Comments on: Beloit Cops Rock https://www.forbeck.com/2006/04/23/beloit-cops-rock/ Award-winning & New York Times-bestselling author and game designer Mon, 24 Apr 2006 20:34:56 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 By: Matt Forbeck https://www.forbeck.com/2006/04/23/beloit-cops-rock/#comment-997 Mon, 24 Apr 2006 20:34:56 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=545#comment-997 I understand how you feel about those kinds of hassles, Barak. I’d tell the pregnant woman to get some legal help with the ticket. She could even represent herself if it’s a local matter. (Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV.) Often you just need to show up, plead guilty with an explanation, and throw yourself on the mercy of the court to get a reduced fine or points or both.

I used to get tickets fairly regularly, but I’ve been fortunate about it for the past 10 years or so. Better yet, a few years back, I found out my AAA membership included reimbursement for hiring a lawyer for traffic tickets, and I made good use of it. I’d guess the judge would be easy on her.

For my last ticket, the DA agreed to dismiss it in exchange for a $100 contribution to the charity of my choice.

]]> By: Matt Forbeck https://www.forbeck.com/2006/04/23/beloit-cops-rock/#comment-49419 Mon, 24 Apr 2006 20:34:00 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=545#comment-49419 I understand how you feel about those kinds of hassles, Barak. I’d tell the pregnant woman to get some legal help with the ticket. She could even represent herself if it’s a local matter. (Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV.) Often you just need to show up, plead guilty with an explanation, and throw yourself on the mercy of the court to get a reduced fine or points or both.

I used to get tickets fairly regularly, but I’ve been fortunate about it for the past 10 years or so. Better yet, a few years back, I found out my AAA membership included reimbursement for hiring a lawyer for traffic tickets, and I made good use of it. I’d guess the judge would be easy on her.

For my last ticket, the DA agreed to dismiss it in exchange for a $100 contribution to the charity of my choice.

]]> By: barak https://www.forbeck.com/2006/04/23/beloit-cops-rock/#comment-996 Mon, 24 Apr 2006 19:38:23 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=545#comment-996 i’m glad to hear that there are police out there who are helping people.
i’m not trying to infer that the cops around here are hurting people, but i ask you this:

is a pregnant woman driving to work at 6am on a highway going the standard speed (IE 75 in a 65) more dangerous than a drunk leaving a bar on a friday or saturday night?

i have never complained about a ticket, but i do complain when i know that there are problems out there that are not the priority of the Massachusetts state troopers.

]]> By: barak https://www.forbeck.com/2006/04/23/beloit-cops-rock/#comment-49418 Mon, 24 Apr 2006 19:38:00 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=545#comment-49418 i’m glad to hear that there are police out there who are helping people.
i’m not trying to infer that the cops around here are hurting people, but i ask you this:

is a pregnant woman driving to work at 6am on a highway going the standard speed (IE 75 in a 65) more dangerous than a drunk leaving a bar on a friday or saturday night?

i have never complained about a ticket, but i do complain when i know that there are problems out there that are not the priority of the Massachusetts state troopers.

]]> By: Matt Forbeck https://www.forbeck.com/2006/04/23/beloit-cops-rock/#comment-995 Mon, 24 Apr 2006 16:40:27 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=545#comment-995 Good point. The cops I’ve known have almost all been great people, but the job tends to take a toll on them. One of my partners at Pinnacle worked the child abuse beat in a little city in the worst part of LA. I went on a ridealong with him once, and it stunned me to see what he had to deal with—and this was on an easy night.

]]> By: Matt Forbeck https://www.forbeck.com/2006/04/23/beloit-cops-rock/#comment-49417 Mon, 24 Apr 2006 16:40:00 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=545#comment-49417 Good point. The cops I’ve known have almost all been great people, but the job tends to take a toll on them. One of my partners at Pinnacle worked the child abuse beat in a little city in the worst part of LA. I went on a ridealong with him once, and it stunned me to see what he had to deal with—and this was on an easy night.

]]> By: Christian Johnson https://www.forbeck.com/2006/04/23/beloit-cops-rock/#comment-994 Mon, 24 Apr 2006 16:31:44 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=545#comment-994 In a small way, I imagine that the ability to help a citizen in a small way was deeply appreciated by the police themselves. In other words, maybe being able to do the deed was thanks enough.

The reason I say this is that police usually deal with the worst in society. They respond to murder, theft, assault. Lord only knows how many “domestic disturbances” any given police officer responds to on a daily basis. To be able to call a citizen, a peaceful and law-abiding one, and aid them, is in many ways a blessing. Imagine how nice it would be to here a pleasant voice say, “Um, thanks. I’ll be right down to turn it off,” instead of the invective they here on an almost continual basis.

]]> By: Christian Johnson https://www.forbeck.com/2006/04/23/beloit-cops-rock/#comment-49416 Mon, 24 Apr 2006 16:31:00 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=545#comment-49416 In a small way, I imagine that the ability to help a citizen in a small way was deeply appreciated by the police themselves. In other words, maybe being able to do the deed was thanks enough.

The reason I say this is that police usually deal with the worst in society. They respond to murder, theft, assault. Lord only knows how many “domestic disturbances” any given police officer responds to on a daily basis. To be able to call a citizen, a peaceful and law-abiding one, and aid them, is in many ways a blessing. Imagine how nice it would be to here a pleasant voice say, “Um, thanks. I’ll be right down to turn it off,” instead of the invective they here on an almost continual basis.

]]> By: Bill Bodden https://www.forbeck.com/2006/04/23/beloit-cops-rock/#comment-992 Mon, 24 Apr 2006 02:50:44 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=545#comment-992 That’s the kind of small town service one gets in, well, a small town – not that Beloit is that small, but you know what I mean, I think. I had my license plates stolen where I live six months ago, and I had to fill out all the paperwork myself, including doing (more or less) a self-interview. Mind you, a stolen license plate isn’t a capital offense, but neither is a dome light being left on. 🙂

Still, it’s one of those stories that makes you feel good about the place where you live. Enjoy the feeling! Always nice to know that A) someone is paying attention, and B) someone is looking out for YOU.

Eagerly awaiting Death Match!

Bill

]]> By: Bill Bodden https://www.forbeck.com/2006/04/23/beloit-cops-rock/#comment-49415 Mon, 24 Apr 2006 02:50:00 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=545#comment-49415 That’s the kind of small town service one gets in, well, a small town – not that Beloit is that small, but you know what I mean, I think. I had my license plates stolen where I live six months ago, and I had to fill out all the paperwork myself, including doing (more or less) a self-interview. Mind you, a stolen license plate isn’t a capital offense, but neither is a dome light being left on. 🙂

Still, it’s one of those stories that makes you feel good about the place where you live. Enjoy the feeling! Always nice to know that A) someone is paying attention, and B) someone is looking out for YOU.

Eagerly awaiting Death Match!

Bill

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