Comments on: Your Rights Hanging By A Belt… http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/2008/07/11/your-rights-hanging-by-a-belt/ Have you driven a Ford lately? Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:49:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Clint http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/2008/07/11/your-rights-hanging-by-a-belt/#comment-1170 Clint Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:17:20 +0000 http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/?p=278#comment-1170 Ian, I had a similar encounter earlier this year with a red-light ticket. I ended up pleading not guilty, going to trial, representing myself and winning (which was a thrill), but I noticed a lot of the same stuff going on in the Chapel Hill court. It was packed. Almost all blacks and Latinos. I don't think the DA (it was an assistant in CH) was profiling you or anything. They (two white people) originally offered me the same kind of bargain, and, when I asked about the effect on insurance, he said he couldn't give me legal advice and repeated that a few times. Those particular questions must be off limit completely. And remember you have the right to ask for a continuance, which I opted for since I was unsure of the ramifications of the bargain (pushed the date back by about a month). That judge sounds like a complete douche though. Perhaps notifying people of the dress code beforehand would make more sense ... Ian,

I had a similar encounter earlier this year with a red-light ticket. I ended up pleading not guilty, going to trial, representing myself and winning (which was a thrill), but I noticed a lot of the same stuff going on in the Chapel Hill court.

It was packed. Almost all blacks and Latinos.

I don’t think the DA (it was an assistant in CH) was profiling you or anything. They (two white people) originally offered me the same kind of bargain, and, when I asked about the effect on insurance, he said he couldn’t give me legal advice and repeated that a few times. Those particular questions must be off limit completely.

And remember you have the right to ask for a continuance, which I opted for since I was unsure of the ramifications of the bargain (pushed the date back by about a month).

That judge sounds like a complete douche though. Perhaps notifying people of the dress code beforehand would make more sense …

]]> By: scythia http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/2008/07/11/your-rights-hanging-by-a-belt/#comment-850 scythia Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:55:14 +0000 http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/?p=278#comment-850 Great post. And I had a traffic ticket due today, so y'all saved me a bunch of cash. Thanks! <em>“Jew you down”? Who says that other than people who are being blatantly racist?</em> As the only Jew in my town (well, not the ONLY one, but one of the few), I had to endure this constantly from my friends. Didn't seem like racism so much as the adolescent gauntlet, but even still, I didn't have a problem with it. Great post. And I had a traffic ticket due today, so y’all saved me a bunch of cash. Thanks!

“Jew you down”? Who says that other than people who are being blatantly racist?

As the only Jew in my town (well, not the ONLY one, but one of the few), I had to endure this constantly from my friends. Didn’t seem like racism so much as the adolescent gauntlet, but even still, I didn’t have a problem with it.

]]> By: Daimao http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/2008/07/11/your-rights-hanging-by-a-belt/#comment-849 Daimao Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:38:40 +0000 http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/?p=278#comment-849 That's an interesting tale. My parents and relatives grew up in Warrenton on my grandparents' farm, and I've heard stories about them getting stopped by cops for no reason. I also remember riding with my cousin when I was younger and him getting pulled over by an old white sheriff. The courtroom scene sounds like what I would imagine it to be. It reminds me of that one judge from Atlanta who kicked out the white lawyers in the courtroom to talk to the black defendants about getting it together. Judges like those probably see so many black youths come through with no respect or concern that they get fed up and become harsh as possible. That’s an interesting tale. My parents and relatives grew up in Warrenton on my grandparents’ farm, and I’ve heard stories about them getting stopped by cops for no reason. I also remember riding with my cousin when I was younger and him getting pulled over by an old white sheriff. The courtroom scene sounds like what I would imagine it to be. It reminds me of that one judge from Atlanta who kicked out the white lawyers in the courtroom to talk to the black defendants about getting it together. Judges like those probably see so many black youths come through with no respect or concern that they get fed up and become harsh as possible.

