First time in my life, I was a criminal

[hyphenate]

Yep--today, the local police caught me driving with an expired license, and without the car currently being registered.

I was arrested. Pretty slow day, huh, when they are arresting motor vehicle code violations? A 50 year old woman, who couldn't even get into the paddy wagon, who had to be handcuffed and hauled away like a common criminal.

I was in morbid fear at one point that I was going to be fingerprinted, put into a cell with a bunch of murderers who didn't care whether they added another to their list or not, and that I would rot in the small cell they put me in.

And to make matters worse, they took away my eyeglasses, which effectively left me blind.

It was about fifteen minutes, though, and they took me to the courthouse, and at least in the courthouse, there were some humane people. One guard in particular got me water and some candy, and treated me like a human being. The woman guard who brought me up was nice as well, as were the lawyer and the probation officer who came by.

They towed my car away, and then when I got it back, they had locked it. The tow guy had to go all the way back to get the damned key. And my house key was on the same ring, so I couldn't get into the house!

This experience has taught me a great deal. It has taught me that I need to be even more sneaky to prevent getting caught at something!! It doesn't teach you to respect anyone when they act just like a police state, and when I'd never done anything--ever--in the past for which I'd been caught. It tends to make me, at least, even more wary of law enforcement, when this kind of event occurs.

We've almost all speeded before, I'm sure, we've almost all done some thing--one thing, for which we might have been on the wrong side of the "law" and most of our "crimes" have likely been in the same area as my "offense." But when the police treat you like a regular criminal, handcuffing you in public because your license has expired, there is something wrong there. Especially a first offence?

Am I wrong? Or do I see something wrong where such an event can occur and make even the most law abiding citizen feel humiliated and completely fearful? Never having been put through the system before, and being put alone in a cell without the ability to see what is going on, was more frightening than most things I've encountered in my life. Even worse than driving cross-country alone, even worse than being in a foreign country with no language in common.

The court scene was different, though I can understand the total rush there was to get "processed." But I had a difficult time hearing the judge at a couple of points, but the lawyer helped. Since the "crime" I committed is a non-prisonable offence, I got to go home, but if I had to go to jail, it's like dying--no one knows what happened to you, and despite two of my good friends being close in terms of distance, they were very far away in terms of communication.

Anyhow, what's done is done, and perhaps the experience will help somewhere down the line as a fairly realistic scene in one of my stories. It was something that most people will never see, and perhaps they should, simply to see the way that people are often treated when they should be given a little more dignity than they receive.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

1. I have four arrests.

Going to court on the 28th for the last one. I seriously hope I don't get any jail time, although I'd still do it again tommorow. It would definitely suck to spend independence day in jail.

[Derailer]

2. drug offense or something?

indecency?

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

3. It's sad when both of those things might warrant jail time, considering

those are real BS charges

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

11. It was a civil disobedience arrest.

West Point is none too happy with us.

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

18. Lol, I wouldn't imagine so. But props for the civil disobedience,

any law that people feel unjust should be protested

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

20. Yeah, I did it with this group...

Soulforce: Freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance.

The NSA is probably watching us, because a group based on MLK and Gandhi is sooo dangerous.

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

24. It'sreally sad. There's a good chance I have a government

profile after my trip to Crawford. Power to you though

[RUZIK1]

23. disobedience

I am willing to grant that. However, it is only effective if
you are willing to pay the fine/time. I have been arrested for
automobile related document "crimes". In case you
haven't noticed, there are no enforcement of real driving
crimes, like illegal left turns, not driving to the right, or
other very dangerous acts. All of the arrests begin with a
taxable violation such as a license, sticker, registration,
insurance et al. I live in MA. The driver's exam here has
about 18% items dealing with actual rules of the road and 80%
items about paperwork and taxes. The driver's here rank at
49th as no one really enforces driving rules. So, how can you
respect an authority which cares nothing for order and all for
taxes?

[hyphenate]

26. Agreed

But I also found that in California as well, as I observed many different violations from the police side on many occasions. It became a joke--if it were early in the month, the offenses were largely ignored if they weren't that bad, but by the end of the month, they were chasing down everyone and anyone. They had an unspoken "quota" to fill, and they had to get it done. And it was ALL about collecting money, and NONE for actual enforcement.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

9. Trespassing on a military installation for an illegal purpose.

Protest against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" at West Point.

