How many of us wanted to do this??

david · 12-16-2002, 07:44 PM

I should've last month when I was in Miami Beach!!!!!

Man Puts Obscenity on Traffic Fine Check

HOWELL, Mich. (AP) - A man who used an obscenity on a check he wrote to pay a traffic fine is facing a contempt of court charge.

Eric Wilmoth, 26, of Howell was to appear Monday before 53rd District Court Judge John Pikkarainen on the contempt charge.

Wilmoth wrote the obscenity on the memo line of a check he mailed to the court to pay a traffic fine. That was within his First Amendment rights, said defense lawyer Ron Plunkett of Brighton.

"This is America. I think you can say that," Plunkett told the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus. "Now it's a different thing when you do it in front of a judge."

Plunkett says Wilmoth has not acted disorderly in front of any judge or even been in the presence of one for this case before he was held in contempt.

It is unknown how Pikkarainen discovered the check. His secretary said the judge would not comment because the case is pending.

When checks to pay traffic fines are mailed to the Livingston County Courts, they can go through a number of different hands, including the 53rd District Court administrator and the county clerk's office, according to district court Deputy Clerk Diane Livingston.

Any check drawing attention can be sent to the court administrator or the court's chief judge - Pikkarainen. Whoever noticed Wilmoth's check probably did not have a hard time seeing its comments.

Wilmoth "highlighted that with a yellow marker," Plunkett said.

According to Plunkett, Wilmoth accidentally backed into someone in Howell on Sept. 25.

Police ticketed him for improper backing.

Wilmoth contested the ticket in October in an informal hearing before Livingston County Magistrate Brian Brown. Plunkett said Wilmoth acted calmly with Brown and the officer even though Brown ruled against him.

"He regrets having written it," Plunkett said. "He'll apologize to the court. But at that time he was upset with the court."

butterfly · 12-16-2002, 07:53 PM

I wouldn't apologize. I'd sue him for dragging me into court and wasting my time!!!

david · 12-16-2002, 08:27 PM

Due to the fact of my court case regarding a traffic violation, I had the state of Florida (Tallahassee) write a letter to the court stating that the infraction was not at the defendants fault and to ultimately dismiss the case. The Broward courts ignored the letter, forced me to show twice. (charged for the same incident twice on seperate occasions) The letter clearly stated that my car was registered had been registered as of 12/99 and that my decal was lost in the mail in 2002. The judge reads the letter this way.

"It's about time you got it registered, you are lucky that I don't reinstate the fine...."

I interjected and said, "Ummn... excuse me your honor but I believe the letter states that the car HAS been registered since I leased the car and that it was the states fault for losing it and taking their sweet ol' time re sending me a new one."

She ignored that statement and said, "Let me never see you in here again!"

WTF???

12-16-2002, 07:44 PM	#1
david EAST COAST BRAT Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Waterworld, FL Posts: 25,420 Photos: 2	How many of us wanted to do this?? *I should've last month when I was in Miami Beach!!!!!* Man Puts Obscenity on Traffic Fine Check HOWELL, Mich. (AP) - A man who used an obscenity on a check he wrote to pay a traffic fine is facing a contempt of court charge. Eric Wilmoth, 26, of Howell was to appear Monday before 53rd District Court Judge John Pikkarainen on the contempt charge. Wilmoth wrote the obscenity on the memo line of a check he mailed to the court to pay a traffic fine. That was within his First Amendment rights, said defense lawyer Ron Plunkett of Brighton. "This is America. I think you can say that," Plunkett told the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus. "Now it's a different thing when you do it in front of a judge." Plunkett says Wilmoth has not acted disorderly in front of any judge or even been in the presence of one for this case before he was held in contempt. It is unknown how Pikkarainen discovered the check. His secretary said the judge would not comment because the case is pending. When checks to pay traffic fines are mailed to the Livingston County Courts, they can go through a number of different hands, including the 53rd District Court administrator and the county clerk's office, according to district court Deputy Clerk Diane Livingston. Any check drawing attention can be sent to the court administrator or the court's chief judge - Pikkarainen. Whoever noticed Wilmoth's check probably did not have a hard time seeing its comments. Wilmoth "highlighted that with a yellow marker," Plunkett said. According to Plunkett, Wilmoth accidentally backed into someone in Howell on Sept. 25. Police ticketed him for improper backing. Wilmoth contested the ticket in October in an informal hearing before Livingston County Magistrate Brian Brown. Plunkett said Wilmoth acted calmly with Brown and the officer even though Brown ruled against him. "He regrets having written it," Plunkett said. "He'll apologize to the court. But at that time he was upset with the court."

12-16-2002, 07:53 PM	#2
butterfly Senior Member Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 11,526 Photos: 11	I wouldn't apologize. I'd sue him for dragging me into court and wasting my time!!! ~Ann We must teach our children to dream with their eyes open. -Harry Edwards

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12-16-2002, 08:27 PM	#3
david EAST COAST BRAT Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Waterworld, FL Posts: 25,420 Photos: 2	Due to the fact of my court case regarding a traffic violation, I had the state of Florida (Tallahassee) write a letter to the court stating that the infraction was not at the defendants fault and to ultimately dismiss the case. The Broward courts ignored the letter, forced me to show twice. (charged for the same incident twice on seperate occasions) The letter clearly stated that my car was registered had been registered as of 12/99 and that my decal was lost in the mail in 2002. The judge reads the letter this way. "It's about time you got it registered, you are lucky that I don't reinstate the fine...." I interjected and said, "Ummn... excuse me your honor but I believe the letter states that the car HAS been registered since I leased the car and that it was the states fault for losing it and taking their sweet ol' time re sending me a new one." She ignored that statement and said, "Let me never see you in here again!" WTF???