Guilty! "$150.00 or twenty days in jail"
Because there has been so much interest, and a near record number of replies to my article last week, about the Royal Oak Cops at the Woodward Dream Cruise I felt it would be a service to finish my experience in Royal Oak.
I was going about 20 mph when the rows of blue lights lit up my rearview mirror. . I had just left the little car show at friendly Woodward-Hunter Shell Gas Station north of 13 mile. I was pulled over by two Royal Oak motorcycle police, and would be given a ticket for displaying a historic plate on my 1951 car. I was less than a 50 feet away from the car gathering. Why? I asked. After going over my papers I was handed a ticket and said, "We have zero tolerance for these plates.' I said, "I was at a car event and felt I was within the law." Ticket in hand, I promptly headed for home . The two motorcycle cops proudly rode-off seeking new offenders. The hunting was easy.
I don’t have a beef with police. I even have a couple of friends that are or are retired cops. But, when cops become bullies, ordering peaceful citizens around because they can, it gets me a little angry. And, I have found in the past week a lot of other people who feel the same way too.
I wanted to resolve the ticket, and appeared at 44th district court a few days later in downtown Royal Oak. The case before mine was for driving on a suspended license - second offense. His option was $150 or thirty days in jail. He paid, and it seemed like it was the last of any money he may have had.
My ticket number was read aloud with my full name. I replied, "Your Honor you announced my name but the numbers don’t match. Magistrate, Ken Roy, looked up briefly at me and said; " driving with historic plates. "How do you plead'? I responded, "That I would like to explain what I thought the law was and give my explanation." Without making eye contact Magistrate Roy again repeated the same charge, and, "How do you plead'? I responded again that I would like the opportunity to explain my mitigating circumstance. "How do you plead'! By now I knew I was in a box. A not guilty would mean another 80 mile trip to this same place, and now, thinking I would be no better off, or perhaps worse. I responded to the robed Magistrate Roy, "Guess I better say guilty, I just want to leave here now". "GUILTY" $150.00 or twenty days in jail." Which one?" I responded that the clerk said, "It would be $125.00." Magistrate Roy and his assistant were fumbling around in the computer. I think the assistant said to Magistrate Roy, "I don’t see it here." He then said to her, "They don’t know they just make it up" He looked at me and said, "I'm going to change the offense to Sudden Acceleration, I see you have a perfect driving record." " I offered a meek response that that would go on my record to the state, and I don’t want that. He responded, "No points as this will stay in Royal Oak - the fine is the same."
I left the court room and proceeded to pay up at the kindly lady clerk's window.
A tap on my shoulder set-off all of my paranoia. It was an uniformed officer. What did I do now; I just wanted to get as far away from Royal Oak fast.
"May I speak to you over here?" the officer said. "Sure", what else would I say.
"You should have fought that ticket." "You could have beat it in front of a judge."
I was astounded, this Royal Oak Cop apparently took the Chief of Police Chris Jahnke orders "to go easy on things like historic plates".
I said I felt I was within the written state law, but I have invested too much time already in Royal Oak. The sympathetic officer then went on to say, "Some of these officers are out of control." I thanked him and carefully left Royal Oak.
The Royal Oak web site says the fine is $125.00 for my newly and incorrect assigned offense . It seems that the desk clerk does "make things up". I do not see any reference to misuse of historic plates or any fines.
Here is the actual state law on the use of historic plates ( not the Royal Oak Magistrate, Ken Roy's dreamed up law).
Keep a copy in your glove box. I can't say if it will do you any good in Royal Oak.
LICENSE PLATES FOR MICHIGAN'S HISTORICAL VEHICLES
Michigan, automobile capital of the world, has many residents who collect and restore antique vehicles. Since 1956, the state has allowed a special, inexpensive vehicle registration for older vehicles that are on the road only occasionally.
Many antique cars, trucks, and motorcycles quality for special registration as Michigan historical vehicles. A qualifying vehicle may be registered with the Michigan Secretary of State wither with a Michigan historical vehicle plate, or an actual Michigan license plate of the same year the vehicle was manufactured.
A Historical vehicle must be:
- 26 or more years old - based on model year
- Owned solely as a collector's item
- Used only for events such as historical club activities, parades, and car shows
Note: A designated historical vehicle cannot be used for routine transportation.
I was going about 20 mph when the rows of blue lights lit up my rearview mirror. . I had just left the little car show at friendly Woodward-Hunter Shell Gas Station north of 13 mile. I was pulled over by two Royal Oak motorcycle police, and would be given a ticket for displaying a historic plate on my 1951 car. I was less than a 50 feet away from the car gathering. Why? I asked. After going over my papers I was handed a ticket and said, "We have zero tolerance for these plates.' I said, "I was at a car event and felt I was within the law." Ticket in hand, I promptly headed for home . The two motorcycle cops proudly rode-off seeking new offenders. The hunting was easy.
I don’t have a beef with police. I even have a couple of friends that are or are retired cops. But, when cops become bullies, ordering peaceful citizens around because they can, it gets me a little angry. And, I have found in the past week a lot of other people who feel the same way too.