[hippywife]

5. I'm guessing it was

an act of civil disobedience since you assert you would do it again tomorrow. :hi:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

10. Bingo. Protesting "don't ask, don't tell" at West Point.

I'm charged with trespassing on a military installation for an unlawful purpose. Actually, I'm going to the NJ organizer for the group that ran it (Soulforce). I'll be camped out in front of a recruiting station with 9 others in August or Sept.

[eyesroll]

4. Why weren't your registration and license current?

It does suck royally that you got arrested over that (waste of time and resources, although it is legal for them to do so), and if they did maltreat you, complain loudly and through an attorney.

But...instead of sneaking around, I strongly suggest getting your documents up to date.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

12. One of my arrests was for driving on a suspended license.

I moved and not all of my mail was getting forwarded properly. So I found out I had a suspended license several months after it was suspended by being pulled over one night.

[Patiod]

45. I regularly got my registration sticker stolen out of the mail

PA used to send them in an envelope with a little window so you could see it was your sticker.

And so could anyone in the mail-handling process. So i would do the paperwork, send the check on time, and still be illegal.

Then, once I received a replacement (if I did), it would be stolen off of my plates. I started carrying it in my wallet. Two Philly cops stopped me, and I showed them the sticker and told them I was sick and tired of having it peeled off my car and stolen. They AGREED with me, and let me go.

So staying legal with the paperwork isn't as easy as it sounds.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

13. Delete-Dupe Post.

[hyphenate]

15. None of the charges are jailable

In the end. I hadn't registered the car yet in Massachusetts because I haven't had any money until very recently, and I only took the car when it was absolutely necessary. I am disabled, and most of the times I had to use the car was to go to the doctor's or hospital and back.

As far as the license was concerned, ditto--registered in California, and let it expire. Seeing as how difficult it has been for me to get anywhere, and simply doing much of anything physically challenging, it's been hard to go and get a new license.

As far as the "sneaky" part--I have trouble with authority figures. Mom was a great believer in that same philosophy, being quite verbose in the 50s and 60s. ;)

[RUZIK1]

30. Hey, Mass. does jail unlicensed. It is the most jailed offense.

Who told you that? If you have a warrant for driving w/o a license, they will jail you. It is a criminal offense. They won't keep you long and won't sentence you, but they would keep you over a weekend and you are brought before the magistrate in chains!

[hyphenate]

31. The judge told me

That all the offenses are "fee-based." I'm not surprised. I had no warrants on me, first time it's happened.

They couldn't give me a "court-appointed" attorney because the judge said I couldn't be sent to prison.

And yes, they were contemplating putting leg chains on me, but since I had difficulty walking in the first place, they decided they didn't "need to."

[Downtown Hound]

37. One of my ex-girlfriends got arrested for driving on a suspended

and they did put her in leg-irons. Not to court, she bailed out before that, but they transferred her from the central city lockup to the county jail at one point, and fully shackled her for the ride. And then when her bail was finally posted, they brought her back to the city lockup to be released and chained her up again. She said it was one of the most surreal things she's ever experienced. Here she was, a little white girl in a flowered shirt riding on a prison van next to some pretty dangerous felons, all chained up. She has two college degrees and never been in any serious trouble before. Seems awfully excessive to me for such a minor offense.

I guess the explanation for it is that they never know who's going to be disruptive and who's not, and having a prisoner fully shackled makes it virtually impossible for them to do any damage. They may have a point. But still, it just makes America seem more and more like a police state. Even small crimes can get you chained up like an animal.

[hyphenate]

58. Yes, I find it of interest

to see how they treat people. One person at the DMV a long time ago reminded me that the DMV and the police are still two different entitities, and it's easy to see that while the DMV might have a reputation for being nasty, complex and intolerant, it is the police part of the system who reaps the benefits ($) in the moter vehicle game.

[SmokingJacket]

77. Leg chains for THAT??

What lunacy. I guess the policy is to scare and humiliate people into complying.

[hfojvt]

6. I do not like the term

paddy wagon.

