Author Topic: Our Legal System (pfffffffft) (Read 443 times)

GrimCO · « **on:** June 29, 2003, 10:28:06 AM »

I was reading another post where some guy was given a 5 year prison sentence PLUS a 180 million dollar fine for making illegal cable de-scramblers. Yet as a cop, I couldn't get a 5 time convicted crack dealer more than 6 months in prison. As a former police officer, I'm no fan of our current legal system.

Here's another example of exploited prison sentences:

The lobbying group MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) got a law passed here in Florida making it a 2nd degree felony to get caught driving on a suspended license three times. The law was designed to target drunks who continue to operate motor vehicles after they've had their license revoked. It's a GREAT law.

There's one problem however. The law doesn't specifically target people with DUI suspensions. It applies to EVERYONE.

I've had to lock up poor schmucks who don't even drink, and have never been arrested a day in their life. Some of them drove old beaters and accumulated too many points on their license because they received citations for bald tires, cracked windshields, etc... which they couldn't afford to fix. Their livelyhood depended on them driving, so they took a chance and drove with their license suspended because they basically had no choice in order to support their family.

Rather than write them another ticket and let them go, I had to slap the cuffs on them and haul them off to jail where they were locked up for 2 years due to strict sentencing guidelines.

The next day, I see the crack dealer I've arrested five times back on the street smiling at me after serving a six month sentence.

Ridiculous at best.

Scootter · « **Reply #1 on:** June 29, 2003, 10:58:19 AM »

Ya I read it also, seems he must pay it at 500 bucks a month (after the five years). lets see 30,000 years or so should do it.
????

Bodhi · « **Reply #2 on:** June 29, 2003, 03:33:39 PM »

Wonder if this thread will get deleted too?

GrimCO · « **Reply #3 on:** June 29, 2003, 03:48:25 PM »

Why would it get deleted?

Frogm4n · « **Reply #4 on:** June 29, 2003, 03:49:49 PM »

what are you unamerican grimco?

GrimCO · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2003, 03:52:04 PM »

Uhhhhhhhhhhhh no. Why, should I be?

Bodhi · « **Reply #6 on:** June 29, 2003, 07:59:17 PM »

Grim,

The thread on this subject before, was deleted, for reasons unknown...

GrimCO · « **Reply #7 on:** June 29, 2003, 11:12:42 PM »

Hmmmmmmm,

Can't imagine why they would delete this thread... We'll see, then I'll ask why. I doubt it though.

bikekil · « **Reply #8 on:** June 30, 2003, 03:31:40 AM »

it's pretty sad Grim... but it's not only in US. We have the same thing going on here... i'm also sure that it's similar in the other countries.

Bodhi · « **Reply #9 on:** June 30, 2003, 09:05:04 AM »

Ya know when Grim put this thread up, I wanted to sound off something fierce on my thoughts on our wonderous legal system, but I did not, still to embroiled in the midst trying to get the damn thing to be somewhat ethical in a mattter I am involved in.

You see, in my eyes, the worst thing about our legal system is it's allowed misuse by the 10's of thousands of citizens and attorneys who continuely bog it down with either frivolous lawsuits, and / or lawsuits intended to wear down another who finally gives in as the legal cost is not worth the amount they are being sued over. Sadly, with current laws and the political climate the way it is, it is doing nothing but getting worse. Curts very rarely impose fines or levy costs when someone brings about a rediculous lawsuit, but until they do, people will continue to abuse the system. Add to that a shift in the courts towards less people defense towards more governmental and big business defense, and you have the making of a system that is getting completely out of control and is completely self serving.

How do we fix it? Do not really see a way unless corruption and political influence is removed from the mix, but that in itself is impossible. Maybe we could institute a series of automatic penalties, that if you are sued and win, the person bringing the suit pays your fees, no questions asked. Or maybe introduce jail time for continuously bringing to court and losing frivolous lawsuits. This crap needs to stop.