hanging rock police department (Columbus, McDonald: attorney, loan, property taxes)

[lashanalittle]

okay i just need to post this as a lesson that its hard to find good people now adays, IN july i got a ticket for speeding in hanging rock. on july the 28 my fiance (we were together for 11 yrs) and father of my 3 children died in our home from a complication from heart disease we didnt know he had it so this was a great shock, he didnt have insurance and i had no answers for my children now i had totally forgotten about this ticket, in sept. the hanging rock police department sent me a notice that i missed court and didnt pay my ticket so they were going to suspend my lisence the following day i was floored that the said the next day.so i called to see what i could do so my license wouldnt be suspended the man told me iwould have to pay the ticket i said okay that was fine and then he said they had added on a fee of 65 dollars because i didnt show up to court, now i would have had the 135 for the ticket on payday but there was no way i would have an extra 65 i still paying for arragements for the funeral and everything on my own with our kids so i explained the situation about what had happened and my current financial problems and asked if there was a way the contempt of court fee could be waived because of the unusual circumstances and if not waived maybe i could make a payment arragement to pay that the next payday. the police officer was very rude and unsypathetic he said if he did it for me he would have to do it for everyone and he wasnt gonna do it. i asked if i could speak to the judge reguarding my case the officer was nasty and told me no. by this time i had stopped cry 8 and 9 times a day i was down to about 2 but i was doing better and this officer really set me back i broke down on the phone and explained to him that at that time i could barely get up and eat let alone remember to pay a ticket. now i was loaned the money to pay the court fee and my ticket and i just want the hanging rock police department to know that i hope this is not the way they normally treat people and i hope the officer i spoke to never has to ask a stranger for help one day when he really needs it and if he does i hope that strangers heart is warmer the his was

[RichS]

First, let me express sincere condolences on the loss of your fiancé. I can only imagine the difficulty of communicating such a loss to your children, and I wish you the best as you overcome this horrible occurrence.


On the topic of your specific beef with Hanging Rock.....

It appears Hanging Rock is a potential "notorious speed trap". Seems lots has been made of it, at least on the net. Just Google "Hanging Rock" and "speed trap".

From where I sit (certainly not as a an attorney, but rather as a somewhat informed citizen), the officer was OK with everything he did UP UNTIL you requested information about appealing to a judge (or it very well could be a mayor in this case). He stepped over the line when he told you "no, you can't speak with him/her". He should have provided you with the time of the scheduled mayor's court session. The officer does not have the authority to override your ability to redress and address the presiding court overseeing your specific offense (even if it is a speeding ticket). In addition, he should have provided you with notice that you can take your case directly to the county municipal court (although this notice may have been on your citation). IMHO, however, it is incumbent on the officer you spoke with to inform you of the way to contact the court/mayor's court when you asked if you could speak to the judge... if not by law... by common decency.

Again, he was OK with his refusal to cut you a break independently (even though he probably could have communicated it in a somewhat pleasant manner) up until he did not provide you with the pertinent information for contacting the court/mayor's court.

If it is me (I'm one of those bull-dog types that fights for what's right)... I would contact anyone who will register your complaint. The top contenders that come to my mind are the Lawrence County Municipal Court, the Lawrence County Clerk of Courts, the Ohio Supreme Court, the Ohio Attorney General, the State Representative (T. Todd Book) and Senator (Tom Niehouse) that represent that area.... and anyone else who will listen. I believe in law and order and justice and all that stuff. But I also believe that those systems should be absolutely pristine in reputation. This includes having officers and administrators that are honest, helpful, and open as people who do not understand the system navigate it. The "system" (or lack of knowledge of that system) should not hamper an individuals ability to achieve fairness.

FWIW, here is an interesting article that describes exactly what the speed trap situation is with Hanging Rock, Ohio.
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs...WS24/107200103

Hope this helps, and I again wish you all the best.