Also, how did you get home? Given the actions you seem to have done deliberately. How long was your license expired, and how long was the car without registration? They should just write you a ticket and let you go, when a) they cannot be sure of your current address, and b) you might be in a stolen car?

Why do you want to be sneaky? What are you trying to get away with? If you talk about being sneaky, then apparently you are not "the most law abiding citizen."

[hyphenate]

16. I agree about the ticket and such

but that's the way they handled it.

See my answer above for the other info.

And again--I have difficulty with authority figures, especially cops. Kind of learned that from my rebellious mother.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. 
[link:www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html|Click
here] to review the message board rules.

[GirlinContempt]

28. wtf?!

[hyphenate]

33. I've never known it by any other name

personally, and was not familiar with its origin. Considering though, that I am of Celtic heritage, with green eyes and bright red hair, I guess you could definitely say that a "paddy wagon" was an appropriate term. :)

[AngryAmish]

46. Mayor Daley the 2d got rid of the term in Chicago

It is now officially called "Police Van". I shit you not.

[hyphenate]

60. Well, it is

what it is--a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. :)

[Kali]

7. WTF??? You were arrested for expired liscense and no reg???

That is 'effing insane. A ticket. That is ALL you should have got. What state are you in? I can't believe this. Are you black? Was it in Arizona?

[hyphenate]

19. No,

I'm white, and as I said, 50. And I'm in Massachusetts. Yeah, the cops really had fun putting an old, arthritic lady into a jail cell, and leave her nearly completely blind as well.

[RUZIK1]

25. WTF!

This happens in Massachusetts to 65 yr old white guys. This is
a gestapo paper documentation cum computer generated
nightmare. Driving nor profiling are the issues, it is if you
conform to paperwork? Sticker, Tags, belts, license,
registration, nothing to do with public safety. Why control
moving violations when it soo much easier to espy a dated
piece of paper to make a fine?

[GirlinContempt]

32. Yeah, fuck drivers licenses!

Just get in a car and go, guys! THat sounds like a GREAT idea! Our roads will be totally safer and the police can worry more about the illegal turns you're making for the first time ever on the highway!

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. 
[link:www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html|Click
here] to review the message board rules.

[GirlinContempt]

36. NO enforcement of 'moving' violations in the US, eh?

Sure, whatever you say, dude. Thanks for the content and thought :eyes:

You're asking me WHY they want to catch speeders? I can't even respond to this fully because your post makes so little sense.

[dysfunctional press]

62. NO state will let you drive away if your license is expired.

that would be insane...and illegal.

[Kellanved]

8. That would cause dire consequences over here

Like one year in prison, confiscation of the car and a temporary ban on obtaining a driver's licence. The prison probably on parole.

[Droopy]

14. You think that was bad

You would have gotten seriously reemed if you would have gotten into an accident with an expired license and registration.

I bet you are going to go right down to the BMV tomorrow and get things caught up. Either that or take the bus. That's why you were arrested.

[Kali]

21. Those things are mostly bureaucratic BS

the only thing I would have a problem with is no insurance. Not being able to take care of injury or damage is real. Paperwork and "permission" to use your vehicle are just busy work.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

17. Oh and if it makes you feel any better, the only time I got cuffed was...

over two unpaid overtime parking tickets that my employer allegedly took care of. :eyes: Yeah, he took care of them the next day when I came in and told him I was arrested over the damn things. I guess it's even though because he was a major dick and it cost him about four times as much as it would have if he just paid them off to begin with like promised.

Madison, NJ--One 105lb girl, two police cruisers, cuffed, searched, brought to the station with the lights & siren at 1am (you can see the station from where this occured...it's less than a block away from where I was cuffed).

[tjdee]

22. I'm so sorry--hey, can you background check yourself, anyone?

I'm so sorry this happened to you. Something similar happened to my mom when I was a little kid, but she wasn't arrested so maybe it just wasn't registered? They took us to the station, towed the car... A young mother with her two small daughters.

Yay cops! :grr:

I'm so sorry this happened, I know it had to be uncomfortable and creepy and horrible. At least you're home now. :hug:

That's always been one of my fears too...does anyone know if you can background check yourself? I don't think I have any outstanding anything...but geez!