I wanted to resolve the ticket, and appeared at 44th district court a few days later in downtown Royal Oak. The case before mine was for driving on a suspended license - second offense. His option was $150 or thirty days in jail. He paid, and it seemed like it was the last of any money he may have had.
My ticket number was read aloud with my full name. I replied, "Your Honor you announced my name but the numbers don’t match. Magistrate, Ken Roy, looked up briefly at me and said; " driving with historic plates. "How do you plead'? I responded, "That I would like to explain what I thought the law was and give my explanation." Without making eye contact Magistrate Roy again repeated the same charge, and, "How do you plead'? I responded again that I would like the opportunity to explain my mitigating circumstance. "How do you plead'! By now I knew I was in a box. A not guilty would mean another 80 mile trip to this same place, and now, thinking I would be no better off, or perhaps worse. I responded to the robed Magistrate Roy, "Guess I better say guilty, I just want to leave here now". "GUILTY" $150.00 or twenty days in jail." Which one?" I responded that the clerk said, "It would be $125.00." Magistrate Roy and his assistant were fumbling around in the computer. I think the assistant said to Magistrate Roy, "I don’t see it here." He then said to her, "They don’t know they just make it up" He looked at me and said, "I'm going to change the offense to Sudden Acceleration, I see you have a perfect driving record." " I offered a meek response that that would go on my record to the state, and I don’t want that. He responded, "No points as this will stay in Royal Oak - the fine is the same."
I left the court room and proceeded to pay up at the kindly lady clerk's window.
A tap on my shoulder set-off all of my paranoia. It was an uniformed officer. What did I do now; I just wanted to get as far away from Royal Oak fast.
"May I speak to you over here?" the officer said. "Sure", what else would I say.
"You should have fought that ticket." "You could have beat it in front of a judge."
I was astounded, this Royal Oak Cop apparently took the Chief of Police Chris Jahnke orders "to go easy on things like historic plates".
I said I felt I was within the written state law, but I have invested too much time already in Royal Oak. The sympathetic officer then went on to say, "Some of these officers are out of control." I thanked him and carefully left Royal Oak.
The Royal Oak web site says the fine is $125.00 for my newly and incorrect assigned offense . It seems that the desk clerk does "make things up". I do not see any reference to misuse of historic plates or any fines.
Here is the actual state law on the use of historic plates ( not the Royal Oak Magistrate, Ken Roy's dreamed up law).
Keep a copy in your glove box. I can't say if it will do you any good in Royal Oak.
LICENSE PLATES FOR MICHIGAN'S HISTORICAL VEHICLES
Michigan, automobile capital of the world, has many residents who collect and restore antique vehicles. Since 1956, the state has allowed a special, inexpensive vehicle registration for older vehicles that are on the road only occasionally.
Many antique cars, trucks, and motorcycles quality for special registration as Michigan historical vehicles. A qualifying vehicle may be registered with the Michigan Secretary of State wither with a Michigan historical vehicle plate, or an actual Michigan license plate of the same year the vehicle was manufactured.
A Historical vehicle must be:
- 26 or more years old - based on model year
- Owned solely as a collector's item
- Used only for events such as historical club activities, parades, and car shows
Note: A designated historical vehicle cannot be used for routine transportation.
posted by Edward Noble at
4:44 PM
6 Comments:
When I get a ticket in Royal Oak, I take a lawyer and usually I get the ticket cancelled. I would have pleaded not quilty and they would have had the trial right then in there, as in cases that I been confronted with. I would have had a copy of the law with my and gave them my view of the law. You would have lost your case because the Shell Station isn't an officially sanctioned car show, only the ones in the Curis" News are. Thus, it's best to carry a Cruis' News with you and say you are comming or going to one of the dozens of car shows a day in it, then make it off to one of the car shows to be honest. One guy in Roseville said he was going to a car show, and got a ticket anyway. Why? The car show was cancelled, and he didn't know it, but the cop did. Also, if your test driving your car, or going to or from a mechanic, you can go with your historical plates on. I'm surprised that you as a reporter bungled this court appearance. Next time do your home work.
When you are in a kangaroo court, you might as well hop as you are never going to win. This is why our country is in such trouble. Too many people in authority who do not know the Constitution or the law. If I were you I would lead a complete boycott of that stupid city as it is a hell hole anyway.
Isn't Dream Cruise a parade and car show? Boy, they will do anything to get that dollar! The court knows that respectable folks will actually show up in court, pay the fines and they won't have to be looking for you with the bench warrant. I'm amazed you were not in contempt of court! I'll go your bond, anytime!
Per MCL 257.20a, vehicles with "Historic Vehicle" plates are free to roam Michigan freely within the month of August.
I would like to know more about these suggestive points. Give me little more brief and I think they can help me. Here the mentioned points are very useful and I am definitely going to adopt in my life.เลข รถ มงคล
What about driving to the gas station or repair shop? I cant find any info on that
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