]]> By: Ian http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/2008/07/11/your-rights-hanging-by-a-belt/#comment-848 Ian Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:32:14 +0000 http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/?p=278#comment-848 That's classic. "Jew you down"? Who says that other than people who are being blatantly racist? I really like how he thinks "black hole" is racist. Its black because no light can exit it, only enter it. Thats not racist, that is the definition of black. And for the record, devil's food cake is way better than angel food. That’s classic. “Jew you down”? Who says that other than people who are being blatantly racist? I really like how he thinks “black hole” is racist. Its black because no light can exit it, only enter it. Thats not racist, that is the definition of black. And for the record, devil’s food cake is way better than angel food.

]]> By: Sheepywoman http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/2008/07/11/your-rights-hanging-by-a-belt/#comment-847 Sheepywoman Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:23:08 +0000 http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/?p=278#comment-847 How appropriate: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,380143,00.html I think it trumps the absurdity of your situation, Ian How appropriate:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,380143,00.html

I think it trumps the absurdity of your situation, Ian

]]> By: Ian http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/2008/07/11/your-rights-hanging-by-a-belt/#comment-846 Ian Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:17:46 +0000 http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/?p=278#comment-846 He didn't like when guys were wearing tank tops ("wife-beaters"). The bailiffs turned those guys away at the very beginning and made them go change. It is absurd how these people choose to show up to court, but I see it as irrelevant to serving justice. It just shows that there is some bias for simple things like how you dress, when there really should not be. I think if you wore MC Hammer Pants and Uggs (what a proper name) he would probably be OK as long as you had your shirt tucked in and he couldn't see, in his words, "the round of your buttocks". He didn’t like when guys were wearing tank tops (”wife-beaters”). The bailiffs turned those guys away at the very beginning and made them go change. It is absurd how these people choose to show up to court, but I see it as irrelevant to serving justice. It just shows that there is some bias for simple things like how you dress, when there really should not be. I think if you wore MC Hammer Pants and Uggs (what a proper name) he would probably be OK as long as you had your shirt tucked in and he couldn’t see, in his words, “the round of your buttocks”.

]]> By: Sheepywoman http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/2008/07/11/your-rights-hanging-by-a-belt/#comment-845 Sheepywoman Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:17:56 +0000 http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/?p=278#comment-845 What do you think he would have done when parachute pants were in style? And do you think he has the same disdain for all fads, like Ugg boots? What do you think he would have done when parachute pants were in style? And do you think he has the same disdain for all fads, like Ugg boots?

]]> By: Ian http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/2008/07/11/your-rights-hanging-by-a-belt/#comment-844 Ian Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:05:13 +0000 http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/?p=278#comment-844 I can understand why they care so much about being presentable in court, but it seems culturally insensitive (dare I say racist?) to force people to dress a certain way. Its not just a trend, people have been sagging their pants for a long time now. I don't sag mine, but I sure am glad I dressed up for court that day. I can understand why they care so much about being presentable in court, but it seems culturally insensitive (dare I say racist?) to force people to dress a certain way. Its not just a trend, people have been sagging their pants for a long time now. I don’t sag mine, but I sure am glad I dressed up for court that day.

]]> By: Chris http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/2008/07/11/your-rights-hanging-by-a-belt/#comment-843 Chris Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:01:22 +0000 http://www.whyweworry.com/blog/?p=278#comment-843 Great story. I've got a few traffic court tales myself. My favorite involved a "courtroom" that was just this guy at desk wearing shorts. His secretary actually sat on the corner of the desk while I was on trial. And on the subject of dress codes, you'll probably enjoy this article: <a href="http://www.reason.com/blog/show/127465.html" rel="nofollow">Flint, Michigan Battles Crack Epidemic</a> Great story. I’ve got a few traffic court tales myself. My favorite involved a “courtroom” that was just this guy at desk wearing shorts. His secretary actually sat on the corner of the desk while I was on trial.

And on the subject of dress codes, you’ll probably enjoy this article:
Flint, Michigan Battles Crack Epidemic

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