[hyphenate]

29. I don't know

but it doesn't really matter at this point. I didn't have the car for like 8 months before, and I've spent years in the past without transportation as well. It won't kill me, but it does leave me even more isolated than I already am. I have a very difficult time getting around because of my disabilities, and one of them is that I can't walk very much or very far without a great deal of pain. So ordinary shopping trips won't be possible, nor will I be able to go anywhere without taking into consideration where public transportation can take me. If I were physically able to get around, taking buses would not be as difficult.

[Just Me]

35. Justice is "blind"? I kinda' know how you feel,...

,...maybe a different experience,...but, the feeling is similar.

My son was diagnosed with chronic migraine syndrome when he was 4 years old. It got better until he reached 14 and then got progressively worse. The doctor (I fired) did'nt help him,...just gave him meds to knock him out. We recently found a doc who has him on a far better treatment program.

BUT, a Petition for Truancy was issued against me. They couldn't "serve" me because my job was requiring a LOT of commuting. So, a warrant for my arrest was issued. I mean, SHIT, I don't even have a speeding ticket or any kind of criminal record,....and a warrant for my arrest was issued because my son couldn't attend school due to frequent migraines.

Well, I met with the magistrate, who released me on a $100 PR bond and also called the petitioner. I contacted the petitioner, who dropped the petition, and I sent him doctor's letters about my son's condition. What pissed me off about the whole thing was, and I told both the magistrate and petitioner, my son's condition IS IN THE SCHOOL RECORDS. *geez*

So, I can certainly empathize with your experience. There's nothing worse than being a decent person who's "criminalized" over just relatively small stuff. It's like, us "little" folk get the damned pitchfork while the big guys REALLY screwing people, get a "free" card. It's hard to swallow.

:hug:

At least, you made it through and are here to share it with us!!!! :hug:

[REP]

38. Very Similar Thing Happened To Me About 5 Years Ago...

My license was current, but my registration ... wasn't. And I didn't have another important document. It was a fair cop, and the cops were very, very nice - they seemed sorry that they had to take my car. They didn't do a 30-day impound, which they could have, considering just how expired and out of state my registration was, and I wasn't arrested. They drove me and my laundry home and let one of my neighbors examine their guns. I was able to get my car back the next day, pay an ass-load of fines (which, preversely enough, was cheaper than being 100% legal all those years) and obtain the final documentation. The people at the DMV were nice (!) and the judge reduced my fine to almost nothing. All of this in California.

I've been 1000% legal ever since! Oddly enough, it was *after* I completely legal that I started getting stopped for DWP (Driving While Poor; at the time I had a 1986 car) all the time. Now that I have a much, much newer car (and again, am always, always legal) I never get stopped. Knock wood.

I'm disabled, too; have a gimp tag and everything.

[Patiod]

47. DWP is definitely a crime around here

My SO used to get stopped EVERY TIME HE EVER WENT TO LOWER MERION (Philadelphia's Main Line)in his old beater.

Neither of us has EVER been pulled over in my more recent-model car.

[radwriter0555]

39. Yes, you are completely wrong. This is life, These things are your

responsibility, the business of living life within reasonable parameters in a civilized society. You are not a law abiding citizen, you said yourself that you broke the law.

None of this would have happened if you were licensed and registered. Why are the police are to blame for the situation you put yourself into? They're just doing their job and treating you with the same deference they'd treat others. Why should they have treated you any differently than any other person who broke the same law?

I used to have a sports car, and yes I sped a lot... LOVED that car, but, I did so willing to accept a ticket and take the hit if I got caught. I would never DREAM of blaming the cops for giving me a ticket! (knock wood, I never got one)

I'm not sure why you believe you should have been treated any differently than any one else who had broken the same laws... since equal justice under the law is what is expected in our society. Had you been a 20 year old guy who had broken the same law, and he saw you, an older lady being given preferential and differential treatment, would that have been fair? Of course not. Your age doesn't lend itself to special treatment for breaking a law. You made the choice to break that law.

I hear no remorse for your actions, I see no regret for the mistakes you've made, and most of all I see absolutely no personal responsibility. You're a grown woman. You have the responsibility for taking care of your personal business, and to blame the police for acting perfectly civil during what must have been an unpleasant experience for them as well is rather immature and irrational. It sounds like the police treated you with respect and civility while following the due process of the law.

