Unbelievable! This is why so many towns have budget deficits!

NYCGarbagePrince · 05-07-2010, 09:03 AM

Let me start by providing some background.

I own a medium sized garbage company in NYC. I dump my loads out on Long Island. This requires me to travel on the LIE during the morning/afternoon to dump the trucks that were loaded during the night.

3 weeks ago one of my drivers got a flat tire while driving the truck out to the incineration facility in Hempstead. On the way there, the truck was pulled over due to a flat tire. Promptly after being pulled over the truck was re-routed to a weigh station and then to the precinct in Garden City. When all was said and done, the truck was issued 11 tickets. 1 flat tire ticket, 1 brake adjustment ticket (which is damn good normally they issue like 4-6), and 9 separate overweight tickets.

Honestly, this is the cost of doing business and having been in this business for a fair amount of years I realize it is normal. Now to the reason I started this thread.

Yesterday, I showed up to the Village Hall in Garden City to pay the fines and provide proof of repairs for the brake and tire. I presented them all the appropriate paperwork and explained I wished to plead guilty to the overweight tickets and pay them, simply wishing to get this over and done with.

The 2 fix-it tickets were dismissed. But, the overweight tickets I was told that, and I quote, "You have to plead NOT guilty". I said, you weighed the truck and had an officer give me the tickets. I wish to plead guilty and get this over with. I do not wish to waste another day coming down here when I could be doing work. Nor do I wish to have to hire a lawyer to come down and fight a case that I am most obviously guilty of. The response was, "We can not come up with a fine for this ticket unless you show up to court. In order to receive a court date, you must plead NOT guilty."

Simply put, I am shocked that I am unable to plead guilty. This is absolutely ridiculous. If I have to plead NOT guilty and show up to court that means they need to pay 6 people to go there, including a police officer that is getting paid overtime to be there as well. And we wonder why towns are going bankrupt? This is stupid and a complete waste of tax payer money.

Anyone care to weigh in?

Yearofthe1 · 05-07-2010, 09:09 AM

Wow, all I can say is that's really sad.

But the last time I checked, the only person who can decide to plead guilty or not is the individual.

Any lawyers or law students here ever heard of something like this?

Feyd · 05-07-2010, 09:24 AM

I'd say she just doesn't know what she's talking about.

Did she "go on break" right after?

Sounds terrible, but as you said this kind of crap is very wide spread.

I hate to generalize but state employees can be some of the laziest people on the planet.... She was probably just talking out of her uninformed ass and rather than inconveniencing one of her deadbeat cohorts about the answer she decided that she was going to inconvenience you instead.

All one needs to do is go to their neighborhood DMV/Post Office/Department of Transportation work site, etc. to get a good feel for how these people treat their jobs.

You'd think that because of the recent news about local/state economies all running out of money that people would step up to the plate and work hard so that they wouldn't get laid off. The problem is that most unions protect these people from getting fired.... and they know that if they do get fired, they'll just sue the city/state for wrongful termination.

Awesome.

scollins · 05-07-2010, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCGarbagePrince

Anyone care to weigh in?

immiketoo · 05-07-2010, 12:16 PM

You have the absolute right to plead guilty. If you are not allowed to plead as you wish, have them explain why you are not able to, and then ask to see the legislation that supports their claim. My guess is that it doesn't exist.

Maestro · 05-07-2010, 01:11 PM

as it was once told me Laws are a job program for Lawyers

Spec 1 · 05-07-2010, 01:24 PM

Government is currupt and couldn't run itself off an eliptical. I'm not even getting started on my distaste for how things are run. It's crap.

ragingclue · 05-07-2010, 01:28 PM

LOL can't plead guilty?

That's amazing.

danniexi · 05-07-2010, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCGarbagePrince

I dump my loads out on Long Island.

heh.

Kroy · 05-07-2010, 02:44 PM

You can't even plead guilty??

ideliver · 05-07-2010, 09:39 PM

I'm and ass....I would have stood infront of the judge and plead guilty...the ball is in his court...

335R1 · 05-07-2010, 09:50 PM

Tell her you want to talk to her boss. I have never heard of this in any of my law classes.

ililillilillilil · 05-07-2010, 10:35 PM

idk about the regular cops on the LIE but the state troopers on the meadowbrook pkwy and Northern State Parkway are corrupt. but i'd assume since u are into carting u may have some of them in your pocket anyway

anyway, thats BS.
i know they love fucking with the working man and writing up a ton of safety violations including fire extinguisher checks and a 150 pt inspection, but its all on you, the business owner. i hate that.

unfortunately, sometimes u have to take a hit.

i suggest getting one of those ticketfix firms handy. u just fax them your tickets and u pay half win or lose. at least u dont wast time in court dealing with nonsense

