asked that they be
dismissed and the law found unconstitutional.
Read this message for a complete background on what happened and how I ended up
$55,000 behind in support.
NonViolent Action ? I think so. NonViolent
action is much more than just 'niceness' and 'non-cooperation' -- it is action.
I'm willing (barely!) to step forward and say, if this is the law then I have
been breaking it - prosecute me for I feel it is unjust. It has required a
lot of Faith to do this and I could very easily end up in jail. A disaster to my
entire family.
Dec 12, 2005 - The trial ignored the significant issues and John is found guilty of one offense. A summary is in our News Release.
In his opening statement John admitted he had driven on over 100 other occasions and had driven to court that morning and was planning on driving home afterwards ... He rejected an earlier plea deal that would have resulted in just a fine and instead wrote the Court and DA's office giving details of over 100 other incidents of driving while his license was suspended. He told Wayne County DA Richard Healey that he wanted this matter resolved honestly. He wanted the great support and love he had given his son recognized and didn't want to live in fear of being arrested as a criminal in his home town for the slightest traffic violation.(... read more).
Dec 9, 2005 - What to do if taken to jail? Read some thoughts on 'noncooperation' and NonViolent Action.
Dec 5, 2005 - I write directly to Mr. Richard Healy, Wayne County District Attorney. I want to make sure there is no obstacle to being arraigned on 100 additional incidents of aggravated unlicensed operation on the day of the Trial. I also include some case law members of the group have sent me.
Dec 4, 2005 - A message goes out on our mailing list which contains a lot of your FEEDBACK to what has been happening. It answers many of your questions.
Nov 29, 2005 - I mailed a Discovery Demand to the prosecutor, Mr. Wunder. I'm really not even sure what I should be allowed to get before the trial.
Nov 19, 2005 - In the local Village Court I write to the Judge & submit a motion to include over 100 additional incidents of driving with a suspended license.. Read this message for a complete background on what happened and how I ended up $55,000 behind in support.
Sep 14, 2005 - In local Village Court I write the Judge to assign counsel for a ticket I had received in July for driving with a suspended license. The request was denied. A trial is later scheduled in Lyons Village Court on December 12th.
July 12, 2005 - I was stopped and ticketed in my hometown for knowingly driving with a suspended license (Aggravated Unlicensed Operation). It is in the Village Court and I know the people. They are trying to be nice and would be happy to offer me "Unlicensed Operation" if I would just plead guilty. At the time I was pulled over (because a turn signal wasn't working), I was taking my Mother to a doctor's appointment.