My condolences. What a shame.
That would be because your story sucked, and wouldn’t have worked at an actual trial. I personally am batting .500 on getting out of tickets entirely (without a lawyer), on actual legal grounds, and the rest were all reduced. The ‘best’ story I heard in court before my case was called was the guy who protested that he “couldn’t possibly have been doing 72 in a 55 zone” because he had his cruise control set to 70. Guess what, moron, you just admitted to the judge that you were doing 70, which carries the same penalty in fines and points. Judge says: Guilty. There was an admission by the perp. No cop needed. There was a never-ending stream of people who tried to tell the judge that they had some connection to the cops ('I’m a secretary at my local PD, so I should get some ‘professional consideration’, or ‘I contribute to my local Police Benevolent org.’), whereupon the judge says: Guilty. Admission in open court. No witness against you (the cop) needed.
I’ve never had a cop show up at any of my court appearances, for the very simple reason that I was never insisting on a trial. I was getting out of the tickets (and getting the rest reduced) on technicalities that never required a trial. I was actually prepared for trial a couple of times, but I never moved for one, because I didn’t want one. I was focused on sabotaging the prosecutor’s case, before he ever got it to trial. That strategy almost always works. If it ever doesn’t, I’ll meekly pay my fine, and take my points. But that’s never happened. I always get a reduction, at minimum, when I do that. Warning: IANAL, IANYL. Pay it, and stop bothering me.
I’m often surprised by people who say something like, “The cop cited me for going 70, but I wasn’t going that fast.”
“OK, how fast were you going?”
“Well, I’d say no more than 60.”
“And the posted limit on that stretch of road was…?”
“Uh… 55.”
“Guilty.”
Yep. Seen exactly that. several times. And then, as the next case, I got off because the cop didn’t submit the required ‘supporting deposition’. I love it!
This may not have happened in Mexico, but there is just a hint of evidence that bribery in the USA isn’t such an outlandish question for the OP to ask.
We all know the thousands of convictions of police bribery in the USA represent only a handful of the total police officers. But we also know the convictions represent only a handful of the total cases of bribery that occur. It’s ridiculous to think it is such a rare event that the mere mention of it is some kind of outrage.
Former Atlanta Police Officer Sentenced to Prison for Accepting Bribes http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/press/2013/06-18-13b.html
Chicago Cop Charged For Taking $5,000 Bribe To ‘Forget’ Traffic Stop Cop Charged For Taking $5,000 Bribe To 'Forget' Traffic Stop - CBS Chicago
2 Police Officers Arrested For Taking Bribes From Brothel - New York http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/09/nyregion/09cnd-cops.html?_r=0
FBI — Former Highland Park Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Bribery http://www.fbi.gov/detroit/press-releases/2013/former-highland-park-police-officer-pleads-guilty-to-bribery-and-extortion-conspiracy
Three Jackson Police officers charged with taking bribes msnewsnow.com
10th District Chicago Police Officer arrested on bribery charges http://truenewsusa.blogspot.mx/2012/09/10th-district-chicago-police-officer.html
Ten current and former law enforcement officers across several metro Atlanta agencies charged with taking bribes from drug dealers http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/complaint-officers-took-bribes-cover-drug-dealers/nWN3s/
TSA officers, cops arrested over alleged drug bribes TSA officers, cops arrested over alleged drug bribes
Jasper police officer sentenced to federal prison in bribery case Former Jasper police officer sentenced to federal prison in bribery case - al.com
Sanford officer accused of taking bribe relieved of duty http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-10-01/news/os-officer-accused-bribery-sanford-20111001_1_sanford-officer-morgenstern-police-officer
Former Windermere chief investigated for taking bribes, shutting down another inquiry http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-03-08/news/os-daniel-saylor-new-accusations-20110308_1_chief-daniel-saylor-windermere-police-department-cash-bribe
