Sam's Fans

Dear Gridlock Sam,

a response to the column on June 19th, 2003

"I can see that the subject frustrates you a bit, but I respectfully suggest that you give your readers the entire story.  A traffic judge will not automatically dismiss a moving violation for errors in the summons, but it is part of the "credibility package," and while it is unusual, a summons can be dismissed.  I was issued a summons fourteens years ago for burning a red light.  The officer put down the expiration date of my license as my birth date and called my vehicle a sedan instead of a station wagon.  The judge heard the officer's testimony, didn't solicit any from me, and told me she was convinced I was not guilty, and dismissed the ticket.  Whether it was because of the mistakes on the summons, whether she had previously encountered this officer, or maybe she didn't like the officer's demeanor, I don't know, but a summons with mistakes was dismissed. "

Sam from the Bronx

Dear Gridlock Sam,

I recently received a summons for parking at a fire hydrant, where there was no visible hydrant.  The spot where I parked had piles of garbage bags (about 20) piled high on the sidewalk.  I had no way of knowing there was a fire hydrant hidden under the garbage.  When I appealed the ticket the judge determined that "parking at hydrant is prohibited.  Testimony does not establish a defense." I explained to the judge that the real violators were the ones who hid the fire hydrant by my explanation was to no avail. 

via internet