DA cops, what do you think about this?

[86Dude]

Suit Alleges Town Targets Hispanics For Traffic Stops

http://www.nwaonline.com/articles/20...70707ardwh.txt

ALEXANDER -- Hispanic drivers ticketed for having rosaries on their mirrors or small flags on their windows have sued town officials, alleging police targeted them and had their cars towed by a company that gives a portion of its profits back to the city.

Alexander Mayor Shirley Johnson says allegations of racial profiling won't stand up. Of 166 tickets issued in June, only 24 were given to Hispanics, she said.

Arnoldo Giron, a native of Guatemala, said Officer Tommy Leath cited him for driving with an obstructed view after noticing a rosary dangling from his rear view mirror. Ruben Duarte, also cited by Leath, had small Mexican and Guatemalan flags on his rear window. Leath also said Edvin Giron's tree-shaped air freshener posed a hazard.

"I don't think they have probable cause to stop them at all. I think he's targeting Hispanics," said lawyer Reggie Koch, a former police officer who is seeking class-action status in federal court.

Koch's suit also claims that, while Arnoldo Giron had a valid driver's licenses from Guatemala, Leath cited him for driving under a suspended Arkansas license, which carries a stiffer penalty than driving without any license at all.

And Koch said Leath had all of the men's cars towed by Metro Towing & Recovery, which then charged "exorbitant fees" solely because of their race, the lawsuit alleges. Giron paid $480 to retrieve his car while other drivers paid more than $300.

At Metro Towing, employees said a typical tow from Alexander cost $150, plus $35 a day, with administrative fees added on after the third and fifth day in storage. A manager at the company referred telephone calls to attorney T. Scott Clevenger, who did not return a telephone call

[86Dude]

86Dude isn't totally against profiling, per se, but this kind of crap is completely unjustified. I mean really? How can a town be so petty? Illegals are one thing, but police stupidity is another. I hope they win their suit.

Read the readers opinions at the bottome of the article to understand just how frustrated people are around these parts.

[jimmyjude]

This just goes to show that the Mexis aren't really following the law or respecting their new home country.

[86Dude]

Originally Posted by jimmyjude

This just goes to show that the Mexis aren't really following the law or respecting their new home country.

Rosary beads on a mirror=disrespect, or disobeying law. Jimmy J, that's not about respect, that's about police stupidity.

[jimmyjude]

Originally Posted by 86Dude

Rosary beads on a mirror=disrespect, or disobeying law. Jimmy J, that's not about respect, that's about police stupidity.

I don't know about Alexander, but here in the San Franfreakshow area {California** it is against the law.

When I was a youngter I had my tassle from graduation hanging on my rearview and got a ticket.

I am white, so was the white cop profiling me?

[TGRR]

Originally Posted by 86Dude

Alexander Mayor Shirley Johnson says allegations of racial profiling won't stand up. Of 166 tickets issued in June, only 24 were given to Hispanics, she said.

If this is number is true, then the plaintiffs have no case...or at least they wouldn't, anywhere outside the bizarro-world of American tort law.

Looks like the distribution of tickets is right down demographic lines, as one would expect.

And I will ticket anyone who has ANYTHING obstructing their view, whether it's a gaudy icon, or a bobble head, or one of those STUPID crown air fresheners (do they still make those?) or fuzzy dice, if I feel it interferes with the driver's ability to see properly.

[TGRR]

Originally Posted by 86Dude

86Dude isn't totally against profiling, per se, but this kind of crap is completely unjustified. I mean really? How can a town be so petty? Illegals are one thing, but police stupidity is another. I hope they win their suit.

Read the readers opinions at the bottome of the article to understand just how frustrated people are around these parts.

"Of 166 tickets issued in June, only 24 were given to Hispanics,"

That's like 14.5% of all tickets issued.

What do you want to bet that more than 14.5% of the population is Hispanic?

[fat mike]

it's a stupid frakkin law-a light diffuser on the windsheild is considered obstructing-when i had cataracts i was virtually blind in direct sunlight-
lawyers and cops are a losing combination

[TGRR]

Originally Posted by fat mike

it's a stupid frakkin law-a light diffuser on the windsheild is considered obstructing-

Depends where you are.

[retrogirl]

racial profiling aside...what about the kick backs the city is receiving from the towing company?

[TGRR]

Originally Posted by retrogirl

racial profiling aside...what about the kick backs the city is receiving from the towing company?

What kickbacks?

[fat mike]

Originally Posted by TGRR

Depends where you are.

land o'Bush-Tejas

[Java_man]

Something is seriously wrong when they tow away cars because of beads hanging from the mirror

[retrogirl]

sorry..."alleged profits" aka kickbacks

[TGRR]

Originally Posted by retrogirl

sorry..."alleged profits" aka kickbacks

Actually, they are accused of gouging, not giving out kickbacks.

On the other hand, the article does not state how long the person left their car in the impound yard, in any of the cases listed, or in the counterexample of the costs inflicted on white drivers.

It's either yellow journalism or just crappy editing. Either way, it's inconclusive based on the article.

[TGRR]

Originally Posted by Java_man

Something is seriously wrong when they tow away cars because of beads hanging from the mirror

Actually, they towed the car away because they accused the man of driving on a suspended license.

[86Dude]

Oh let's be honest, the only reason a cop would pull you over for something hanging on the mirror is to get a good look in your car. That's the most retarded thing I have ever heard of, pulling someone over for something hung around the mirror.

[jimmyjude]

bah...there are good reasons to prevent people from hanging shit from their mirrors.

[Java_man]

Originally Posted by TGRR

Actually, they towed the car away because they accused the man of driving on a suspended license.

My Bad .. thx for clarifying

Its no secret cops target certain groups to be pulled over and harassed for insignificant infractions ... and if all else fails there is the tried and true "You looked like you were weaving" excuse

[86Dude]

Originally Posted by jimmyjude

bah...there are good reasons to prevent people from hanging shit from their mirrors.

In arkansas you will be arrested and your car towed if you have a bumper sticker that says "shit happens", but if you flip a cop off which is one of my favorite pasttimes, nothing happens and it makes some of them mad as hell because they can't pull my ass over and taze me.