05-07-2010, 09:03 AM	#1
NYCGarbagePrince Major 254 Rep 1,435 Posts Drives: X6 50i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Unbelievable! This is why so many towns have budget deficits! Let me start by providing some background. I own a medium sized garbage company in NYC. I dump my loads out on Long Island. This requires me to travel on the LIE during the morning/afternoon to dump the trucks that were loaded during the night. 3 weeks ago one of my drivers got a flat tire while driving the truck out to the incineration facility in Hempstead. On the way there, the truck was pulled over due to a flat tire. Promptly after being pulled over the truck was re-routed to a weigh station and then to the precinct in Garden City. When all was said and done, the truck was issued 11 tickets. 1 flat tire ticket, 1 brake adjustment ticket (which is damn good normally they issue like 4-6), and 9 separate overweight tickets. Honestly, this is the cost of doing business and having been in this business for a fair amount of years I realize it is normal. Now to the reason I started this thread. Yesterday, I showed up to the Village Hall in Garden City to pay the fines and provide proof of repairs for the brake and tire. I presented them all the appropriate paperwork and explained I wished to plead guilty to the overweight tickets and pay them, simply wishing to get this over and done with. The 2 fix-it tickets were dismissed. But, the overweight tickets I was told that, and I quote, "You have to plead NOT guilty". I said, you weighed the truck and had an officer give me the tickets. I wish to plead guilty and get this over with. I do not wish to waste another day coming down here when I could be doing work. Nor do I wish to have to hire a lawyer to come down and fight a case that I am most obviously guilty of. The response was, "We can not come up with a fine for this ticket unless you show up to court. In order to receive a court date, you must plead NOT guilty." Simply put, I am shocked that I am unable to plead guilty. This is absolutely ridiculous. If I have to plead NOT guilty and show up to court that means they need to pay 6 people to go there, including a police officer that is getting paid overtime to be there as well. And we wonder why towns are going bankrupt? This is stupid and a complete waste of tax payer money. Anyone care to weigh in?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

05-07-2010, 09:09 AM	#2
Yearofthe1 An ex-addict :-( 34 Rep 691 Posts Drives: VFR1200F Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: N. Va. iTrader: (1)	Wow, all I can say is that's really sad. But the last time I checked, the only person who can decide to plead guilty or not is the individual. Any lawyers or law students here ever heard of something like this? __________________ 135i Montego Blue, Grey Boston Leather, MT, Sport Package, Premium Package, Navi, Premium Sound, Heated Seats, iPod. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] We search for certainty and call what we find destiny. Everything is possible, yet only one thing happens. -Michael and Ellen Kaplan
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-07-2010, 09:24 AM	#3
Feyd Major 366 Rep 1,288 Posts Drives: a DEEZZULL Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (2)	I'd say she just doesn't know what she's talking about. Did she "go on break" right after? Sounds terrible, but as you said this kind of crap is very wide spread. I hate to generalize but state employees can be some of the laziest people on the planet.... She was probably just talking out of her uninformed ass and rather than inconveniencing one of her deadbeat cohorts about the answer she decided that she was going to inconvenience you instead. All one needs to do is go to their neighborhood DMV/Post Office/Department of Transportation work site, etc. to get a good feel for how these people treat their jobs. You'd think that because of the recent news about local/state economies all running out of money that people would step up to the plate and work hard so that they wouldn't get laid off. The problem is that most unions protect these people from getting fired.... and they know that if they do get fired, they'll just sue the city/state for wrongful termination. Awesome.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-07-2010, 01:11 PM	#6
Maestro Major 1060 Rep 1,268 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Sedan, 2021 X3 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0)	as it was once told me Laws are a job program for Lawyers
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-07-2010, 01:24 PM	#7
Spec 1 Faster in the Corners 58 Rep 1,062 Posts Drives: '91 E30, '05 ZX6-R, '06 300C Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0)	Government is currupt and couldn't run itself off an eliptical. I'm not even getting started on my distaste for how things are run. It's crap. __________________ '91 M42 E30 - All sorts of goodies.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-07-2010, 01:28 PM	#8
ragingclue One cam is enough 136 Rep 6,801 Posts Drives: VF Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: mulletville iTrader: (1)	LOL can't plead guilty? That's amazing.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-07-2010, 02:44 PM	#10
Kroy Brigadier General 177 Rep 3,032 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (1)	You can't even plead guilty??
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-07-2010, 09:39 PM	#11
ideliver Major 246 Rep 1,247 Posts Drives: E60 M5, E71 X6M, E46 M3 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: At the gas station iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW E46 M3 'vert [0.00] 2008 BMW M5 [0.00] 2011 BMW E92 [0.00] 2012 BMW X6M [0.00] 2003 E46 M3 [0.00]	I'm and ass....I would have stood infront of the judge and plead guilty...the ball is in his court... __________________ Current: 2006 E46 M3 'vert 6-sp 2008 E60 M5, 2011 E92 328 6-sp, 2011 E70 N55, 2012 E71 X6M
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-07-2010, 09:50 PM	#12
335R1 Private First Class 34 Rep 108 Posts Drives: F30 335i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0)	Tell her you want to talk to her boss. I have never heard of this in any of my law classes.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-07-2010, 10:35 PM	#13
ililillilillilil Banned 49 Rep 248 Posts Drives: e92 TT Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: CSH LI,NY / Sarasota, FL iTrader: (2)	idk about the regular cops on the LIE but the state troopers on the meadowbrook pkwy and Northern State Parkway are corrupt. but i'd assume since u are into carting u may have some of them in your pocket anyway anyway, thats BS. i know they love fucking with the working man and writing up a ton of safety violations including fire extinguisher checks and a 150 pt inspection, but its all on you, the business owner. i hate that. unfortunately, sometimes u have to take a hit. i suggest getting one of those ticketfix firms handy. u just fax them your tickets and u pay half win or lose. at least u dont wast time in court dealing with nonsense Last edited by ililillilillilil; 05-07-2010 at 10:43 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote