GREENVILLE TX – Kenny Lovett of Lone Oak, Texas was driving his vehicle safely at a rate of speed a little higher than what the state suggests for the roadway he was travelling on freely. Mr. Lovett is a full-grown American man who can make his own decisions and can think for himself, he knows how to operate a vehicle without causing and harm or injury to people or their property. Officer Goodwin thought otherwise and breached his peace by pulling him over and giving him a piece of paper to sign to eventually relinquish some of his income to the state during the holidays, when it is needed for his own family.
The promise to appear before the three-headed snake, which is the Prosecutor, the Cop, and the Judge who all work together is in most cases a losing battle. So instead of dishing out more money to a losing cause he decided to pay the extortion money to avoid the state sending armed men to his house to kidnap him and throw him in a cage, rendering him useless to his family for the upcoming family gatherings.
First we stopped by the bank to withdraw $160 dollars of his hard-earned income in nothing but coins. What we able to obtain was $25 in pennies, $100 in nickles and $35 in dimes which came in rolls that we broke apart and dumped in the provided boxes. Then it was on to the Hunt County “Unjustice” center to forfeit these coins to the complicit clerks employed by the triad. After seconds of arguing about the form of currency being presented, a panic button was engaged to summon the Hunt County minions.
The first one on scene ran down the hallway towards us with his eyes bugged out looking for a fight. Then the next three to four followed the alert in unison like the keystone cops of old. We were surrounded by armed authoritarians only possessing a couple of cell phones, the back and forth arguing continued so we just waited for the judge’s collectors to count every last stolen cent. The silly order follower in the gray shirt with a gun even got behind the counter to help the clerks with the massive amount of legal tender that was spilling out of the little boxes.
The armed men hung around on the city’s tax dollars to chit-chat and ridicule us about filming and why we were the type of masters to defy their wicked hand. An hour passed and Kenny finally got his receipt for the coins and a little reassurance that at least they had to earn it. Get up! Stand up! This is one way to help turn the tables in this police state.
19 Comments
Steve Roberts
Oh and one more thing, let’s just dispel the rumor that cops don’t get tickets. August 10, 2008 (45/35 on dry pavement and not another vehicle within 1/4 mile in any direction) was my last one and before that June or July of 1995. One I probably had coming but the other one the idiot rookie deputy stopped the wrong minivan. He pulled me over when I was doing 75 in a 70 and the one in front of me had just passed me doing 80+. The difference being I didn’t see his Sergent with the laser on the overpass before the other guy did. All the deputy heard was, “Stop the minivan!” Could I have beat it in court by subpoenaing the radio transmission transcripts, the two officers, the driver of the other minivan since I’d memorized his tag number, and miss a day of work in the process. Yeah. What I did was call the prosecutor up, advise them off the record of my evidence and how I’d make their deputies look damn silly in court. I offered to plead no contest with no points, no fine, and pay court costs only to dispose of the entire matter. The prosecutor asked me for a check made out to the county for $60. Did I grimace and squeeze the pen almost to the breaking point while writing the check? Was there venom in my saliva when I licked the stamp for the envelope containing the check? Of course there was. Thanks for indulging me the personal story and illustration.
Steve Roberts
Y’know Randy I barely make the MENSA cutoff with my 140 IQ but I like to think I more than make up for it with the abundance of common sense and logic I inherited from my dad and from watching countless hours of Mr.Spock on StarTrek. Having had the benefit of five different EVOC Classes (Emergency Vehicle Operations Classes) three of which were taught by NASCAR trained instructors out of which two instructors informed me I was one of their best and fastest students nationwide) I too am supremely confident in my personal driving skills having utilized those skills and training for the last 35 yrs. on the streets and highways of America. Having had the benefit of traveled in two-thirds of the states I also know Texas has some of, if not the most liberal speed limits in America. With all that said, even though I know I’m fully capable and trained to drive a car multiple times over the posted speed limit, I recognize the average driver out there isn’t. Nor does the stupid deer, coyote, feral hog or even occasional stray cat or dog not to mention the countless skunks and possums we see squished on roadways give a rat’s posterior about whether you are adequately prepared to handle their wide-eyed occupation of the roadway. What I do care about is whether some self centered rectal orifice with no concern for anyone’s welfare other than his own is speeding so recklessly that causes harm to me or someone I care about such as one of my kids or grandkids. Woe unto that moron should he ever do harm to one of mine. When I get done suing him in civil court and taking everything he owns whether personally or because he has to liquidate his assets to pay the legal bills, he or she will spend their remaining hours on earth wishing they’d driven more carefully and with the proper amount of respect for public safety. Personally I’m all in favor of non-violent forms of protest no matter whether or not justified. I see no harm in the object of this story’s response but blame the over reaction of the clerk and Barney Fifes who responded. And as some of you reading this may already suspect I am a retired L.E. officer. You’d have to look far and wide to find someone more critical of my former profession than me.