Border Patrol agents accused of taking bribes http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2006-03-11/A%20SECTION/MUSNEWS11_3_1_patrol-agents-border-patrol-mcclaren
Pittsburgh deputy sheriff charged with taking bribes http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2005-11-22/news/USNEWS22_8_1_deputy-sheriff-pittsburgh-defazio
Police Bribed To Ignore Drug Trafficking http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1996-10-13/news/9610120872_1_ford-heights-sell-crack-taking-bribes
Orange County Sheriff Pleads No Contest To Taking Bribes http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1994-11-24/news/9411240112_1_bill-morris-sheriff-office-bribes
Drug Agent Suspected Of Taking Bribe http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1986-05-08/news/0220140296_1_hughley-porter-apopka
FBI: Texas Cop Offered Leniency for Bribe http://www.policemag.com/channel/careers-training/news/2013/01/04/fbi-texas-cop-offered-leniency-for-bribe.aspx
Police inspector charged with extortion, bribery http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/crime&id=7766916
FBI: Former Jasper, Alabama Police Officer Charged with Bribery http://justpiper.com/2012/05/fbi-former-jasper-alabama-police-officer-charged-with-bribery/
Lawyer, police officer indicted for bribery Lawyer, police officer plead not guilty to bribery – Orange County Register
Veteral Houston Police Sergeant Arrested For Accepting Bribe http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/HPD-officer-out-on-bail-after-arrest-in-2081633.php
FBI — San Antonio Police Officer Arrested in Bribery Investigation http://www.fbi.gov/sanantonio/press-releases/2013/san-antonio-police-officer-arrested-in-bribery-investigation
FBI — Former DeKalb Police Lieutenant Indicted for Bribery http://www.fbi.gov/atlanta/press-releases/2011/former-dekalb-police-lieutenant-indicted-for-bribery
FBI — San Luis Obispo Police Officer Arrested on Federal Bribery http://www.fbi.gov/atlanta/press-releases/2011/former-dekalb-police-lieutenant-indicted-for-bribery
FBI - Majestic Auto Repair Shop Owners Sentenced for Paying Police http://www.fbi.gov/baltimore/press-releases/2012/majestic-auto-repair-shop-owners-sentenced-for-paying-police-officers-hundreds-of-thousands-of-dollars-in-bribes
FBI — Newark Police Officer Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Fraud and Bribery http://www.fbi.gov/newark/press-releases/2013/newark-police-officer-sentenced-to-four-years-in-prison-for-defrauding-bank-of-1.9-million-loan-and-bribing-bank-employee
FBI — Philadelphia Police Inspector Indicted for Bribery and Extortion http://www.fbi.gov/philadelphia/press-releases/2010/ph110510a.htm
FBI - Three Memphis Police Officers Charged in Federal Complaint with Conspiracy, Bribery, and Extortion http://www.fbi.gov/memphis/press-releases/2010/me022610.htm
FBI — Lawrence Police Officer Charged with Bribery, Lying to Agent http://www.fbi.gov/boston/press-releases/2012/lawrence-police-officer-charged-with-bribery-lying-to-agent
FBI — Former Bridgeton Police Officer Sentenced for Bribery http://www.fbi.gov/stlouis/press-releases/2011/former-bridgeton-police-officer-sentenced-for-bribery-and-obstruction-of-justice
FBI — Former Wichita Police Officer Charged in Bribery Scheme http://www.fbi.gov/kansascity/press-releases/2013/former-wichita-police-officer-charged-in-scheme-to-pay-bribe-to-save-her-job
FBI — Former Detroit Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Bribery Scheme http://www.fbi.gov/detroit/press-releases/2009/de120409.htm
FBI — Former Puerto Rico Police Officers Convicted of Extorting Bribes http://www.fbi.gov/sanjuan/press-releases/2013/former-puerto-rico-police-officers-convicted-of-extorting-a-defendant-for-50-000
FBI — Chicago Police Officer and Tow Truck Operator Arrested in Ongoing Investigation of Bribery http://www.fbi.gov/chicago/press-releases/2010/cg063010a.htm
Mayor and Chief of Police of Port Allen, Louisiana Indicted For Bribery http://www.fbi.gov/neworleans/press-releases/2010/no090110.htm
Former Baton Rouge Police Officer Sentenced to 24 Months of Imprisonment For Accepting Bribes http://www.fbi.gov/neworleans/press-releases/2012/former-baton-rouge-police-officer-sentenced-to-24-months-of-imprisonment-in-operation-illegal-motion
