Huh. So does Rep. Horton think banning guns will keep people from using them to express their anger at a lack of voting rights?

In all cases, the ticket itself is valid signed or not. Failing to appear in the set time frame will usually result in a suspended license. Your ticket will not be dismissed simply because it’s not signed by you.

Now, back in the day… when noone had I.D. or needed a Driver’s License, (I don’t even know when that was…) I can see the need for signing the ticket, going immediately before the magistrate on refusal, etc. But not today.

Suppose a cop were to simply note “refused to sign”, and the motorist didn’t show up in court. When compelled to explain his absence, the motorist denies knowing anything about the ticket. What should happen?

That’s called ‘Perjury’. It’s a felony. It’s a stupid motorist willing to commit perjury to get out of a ticket after showing the cop his Driver’s License, and it’s a stupider cop who commits perjury and then shows up in court to defend it just for a traffic stop.

There’s simply no reason to “be immediately called before a magistrate” against your will in this day and age. It’s just bad publicity for cops if anything goes wrong. The smart action for everyone is to get the ticket done quick with the motorist never leaving the vehicle.

People are stupid and speed. Municipalities are greedy and set up speed traps. Tickets are really expensive and keep on costing you. Pulling out the taser because someone didn’t sign is just not acceptable. Escalating the situation to the point where the taser comes out is equally unacceptable.

The statutes were almost certainly written before such cameras became commonplace; practices might possibly be adapted to take advantage of such cameras so as to avoid the need for the motorist to sign a citation, but I doubt the cameras are going to have sufficient resolution to show what sort of document was shown or given to the motorist. Even if the requirements to serve a citation should be changed, however, such changes should come from the legislature rather than the police.

Does this mean that cops can’t use their normal tactic of nuisance arrest and then just release you 10-20 hours later?

Um, dashboard camera?

Suppose a cop were to simply note “refused to sign”, and the motorist didn’t show up in court. When compelled to explain his absence, the motorist denies knowing anything about the ticket. What should happen?

Cops are required to demonstrate that a motorist has been made aware of a citation. This requirement serves to protect motorists. If the only way a motorist is willing to demonstrate awareness of a citation is to be dragged before a magistrate, that’s his/her problem.

And if you respond to them, your account will be locked or deleted for “cop bashing.” http://www.ar15.com for example

For more funny cop vids, if you haven’t seen this series, it’s worth a look (here’s my personal fave episode):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNDlf6hA6TY

I had similar thoughts. I bet a copy of his letter is pinned on the bulletin board in every nearby police station. He’ll probably get invited to tour the station, etc. (Assuming he hasn’t already.)

OTOH: He can suck all he wants, but does he have to swallow?

Note to self: must pen glowing ode of praise to local police….

#48 Aresen

Is this another poultry complaint?

I screw that up (foul vs fowl) up every time I use it and someone always points it out. And next time I screw it up just like always. I think it’s probably the beginnings of dementia.

My bad, I thought I had seen somewhere that Texas was more rational than that. What was I thinking? This is TEXAS we’re talking about.

In any case… there is no advantage or reason to arrest anyone for this. Simply writing “Refused to sign” on the ticket is what most cops who are capable of thinking do in situations like this. The rest, apparently, are of the “Respect mah AUTHORITAH” type that think anyone that doesn’t blindly and instantly obey all orders should be tased without mercy.

As an aside… rule of thumb… DO NOT surf through bulletin boards where cops post. You WILL be pissed off by what they write.

I still think the cop was totally in the wrong for arresting her. Simply giving her the unsigned ticket would be sufficient, and there is no reason to attempt upward escalation like that. It’s not like they didn’t know who she was or where she lived.

I have trouble with this part(above). Wouldn’t “I know them pretty
well; therefore they are my brotherhood” be more logical?

Anyway I’m sure the kid’s a fine Hitler Youth.

“Fowl fuckin’ language”

Is this another poultry complaint?

;p

(Sorry, couldn’t resist.)