Randy
I’m sorry, but as clever as you try to present yourself, you’re too stupid for me to respond to any more of your BS. Go find a manly cop to snuggle up to.
This will be my last comment, so please spew away.
bilgerat57
Spew? I suppose this degree of laughter could be described that way. It’s highly amusing to see ignorance run away and hide. You haven’t the first clue what a police state is. If you did, you would never flap your gums like that overs no count issue. BTW if you are so unhappy with this country, nobody is detaining you….. Find somewhere else to cry…..
Christopher S. Lawton
What would quickly grind the system to a halt, if every one receiving a citation demanded a common law jury of their peers.
Jack Aubry
Grow up, Andre. you aren’t grade schooler any longer.
bilgerat57
Speed limit is NOT a suggestion. The morgue and cemetery is full of those who were certain that their skill level justified the excess. It also contains the remains of those who were the innocent bystanders when those people were proven wrong. While you were having your ‘fun’, your friends and neighbors were protected by 5 less guardians (By your count). Isn’t it nice that none of your family was being attacked or robbed at that time? I’m certain I can handle my vehicle at speeds over what’s on the signs too. I’ve been proving that for over forty years. The few times I have been cited for that transgression, I manned up, accepted the reprimand, and paid my dues. I didn’t waste my time throwing a childish tantrum at those who were simply doing the job they were hired for.
Jack Aubry
Key words here are “manned up”… These crybaby delinquents haven’t made it there yet.
Warren Norred
Actually, you misname it by calling it a “speed limit”. It is the “posted speed” – the speed above which is merely primie facie evidence of traveling at an imprudent speed under normal conditions. It is traveling an imprudent speed that is against the law, as stated by the actual law, which I’ve provided below:
Sec. 545.351. Maximum Speed Requirement.
(a) An operator may not drive at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances then existing.
(b) An operator:
(1) may not drive a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard for actual and potential hazards then existing; and
(2) shall control the speed of the vehicle as necessary to avoid colliding with another person or vehicle that is on or entering the highway in compliance with law and the duty of each person to use due care.
(c) An operator shall, consistent with Subsections (a) and (b), drive at an appropriate reduced speed if:
(1) the operator is approaching and crossing an intersection or railroad grade crossing;
(2) the operator is approaching and going around a curve;
(3) the operator is approaching a hill crest;
(4) the operator is traveling on a narrow or winding roadway; and
(5) a special hazard exists with regard to traffic, including pedestrians, or weather or highway conditions.
Sec. 545.352. Prima Facie Speed Limits.
(a) A speed in excess of the limits established by Subsection (b) or under another provision of this subchapter is prima facie evidence that the speed is not reasonable and prudent and that the speed is unlawful.
That is why you can be cited for “speeding” when traveling at 35 in a 40 mph zone…if you are doing it after an icy blizzard when and where traveling at 35 is unreasonable.
The problem is that the system recognizes when the posted speed is too high (like in the icy blizzard), but does not recognize that 46 in a 35 mph may be perfectly reasonable on a sunny Saturday afternoon in lighter-than-normal traffic.
I’m not arguing that posted speeds should be ignored, or people should do whatever they want, but EVERY traffic study will tell you that the safest speed is at about the 85% percentile of the traffic around you, irrespective of the posted speed. And don’t count on being able to make this argument in court.
No charge.
Randy
How very compliant of you. I hope you keep a spare pair of boots lying around to lick.
bilgerat57
I don’t have to lick boots. More often I’m wearing them. There are some rules established for the greater good. If you aren’t smart enough to recognize the need that’s your deficiency, not mine.
Randy
My 157 IQ and I get by just fine. And we’re able to do it without bowing to a police state.
Rex
The best part is that whatever profit the City made, you just FUCKED it all up by chewing up their time like that. 🙂
Jack Aubry
Are you really that stupid? Everyone there was getting paid either way it went. All they did was cheat the taxpayers that may have needed the services of these people and make everyone else waste their time. You’re an idiot.
Solo 413
Yea i bet they are REALlly hard workers. When a payment takes 7 days to be filed and you go into an empty waiting room. Its easy to think that these people are just lazy
Rex
Yes, but the money he paid them, that would have normally taken 5 minutes of time from one staff member, now took a couple of hours and several people. I know those people are getting paid, but as far as “The City” as an entity goes, the profit was way down.
michael
i would have brought in a wheel barral of pennies
Jack Aubry
No you wouldn’t. Keyboard warrior…
Solo 413
Lets drag the system down.. bankrupt it… once the system is poor then we can strip it of its abusive powers and corruption.. i love it.. i hope everyone starts paying this way.. making these people not wanting their job…