I am amazed if even half of what you are saying is true, at least in the UK
and NZ there isn't an incestuos relationship between the police and the
courts system so it is impossible for it happen like that. Basically the UK
has decided that the pyramid financing of speed cameras is an excellent way
of raising tax while claiming it is all about road safety and at least isn't
corrupt (yet) although the latest idea of allowing forces to keep some of
the fines is very worrying, hopefully NZ won't go down the same route. One
UK trick is to set speed limits unrealistically low but you don't actually
normally get fined for driving under this (although mistakes do happen) The
very idea that you are forced to hand over cash for a non existant offence
is appalling, perhaps a TV station or newspaper could be persuaded to
investigate and record such an incident.
John Kipping
----- Original Message -----
From: "fredd" <fal@knology.net>
To: "John Kipping" <johnkipping@inet.net.nz>; <fot@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 12:00 PM
Subject: Sort of an LBC question... but not exactly.... (long answer)
> John,
>
> In a perfect world, I would agree with you.
> But in the real world, there are lots of places that Michael mentioned as
> "let's get the
> out-of-state driver" trap--sports car and out-of-state plates.
> And absolutly nothing you can do on that.
> Example; when I moved from Europe here, I bought a house in Ardmore,
> Alabama. The property was big and cheap, and so laid back, relaxing. Was
> like a dream property.
> I've later learned why it was cheap, no outsider wants to live in Ardmore.
> At the time (1990) I had a Mercedes 560SEL. I was told by the neighbors
> never to come in the city limits with a foreign car, of course, I did not
> believe that.
> One night on the way back from Nashville, I took the shortcut tru Ardmore
> centre and having heard of the very strict speedlimits there, I did
between
> 25 to 30 mph in the 35 mph area.
> I got stopped by 2 cop cars (the only 2 cop cars Ardmore has), arrested
for
> reckless driving (=20mph over the posted speed limit), and DUI (driving
> under influence) and I don't drink while driving ever (my first wife was
> killed by a drunk driver!).
> No breath test, blood test, or walking test was ever done.
> I got finger printed, picture taken and thrown in jail. I was not allowed
to
> make any phone call.
> Most of the night I was invited to play cards with the cop assigned to me,
> on his office desk.
> In the morning I had to pay bail, $250.00 cash preferred.
> One week later, I had to go to court, the judge is the police chief his
> oldest son.
> (the police chief was a bootlegger, has a felony record, has been
> investigated by ABI and FBI several times, but is still there since approx
> 30 years)
> I could not find one lawyer that was willing to defend me in Ardmore. No
> lawyer wants to go against Doc Oliver, the police chief.
> Fine was $250.00 , how convenient.
> I have the receipt of the bail money, but never received a paper from the
> court, and by a NCIC back ground check, it is not on my record.
> Ardmore is also proud that there are no black people living in the city
> limits, they claim that blacks have bad luck with house fires.
> Visit Ardmore at http://www.city-data.com/city/Ardmore-Alabama.html
> And read lower on the page "Black race population percentage significantly
> below state average."
> Amazing !!!
>
> Then my son moves to Auburn, Alabama to college.
> Going there, you can take Hy280 that passes in Harpersville,
> http://www.city-data.com/city/Harpersville-Alabama.html
> This place is famous for the speed traps in the city center. Locals don't
> get a ticket until 10 to 15 mph over the speed limit.
> Non local US made cars get a normal strict ticket, non local foreign cars
> get usual arrested.
> I rather make the detour and never pass in Harpersville in a Range Rover.
>
> This is only two places that I personally know of in the local area.
> How many more in this big country ?
> And places like these also exist in Europe, and I'm sure on your side of
the
> world also.
>
> Regards,
> fredd
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