From the Worcester Telegram & Gazette:

Jeffrey McCob went to Gardner District Court this week with a $100 ticket hanging over his head. A month earlier, he had been pulled over on Route 2 for obstructing an emergency vehicle.

After making his case to Clerk Magistrate Whitney J. Brown, the Leominster resident was found not responsible and the ticket was dismissed. By challenging the ticket, Mr. McCob lost a couple of hours in travel and court time. It was certainly preferable, however, to paying the $100 and related insurance surcharges.

“If these types of tickets only came with a fine, maybe I’d have let it go,” Mr. McCob said. “But you’re paying a lot more than the fine.”

Armed with the knowledge that more than 250,000 tickets for civil motor vehicle infractions were challenged in the state last fiscal year, legislators have voted to charge drivers $25 for such hearings. The budget Gov. Deval L. Patrick signed into law this week includes the change, which took effect yesterday, according to Trial Court spokeswoman Joan Kenney.

Here’s an idea… have the issuing police department pay the judge AND the innocent party for their time in issuing bogus tickets.

Related posts:

1. UK: Big Brother cameras to track millions of innocent drivers
2. Massachusetts state rep lawyer who has represented thousands of drunk drivers wants to lower blood-alcohol limit
3. Massachusetts police upset–unable to use intimidation and force to demand ID for marijuana possession
4. Of and by the people? Legalized extortion used to cover falling revenue from other legalized extortion
5. Angry drivers torching traffic cameras in England

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