[kenna Ison]

Just a reminder to everyone of how respectful residents of hanging rock get treated by the police. My mother was working outside the police station in hanging rock on election day 2006. She was passing cards to voters you know just making some extra money before the holiday season. A man walked by and she approched him and handed him a card. The man took the card from her hand and then dropped it on the ground. She the stated to the man why did you drop the card as he stood there looking at her in a blank stare. She then stated could you pick the card up from the ground and he stated i work here, you pick the card up. She said i did not drop the card you did so can you pick it up. She stated no, the the man proceded to tell her he was a hanging rock police man and she better pick the card up. He then stated that if she did not pick the card up he would start writing her a ticket for littering. Can you imagine how degrated my mother felt. She then bent over and picked the card up and the very disrespectful police officer walked away. My mother is a resident of this town and has been for over 50 years. She is a very respected woman who has worked for the local school district and helped many children in our neighborhood. Please pass this story on to whoever you know to let them know how respectful residents get treated by the hanging rock police.

[paintballer1708]

kenna Ison, im so sorry to hear that your mother went through something like that. I hope that people in the town get together to talk about the police, and how rude they are. Something needs to be done about this. If the police dont do anything, i would start writing a letter to Columbus.

[Chance2436]

As a resident of Hanging Rock and someone who has spent alot of time dealing with the local police. I know of the towns reputation, the workings of the police department, and ohio mayors court laws.

To the lady who lost the father of her three childeren.
Im sorry about your loss, but think about this. How many people have a sob story or a reason that they feel is perfectly valid to get a break? While the loss of your other might be a great loss to you. Someone who loses say a pet that is close to them, might feel thats just as much of a loss. The Police Department simply cant start bending rules because then you open yourself up to lawsuits when you do it for one but not another.

As for not being able to talk to the Judge/Mayor. If you miss your Court appearance. You really dont have that right anymore. In alot of small Villages the Mayors also work other jobs and arent always available to be reaches except on court days or other scheduled events. I know of the Police Department cutting some slack and allowing you to reschedule if you call within a day or two of the missed court date. But yours was much further than that it sounds like.

Maybe you felt his attitude wasnt nice because it wasnt what you wanted to hear too. Im sure if he would have told you "OK DONT WORRY ABOUT THE FINE" but said it in the same attitude you wouldnt have carted as much.



As for the girl who spoke about her mother passing out fliers. Thats just funny, maybe you dont remember seeing me sitting by the flagpole when this incident happened. Your mother was harrassing EVERYONE coming in to vote throwing fliers in their hands. She handed one to Officer Jenkins and he told her he couldnt vote there as its not his resident. . She told him to give it to his wife. He told her he wasnt married and tried to hand it back to her she refused to take it and the officer put it on her hand she then just dropped it to the ground like a 5 year old scared of cooties. He then told her to pick it up and quit harrassing people with it. Maybe he should have let it go and just waited and cited you guys for leaving your McDonalds trash in the parking lot for the Village to clean up.

[htlong]

chance,
google your beloved hanging rock police dept and see how much love and respect they get!
i havent ever been there and after reading the horror stories about what a cash cow your police dept is....
I'll by pass it thank you!

[htlong]

According to the latest state audits, several villages got more money from mayor's court than property taxes. i In Hanging Rock in southern Ohio, the town recorded $109,186 in mayor's court receipts in 2000 compared with $3,106 in property taxes, according to state audits

[kenna Ison]

To the chance2436 whom compares persons "to say pets"
I am very sorry to the reply I received from chance2436 whom he has obviously mistaken my mother for someone else. Obvoiusly I've steped on someones toes HA! She was not passing out flyers and she did not have Mcdonalds trash on the parking lot! To correct this for you she was passing out election cards and drinking coffee out of a cup and thermos she had brought from home. As for the Officer Jenkins conversation he did speak with my mother, but since you were sitting beside the flagpole and were not a part of the conversation you could never recall or prove what there conversation consisted of. I was there and he simply stated I can't vote here and she replied thank you!!! Officer Jenkins arrived at the police station alone why would my mom say give this to your wife, ha thats a good one! AND As for the statement you made about my mother harassing everyone you have to be a complete fool to even for a minute think my mom would bother anyone! Was this your first visit to the voting polls or what because everytime I or anyone else goes to vote, there are candidates and people they hire passing out election cards, my mom was simply doing her job NOT harassing anyone. Your comment "thats just funny" Maybe you think this is funny but me and many others don't. Maybe if elected officals in the community would do their jobs then loyal citizens in our community would not have to worry about incidents like this!

[Yac]

Stay on topic and avoid personal trips. Please.