Think about this... while the police were taking the time to use (your) tax dollars to prosecute you for the crimes you could have easily avoided, they could have been giving aid to someone in distress, preventing a crime, or solving real crimes.

You broke the law, you make no excuses, you have no regrets. An hour and a few dollars could have saved you all this trouble, yet you've managed to make sure this is all everyone else's fault but your own.

*kevlar suit on*

[britpopper]

41. Exactly...

Maybe this is the wrong thread to say this, but I am a deputy sheriff in Southern California and expired vehicle registration is just about the most common "law breaking" we see every day. No, we don't hunt down these people, but on our way to a call, if I see one I will pull it over. It is my practice, however, to only worry about the ones that are 6 months over or more. Under that, I give leniency for oversight or simply not being able to pay the fee yet.
I have to pay the wonderful state over $300 a year just to be able to put my car on the road, so why shouldn't everybody else. Those fees pay for new roads, repaving, bridges, pretty much anything transportation related. You'd be surprised how many people are always complaining about the conditions of the roads out here, too many potholes, etc.
Granted, I just give a ticket to the violator, but if it is over 6 months, I will tow their car, because obviously if that wasn't enough time, then they must not care about their car that much. And it doesn't matter to me if it is a 2006 Hummer, Mercedes, BMW or a 1979 Ford Pinto, they all go bye-bye.
Usually if they are on a suspended/revoked license, that is an additional citation on the ticket, unless it has turned to a warrant, and even then if it is not of substantial value, I just advise the driver to go to the court and take care of the matter...Not one of the more exciting parts of the day, but unfortunately it is a necessity...Sorry

[hyphenate]

79. I was pulled over once by SoCal deputies

for the same kind of thing when I first moved down there. But the car was already on its way to getting registered, because I'd been into the RMV about a week and a half earlier. They put a paper plate on it with a date on it, and they were just waiting for the "smog impact fee" (which became illegal much later) to be paid. They had no case, so he let me go.

Where in SoCal are you? I was very familiar with the Temple City sheriff's office, as was my family.

[hyphenate]

42. Everyone is entitled to their opinion

and perhaps I am being too flippant about it. But that's just my way of keeping myself from taking a razor blade and slitting my wrists, because everything else in my world has crashed down on my head in the past few years, and if it weren't for the anti-depressants to keep me going, I might have made the transition a long time ago.

Even though I do not espouse "Christian" beliefs, I believe there is a quote "let him who is without sin cast the first stone," which makes me wonder how lily-white everyone else's hands are. Many people on DU talk about things which I believe are not right and illegal, and I DO NOT cast aspersions on them, because everyone is entitled to live and to take measures to survive however they are able to. Some of us would be long dead if we went the straight and narrow, and I have never thought the straight and narrow was the only way to make it. I have never committed a "crime" that I have regretted, because whatever I did was what I thought was right at the time. Living on about $300 a MONTH for the past three years kind of made the car a lower priority than making sure I had something to eat, sleep and breathe without agonizing pain coursing through my body.

Living comes easy to those who have no money worries, and some lament and bitch even if they've got a steady income, regardless of how big or small it is. Just try being disabled and not knowing if you should ask some charity for money to buy oil for the heat during the coldest days of the winter, because you aren't sure if what's in the tank is going to last or not. Thank god for food stamps, because it kept me eating somewhat properly.

I am alone, with no other income, and while my mom helped me with some of my bills until I got my disability, she doesn't now, and I am trying to live on just about $1000 a month TOTAL income. There is no one to help me get around, and since my own two legs have a difficult time of it already, I would be pretty much stuck in the house 24/7 if I didn't drive the car on occasion to get to doctors and hospitals for appointments, and to buy groceries and such.

I show no indignation to others who might put up their noses when I say I have to shop at Walmart, because I do what I have to in order to continue to survive. And even now, I am uncomfortable using food stamps for food, even when they cut it down to $29 a MONTH at one time.

NO ONE has the right to be so righteous and indignant over anything I might do, legal or not so legal, because no one is inside my head but me who can see the darkest days of the past, and the potentially darkest days of the future. Regardless of this, I try not to judge too harshly, and even when someone does something truly evil, I try to understand their justification for their behavior before I ever make up my mind about their actions. I usually do not pass judgement on anyone until I know where they're coming from, and then only on those who I believe are truly wicked.

Thank you for your comments, but I hope you understand that I probably won't really give a shit what you said because wrong or right, it is only your opinion.

[Patiod]

50. Folks make it sound so easy

As I mentioned in a previous post, my registration sticker kept getting stolen from the mail, and off of my car (this was a VERY common crime in Philadelphia - to the point where the state finally allowed Philadelphia residents to have special registration stickers in their rear windows). I kept all my papers and cancelled checks to show I was up to date, just stickerless, but it was hard to stay on top of (try tracking something that simply disappears from the mail) and just not as easy as simply writing your checks and keeping up to date.

My SO had several unpaid tickets from when he was younger (some were 15+ years old), and wasn't able to get his license renewed until they were paid off. He tried to take care of them in order to be legal, but they were in 3 different counties (we live on the border of 3 counties) and 2 of the 3 counties were uncooperative with his attempts to settle up (wouldn't send information on what he had to pay to clear them off his record). So he kept getting "driving without a license" citations.

He finally got a friend who is a lawyer to go into court and lay the situation out before a judge. The judge was appalled that someone who was TRYING to do everything legally was being stymied by 15 year old tickets and actually needed a LAWYER to do so, and she single-handedly cleared his record. I went with him THAT NIGHT to get his license. He's been legal since.

Add the crime of being poor to that, and you're screwed. Some of the folks here sound awfully self-righteous to me.

[hyphenate]

56. That's just the way it is

with some people. It's like it's a "no-brainer" to them because they've never been down and out enough to have to even contemplate such shit. But if you're just scraping by--or even if you're not even close to that--there are sometimes things you need to do to stay alive and healthy. Or even not so healthy.

[GirlinContempt]

55. You know,

I'm sorry that you find yourself in this situation. And I don't think you're a bad person. But your indignation that you were treated in a way that others in your same situation (the no license/reg situation) seems a little unreasonable. I empathize with where you're coming from, but you knew you were breaking the law, and this is what happens.

[hyphenate]

57. Obviously you

didn't read the post you are replying to. Because if you were, you would certainly not have responded in such fashion. Thank you for your opinion on the matter, however, I am sure you ARE the one who is so lily-white that the first stone would come from your part of the room. Otherwise, please don't bother to show your indignation about ANYTHING that I say or do again. I believe you think in your own mind that you must be better than me, but age and maturity will certainly turn you away from that kind of conceit.

[GirlinContempt]

66. I'm not casting any stones

You're over reacting to what I said. And I never claimed I was better than you. I think you should calm down, I didn't insult you, or post anything nasty. I wasn't indignant. You're reading an affront that doesn't exist and I hope you look back and realize that I wasn't coming down on you.

[Derailer]

65. except no pretense of equal application of the law is being made

and the laws they choose to most aggressively enforce are B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T

[rug]

70. Turn yourself in then and take your punishment.

Speeding in a sports car is far more dangerous than driving with an expired license.

These things are your responsibility.

[KitchenWitch]

40. It has come to that

We are now officially a police state.

[hyphenate]

43. Perhaps not yet

But we're closer than we ever were. And while I do admit to "skirting" the law, I really didn't deserve to be handcuffed and treated like a felon for what amounts to a minor infraction and misdemeanor. Even the guard at the court house (who was the nicest of them all) tried to make me take things into perspective and remind me that this was "traffic court" after all, and not a criminal case.

[Renew Deal]

54. You weren't treated like a felon.

If you were, you wouldn't have gone home that night.

[rug]

72. Tell this to Tom DeLay.

[prolesunited]

44. And I'm sure you have auto insurance?

I'm sorry for your situation and it does sound unfortunate, but can't pick and chose laws to follow based on your personal experience and cirumstances.

What if you had gotten in an accident and totalled someone's car or worse, seriously injured them?

Actions have consequences. It doesn't sound to me that the cops were mean or harsh in their treatment of you. The only dramatic parts or your tale were the ones made up in you own imagination.

