Posted on 12/22/2009 10:46:34 AM PST by Behind Liberal Lines
ITHACA -- A Tompkins County legislator is facing a misdemeanor charge related to an outstanding traffic violation.
Martha Robertson, who also is the chairwoman of the legislature's public safety committee, said her arrest last week was the result of a paperwork mix-up and that the Ithaca Police shouldn't have taken her into custody,
"They could've issued me a ticket right there," she said, adding that police refused her request to go to her house and see the paperwork.
At the station, Sgt. Andy Navarro told her they were waiving her bail based on her community connections, and Patrick Kimmich -- the arresting officer -- "apologized profusely" before driving her home, she recalled.
Robertson said she subsequently spoke to Tompkins County District Attorney Gwen Wilkinson, whom she described as a fellow Democrat, political colleague and friend. Wilkinson told her that the court shouldn't have suspended her license without telling her, and that there was no reason for her to be arrested, she added.
Wilkinson will call Ithaca City Court and have the charge dismissed.
As chairwoman of the legislature's public safety committee, the experience may be useful, she said.
"It wasn't an experience I was looking for, but you try to be philosophic about these things and find value in everything," Robertson said. "I have a sense of what it feels like to be arrested for doing nothing wrong, and how the system can mess you up. I have a renewed sympathy for people this happens to."
Wilkinson will call Ithaca City Court and have the charge dismissed.
As chairwoman of the legislature's public safety committee, the experience may be useful,
Given her position apparently got her release on her own recognizance, unfettered access to the District Attorney and a dismissal of the charges I'd say her position as chair was already very useful.
A paperwork mixup.
Right. On her part.
**Wilkinson told her that the court shouldn’t have suspended her license without telling her, and that there was no reason for her to be arrested, she added.**
Why not ..they never tell us when a license is suspended... we are told when.. the officer brings another ticket saying “you’re license is Suspended, and that’s when the CITY Contracted TOW TRUCK SHOWS UP as you cannot drive without a LICENSE.
AND ... if Robertson was a REPUBLICAN.. she’d STILL BE IN JAIL with several hundred protesters with A ROPE with her name on it ...
THANK YOU COMRADES... we Understand how it works now!!
That depends upon the reason for the license suspension. If it was because of an accumuation of points for various traffic violations, then yes, the DMV is suppose to notify you that you license is about tobe suspensed. Most suspensions, however, occur when a driver fails to respond to a traffic summons or fails to pay a fine after conviction. The suspension is automatic without further notice and IIRC, the cops are required by law to arrest the unlicensed driver.
Not true. The court sends a notice to the driver and the DMV that the license is being suspended on a certain date.
Well...isn't that special?
thanks, bfl
I saw her pic and thus eliminated any kind of hotness factor.
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