DUers in law enforcement-is it common to keep people in jail for traffic offenses?

[w8liftinglady]

I noticed over half the population of our local jail is for things like speeding and car inspections overdue...do you see that where you live?
http://www.arlingtonpd.org/jail/

[rd_kent]

1. Not sure "moving violations" are part of the criminal code.

Some are, such as excessive speed, reckless driving, etc, but most are just violations, not a criminal act.

Upon review of the link, it seems that WARRANTS were issued after the defendant did not respond to the violations. That IS a criminal act..... They are in jail for not responding to a lawful order, not for moving violations.

[w8liftinglady]

2. Thank you for explaining that...so basically,they ignored the tickets

[rd_kent]

5. Seems that way, yes.

[Cleita]

3. Bench warrants can be issued where I live if you don't pay a ticket or

show up for a court hearing. Those carry a fine or six months maximum in jail, although most offenders don't spend that much jail time if they can't afford the fine. An acquaintance of mine got to do his jail term on weekends so he wouldn't lose his job. I never heard of going to jail for speeding unless they were under the influence. Sometimes they make you go to traffic school though.

[w8liftinglady]

4. it just seemed kind of extreme to me

to have someone with no insurance on the block with people in for violent crimes.

[Cleita]

6. It is extreme and it's also bigoted because rich people will not go to jail

unless they slap a cop (ZsaZsa) for a traffic violation. Also we have too many people in jail in our state already. I think having them pick up trash along the freeway is a better way of punishing them or any other community service. It still ruins your weekend when you could be doing something else.

[snooper2]

7. If people don't want to pay the fine and just serve the time..

My buddy who is CLUELESS with finances and managing money did a 36 hour stint last weekend for a traffic warrant..

[sabrina 1]

8. True, but there are many poor people who cannot afford to pay

the fines. Also, it is not equitable, if someone whose salary is only $400 a week, gets a ticket for that amount for speeding, eg. While a millionaire gets the same fine for the same violation. Which is why it is the poor who go to jail.

And people will say, 'well if you don't make it hard, they won't learn' ~ so, make it hard for millionaires also, if that is the reason for taking someone's entire weekly salary for a traffic violation, while the wealthy pay what is pocket change to them.

The same thing is going to happen with Mandated Health care. The fines for not buying a premium, in the Baucus bill were approx. $3000.00. It won't be long before many poor people will be in jail for that also, where, ironically, they will receive free health care. But one way or another, Congress is making sure the Insurance Industry makes its blood money.

[arcane1]

9. That's exactly what happened to me

Couldn't afford to pay a speeding ticket (in Virginia) and was picked up during lunch at my temp job, spent 4 nights in jail, sentenced to 10 but let out early due to massive overcrowding.

Needless to say, I didn't get the temp job back.

[kiva]

10. Health care doesn't equal traffic violation.

As many people here have pointed out when discussing an insurance mandate, you choose to drive but not to have a body that needs attention, so please don't conflate the two.

[taterguy]

11. Since when do we choose to drive?

How else are we supposed to get to work?

[sabrina 1]

12. I think you misunderstood ~

What I was pointing was not what I believe or how things ought to be, but how the Baucus Bill, if it stays the way it is, will be one more law that criminalizes the poor. Not sure how you got me 'conflating car insurance and health insurance'. Anyone who supportes mandated insurance with fines for those who cannot afford it, are doing that. I am and have been against mandated insurance from the beginning. I am not even sure it's Constitutional. I believe Health care is a right, not a commodidty.

Those who support mandated insurance, such as Baucus and his committee, rightwingers and Dems who are willing to ignore how awful this bill is for political reasons, they are the ones who conflate the two.

[cleveramerican]

13. 25Miles over the speed limit

is reckless driving.. you can be arrested, jailed and have your car towed at the discretion of the officer.

it seldom happens... but it could.