Perhaps their are some social service agencies in your area that can help you be able to get out and to your doctor's appointments? Maybe there are some community groups you could socialize with to help end your isolation? Is there something home- or computer-based you could do to supplement your income?

[Derailer]

67. The insurance industry is a goddamn sham

so excuse me if your superior little rant here doesn't sway me to make kissy-faces towards fucking All-State, Geico, State Farm, etc

I don't have to demonstrate jack shit to you, actually. If I get in an accident and total some assholes car, tough shit for me. If you're worried about it maybe you can supplement your income somehow so you can take defensive driving lessons.

[AngryAmish]

48. Same thing happened to me

I blew off my pollution control check and got myself suspended. I also was too lazy to get my state tags. I got pulled over for the tags and found out my license was suspended. I got hooked up and brought to the Oak Park, IL police station. I'm in my 30s and an attorney.

I had it coming. It was completely my own fault. I was treated like everybody else who did the same thing I did. My car was towed. I had to get bailed out. I did it to myself.

(BTW I have been arrested 5 times, always because I did what I was accused of.)

[hyphenate]

61. I don't deny the allegations

However, having never gone through such humiliation in the past, especially over a motor vehicle violation, it was pretty traumatic to me.

[Renew Deal]

49. You broke the law.

I'm not sure what you are even complaining about. You're lucky you were caught while the court was open, because otherwise you would have spent the night. This post is unrepentant bullshit. I'd bet anything that you wouldn't want the judge to read it if there is any sentencing phase.

How did you end up in this position anyway? OK, your license expired, but how did you let your registration expire too? And you say that this teaches you how not to get caught? How about learning how to keep your license and registration up to date? That's a lot easier.

The fact of the matter is that there are plenty of dangerous people on the road, and if a 50 year old woman ran into your car, you'd be the first one whining about how these people are even on the road. So stop whining, pay your fines, and get yourself legal.

[hyphenate]

59. You know

there really isn't anything in my initial post where I deny the charges. What I was trying to describe was the process, and how humiliating it is. Especially to someone who has never been arrested before, to someone who has managed to reach midlife without such an aquaintance with law enforcement.

As I said in a few other posts, regardless of my guilt or innocence, it seems there are many out there at DU who are willing to condemn a person without any idea of where they're coming from. And I thought that DUers were at least compassionate enough to assume innocence until proven guilty, or at the very least show some amount of sympathy or empathy, regardless.

It also seems those who attack me in my thread are strictly judging me by my "crimes" and those who are showing some decency and are conciliatory are those who are seeing this post for what it was supposed to be from the start--a personal experience.

Perhaps I should get the fuck out of DU at this point, because you never know who's going to run me out of town on the rail, but it still does appear that those who have some semblance of compassion are still in a majority.

If you or anyone else had gotten arrested for smoking dope, or civil disobedience, or other illegal activity, I would not simply say, "you are guilty, so get off your pity pot." I would at the very least show a little more concern over their health and mental well-being.

Judge not, lest ye be judged? Well, it appears that perhaps some more Golden Rules are being broken every time some people open their mouths around here, when we're supposed to be the party of inclusion and bleeding heart politics.

[dysfunctional press]

63. health and mental well-being?

i don't see how the incident described in the initial post would be damaging to anyone's health or mental well-being- and imo, if someone is that emotionally frail, they probably shouldn't be operating a motor vehicle in the first place.
if you have an expired license- they CANNOT let you drive away. it would be illegal.
and instead of the incident teaching you to be more sneaky- it should have taught you that if you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

[Downtown Hound]

64. Don't let a few self-righteous types run you out

I know getting arrested can be a traumatic ordeal. I've only been arrested once, for protesting the Iraq War. And I never even saw the inside of a jail cell. They just took me down to the station, gave me a citation, and released me. Given the circumstances of my arrest, I actually felt more pride than anything, and I still do. It's different when it's something like you faced.

You're not a bad person. It never fails to amaze me how certain people just love to punish. Even a minor crime like yours becomes a rallying cry for them for you to admit your guilt and make you feel terrible. So you got behind in your "taking care of business." It doesn't make you evil. What you experienced was a system that doesn't discriminate between you, who means no harm, and someone who does. That is what makes the system very unpleasant to deal with, as you no doubt found out.