Former Clayton County Police Officer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Accepting Bribes http://www.fbi.gov/atlanta/press-releases/2012/former-clayton-county-police-officer-sentenced-to-federal-prison-for-public-corruption-drug-and-civil-rights-violations
FBI — California Correctional Officer Sentenced for Accepting Bribes http://www.fbi.gov/sacramento/press-releases/2012/california-correctional-officer-sentenced-for-accepting-bribes-for-smuggling-cell-phones-into-prison
VIPD Officers Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Racketeering, Extortion, Bribery, and Related Charges http://www.fbi.gov/sanjuan/press-releases/2012/vipd-officers-sentenced-to-151-months-in-prison-for-racketeering-extortion-bribery-and-related-charges
FBI — Federal Corrections Officer Charged with Accepting Bribes http://www.fbi.gov/miami/press-releases/2010/mm012810a.htm
FBI — Webb County Deputy Constable Indicted for Accepting Bribes http://www.fbi.gov/sanantonio/press-releases/2011/webb-county-deputy-constable-indicted-for-accepting-bribes
Former Chief of Police of Port Allen Sentenced to Seven and a Half Years in Prison http://www.fbi.gov/neworleans/press-releases/2012/former-chief-of-police-of-port-allen-sentenced-to-seven-and-a-half-years-in-prison
Former Laredo Police Officer Sentenced to Prison for Drug Trafficking, Bribery http://www.fbi.gov/sanantonio/press-releases/2011/former-laredo-police-officer-sentenced-to-prison-for-drug-trafficking
North Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Indicted on Public Corruption Charges http://www.fbi.gov/charlotte/press-releases/2012/law-enforcement-officers-indicted-on-public-corruption-charges
Richland County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Charged with Accepting Bribe http://www.fbi.gov/cleveland/press-releases/2011/richland-county-sheriffs-office-lieutenant-charged-with-accepting-bribe
Starr County Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested and Detained on Bribery Charges http://www.fbi.gov/sanantonio/press-releases/2012/starr-county-sheriffs-deputy-arrested-and-detained-on-bribery-extortion-and-drug-charges
One Retired and Four Current Tulsa Police Department Officers Indicted in Federal Corruption Probe http://www.fbi.gov/littlerock/press-releases/2010/lr072010.htm
Former Fulton County Detention Officer Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Public Corruption http://www.fbi.gov/atlanta/press-releases/2012/former-fulton-county-detention-officer-sentenced-to-10-years-in-federal-prison-for-public-corruption-and-drug-trafficking
Former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Agrees to Plead Guilty to Federal Corruption Charge http://www.fbi.gov/losangeles/press-releases/2012/former-los-angeles-county-sheriffs-deputy-agrees-to-plead-guilty-to-federal-corruption-charge
Former Deputy Constable in Indiana Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bribery http://www.fbi.gov/indianapolis/press-releases/2010/ip042110.htm
It’s not going to make you wealthy, but the starting salary for a cop in my city is higher than the median household income in the United States, and it increases substantially in just a few years.
So why haven’t you killed him yet?
Yeah, speaking of outrages…
Not every cop takes the job because he or she loves power, or wants to take bribes. Many - by far the great majority, in my experience - do it because they like helping people, because they want to protect and serve, because they feel called to police work as an avocation, or because an important family member had been a cop.
That was the way it was when I was a cop. We were told that was SOP. We were supposed to notify the lower court about the conflict so that they could dismiss the cases in bulk, and we would catch hell if we didn’t.
I can only speak for that one department. I would imagine, however, that some variation of that is pretty much SOP everywhere.
Moderator Warning
Kevin Kludd, professional jabs are not allowed in General Questions, not to mention being a jerk and trolling. This is an official warning. Do not do this again.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
I think the factual reasons related to the OP have been pretty well covered, and this thread is getting off track on other issues. Those who wish to discuss the prevalence of bribery among the police or other issues are welcome to start another thread in Great Debates. This thread is closed.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator