Cops Shoot Fire Chief Over Traffic Tickets

This today by Debra Cassens Weiss in the ABA Journal

A fire chief who went to court to complain about a speed trap in Jericho, Ark., ended up with a bullet in his hip after he got in a scuffle with police at the hearing and one of them fired his gun.

The fight broke out during Fire Chief Don Payne’s second court appearance over traffic tickets in one day, the Associated Press reports. Earlier in the day, Payne failed to get a traffic ticket dismissed. When police issued a new ticket to either Payne or his son, the fire chief returned to court to protest. The scuffle broke out when an argument escalated between Payne and the seven police officers who attended the hearing. Payne was shot from behind.

Jericho residents admitted their town is known for the large number of tickets given to motorists on the main highway there. But the shooting has changed the status quo.

“Now the police chief has disbanded his force ‘until things calm down,’ a judge has voided all outstanding police-issued citations and sheriff's deputies are asking where all the money from the tickets went. With 174 residents, the city can keep seven police officers on its rolls but missed payments on police and fire department vehicles and saw its last business close its doors a few weeks ago.”

Prosecutor Lindsey Fairley said he doesn’t plan to file any felony charges against the officer, who was not identified, or Payne. He said he didn't remember the name of the officer who fired the shot.

Small town justice. The rules are different there. Here, if you get a traffic ticket we send you to comedy traffic school. We don't shoot you. Now there was once a city just west of SR 84 where you could get a ticket for driving 36 in a 35, but we disbanded it. Wasn't it Hacienda Something, and Red Crist was the mayor, judge and the cop?

GOP's 'Primitive Stimulative' Plan

Well, it does not appear that President Obama is enjoying a lot of support from Republicans. And one of our favorite websites, The Satirical Political Report, took some pot shots at the Grand Old Party this week.

Here they list the GOP's ten best programs to boost the economy. OK, so maybe it's not a legal issue. Still funny.

1. Re-sod Guantanamo.
2. Free sterilization of minorities.
3. All state aid in the form of loans — to be paid back to the “Republican National Committee.”
4. “Jet Stamps” — for corporate CEOs.
5. Expand Electric Grid, to facilitate comeback of the electric chair.
6. Mass transit funds — to deport “illegals.”
7. Tax credits for purchases of semi-automatic weapons.
8. Coupons for conversion of analog TV — to Rush Limbaugh radio.
9. Infrastructure spending — erect ten-story ‘Ten Commandments’ in every state capital.
10. Supplemental infrastructure spending — erect world’s largest solar panel directly over Nancy Pelosi’s office.