Don't worry about it. Just try and take it as a learning experience. And yes, avoid the cops whenever you can. I find that the more they are out of my life, the better of I am. I hope you're okay. Times are dark right now. We don't need to make them any darker by tearing each other down over little victimless crimes.

[Renew Deal]

68. We are also supposed to be the party of law and order.

It's the republicans filling prison cells. But that's besides the point. You said it yourself. Your post was "flippant." You want compassion for knowingly breaking the law and getting caught. The rest of the world is so cruel. Boo freaking hoo. If you ran into someone while driving without a license, you'd get more than 15 minutes in jail. Your post doesn't illicit compassion. It illicits outrage that you have no regard for the law, public safety, and a civil society. You said it yourself "It has taught me that I need to be even more sneaky to prevent getting caught at something!!" You're not sorry for what you did, so why should anyone feel sorry for you.

You would have gotten a much different response if you posted this:

"I was arrested yesterday for driving without a license and expired registration. I know I screwed up but, but things are hard. Regardless, I'm going to get this straightened out. Being arrested was so humiliating. I can't believe that they would do that for driving without a license."

You posted this on an internet message board asking for comment. No one is "judging" you, though if you keep trying to be "sneaky" it's going to happen more often.

[rug]

71. Law and order? Last one who ran on that ticket was George Wallace.

This is the party of decency, fairness and justice.

Why don't you join the party of sanctimonious bullshit and post a wad about how even myopic middleaged women are not immune from your priggery?

[Kali]

73. She didn't want sympathy for knowingly breaking the law.

She may have wanted some for the WAY SHE WAS TREATED. And deserves it, in my opinion. ARRESTED for expired plates? That is just INSANE. I can see fines, even towing, but ARRESTED and for a FIRST OFFENSE???!!!! Give me a break!

[hyphenate]

74. Thank you

You understand! There seem to be some who do--a hearty thank you to all who DO understand. I was not condoning my actions, but trying to show how frightening it is to be subjected to certain things when you have never had it happen before. There are some here who would still condemn that beggar who stole the loaf of bread because he hadn't eaten in a week because it was against the law. Strange as that might seem, I wouldn't doubt it.

[newcriminal]

51. 99% of cops are lying scum

There was no need to handcuff this lady. She will be lucky if one of the cops don't make up a story and say she resisted arrest or had dope in the car.A lot of this self righteous crap on this thread, I am sure are from people who have never had to deal with these people on a regular basis. If they did you would see all of the things these scum do to get an arrest. What they do is truly criminal.

[Renew Deal]

52. This post is quite ironic considering your username

:shrug:

[newcriminal]

53. How do you think I know all of it?

[Sugar Smack]

69. My God, Hyphenate.

I don't have any words. I am a criminal in that case too. :hug: I am walking to the local DMV though.

[Droopy]

75. Maybe we should call this place the libertarian underground

I've been arrested twice in my lifetime. I've been convicted of two misdemeanors. I also deal with law enforcement on a somewhat regular basis because of my job. I am a trucker and I am subject to inspection of my truck, the interior, and my log book for any reason an officer wants. I could be legally rolling down the road minding my own business and get pulled over just because an officer is bored and needs something to do.

My two arrests were demeaning and they were supposed to be. It is because of that that I ceased the activities that got me arrested in the first place. I've also gotten several tickets over the course of my career as a trucker. It is because of that that I run completely legal now. I am a professional in part due to the fact that I've been penalized for my illegal behavior.

That is all.

[Scooter24]

76. my story

I have never been arrested, but I have been picked up by the police before.

I was 16, just recently out of school for the summer, and visiting a family friend in another state with my parents. I was walking around downtown doing some shopping by myself and a police officer stopped me and asked me why I wasn't in school. I tried to explain, but I suppose he thought I was fabricating the story, so he put me in the back of his car and drove me to the school. I sat in the office for about 10 min before a vice-principal came and verified I wasn't a student. I just laughed about the whole thing and the officer offered to drive me back and buy me lunch.

However, when I got home and told my parents, they were livid. It took a while to convince them to stay and not leave town early. :) The rest of the week went by pretty quick.

[hyphenate]

78. unfortunately

There are now predators who use police uniforms to con kids into getting into cars. The world HAS become chaotic.