An odd way to run things I guess

       So enough about me for a moment, I want to talk about something else for a change, maybe a few something else's. ( It my blog, I can type the way I want)

      A while back a friend had revived a 'cell phone ticket'. Sec. 241.1 of the Saskatchewan Highway Traffic Act. The long and short of it, a cell phone can't be in your hand while driving, period. We both thought at the time that it could be in your hand as long as you weren't using it, guess not. She changed her plea to guilty after taking the advice of the prosecutor or their agent. They also sujested that she explain to the judge that she has not had any ticket's for at least 5 years and she's a good driver, just made a mistake.

Now the crazy part........

     The judge REDUCED the fine to $175.00 if I remember the amount correctly from $280.00 and gave her 3 months to pay. Just nuts, and here's why...

      If you are charged with murder let's say, the court system seams to give you a lesser sentence if you take a plea to the charge. This, I believe, is to save the cost of a lengthy trial. Fair enough, and as a taxpayer I agree with this policy. I don't agree with it costing us $113,000 a year to house these people that chose to be part of the system, maybe a lesson from the Connecticut system would help pay for some of those costs.

      So, the silly part is, why would the the provincial court system REWARD people who fight the traffic ticket they receive?  It the incident above, she went to court twice taking up time and resources only to get a reduction in the fine. That makes no sense. If you fight the ticket and lose, pay up, end of story. Why would fighting the ticket warrant a reduced fine?  I can understand the time to pay being at the discretion of the judge, but the amount should not be. Do the crime, do the time or pay the fine!

       It just seams like a big waste of time and resources to me. Can anyone explain it to me?


Have a great day and may all your wishes come true,

Bruce