Post by Shuftin on Sept 2, 2006 14:39:19 GMT -5
2006-09-02
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA – Note: If you’re caught driving on a suspended license, don’t drive to your court appearance. Lincoln police may be watching as you leave to see how you get home.
Last month, officers sat in court as people appeared on driving under suspension charges and radioed officers outside when they left.
If people whose license had been revoked drove away, they stopped them.
In all, officers arrested 17 people as part of the special enforcement they ran for 12 days between July 20 and Aug. 25.
They arrested 20-year-old Jesse Rico twice.
The others ranged in age from 17 to 36 and included one woman who had been suspended 15 times.
“I think people coming to court on a suspended license should be on notice,” said Police Chief Tom Casady.
He said he was on the East Coast when he saw a report about something similar on a local newscast.
“It was close enough that the bulb went off,” Casady said.
The results of the special enforcement, he said, highlights a growing problem: People are driving despite having suspended licenses.
In 2005, Lincoln police gave 3,199 tickets for DUS, some to drivers who had done it multiple times.
“It’s a pretty serious problem,” Casady said. “The sheer number is somewhat mind-boggling.”
But the fines and potential jail time don’t seem to deter people, he said.
Right now, police can impound suspended drivers’ cars for 30 days if they’re caught driving, and Lincoln police take full advantage of that, Casady said.
But in his opinion, those caught driving under suspension should have to forfeit their cars. It’s like taking away a weapon used in a crime, he said.
Even if drivers would have to forfeit their cars, there are some who still would drive, Casady said.
“But we’ve made it harder for them.”
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA – Note: If you’re caught driving on a suspended license, don’t drive to your court appearance. Lincoln police may be watching as you leave to see how you get home.
Last month, officers sat in court as people appeared on driving under suspension charges and radioed officers outside when they left.
If people whose license had been revoked drove away, they stopped them.
In all, officers arrested 17 people as part of the special enforcement they ran for 12 days between July 20 and Aug. 25.
They arrested 20-year-old Jesse Rico twice.
The others ranged in age from 17 to 36 and included one woman who had been suspended 15 times.
“I think people coming to court on a suspended license should be on notice,” said Police Chief Tom Casady.
He said he was on the East Coast when he saw a report about something similar on a local newscast.
“It was close enough that the bulb went off,” Casady said.
The results of the special enforcement, he said, highlights a growing problem: People are driving despite having suspended licenses.
In 2005, Lincoln police gave 3,199 tickets for DUS, some to drivers who had done it multiple times.
“It’s a pretty serious problem,” Casady said. “The sheer number is somewhat mind-boggling.”
But the fines and potential jail time don’t seem to deter people, he said.
Right now, police can impound suspended drivers’ cars for 30 days if they’re caught driving, and Lincoln police take full advantage of that, Casady said.
But in his opinion, those caught driving under suspension should have to forfeit their cars. It’s like taking away a weapon used in a crime, he said.
Even if drivers would have to forfeit their cars, there are some who still would drive, Casady said.
“But we’ve made it harder for them.”
