Posted on 10/13/2005 9:30:47 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
Unfiled City Tax Forms Also Cited In Case
LOVELAND, Ohio -- An Ohio woman was arrested after she didn't pay just more than $1 that she owed in income taxes, WLWT-TV in Cincinnati reported.
Deborah Combs owed the city of Loveland $1.16 last year, but she also hadn't filed her city income tax forms in five years, the television station said.
She said officers pulled her over and acted as though she were a violent criminal.
"One sheriff approached my car with his hand on his gun," she said. "Another from the other side of the car leaned in and said, 'Are you Deborah Combs?' He said, 'We have a warrant for your arrest.' I was absolutely shocked."
Combs said she thinks the arrest and charges are over-the-top for the amount she owed.
"What they've spent in stamps is more than what I owe," she said.
She could also end up paying hundreds of dollars in fines for the unfiled tax forms, the television station reported.
Loveland City Manager Fred Enderle said the amount Combs owes isn't the real issue.
"Whether it's $1 they owe us or $1,000, it's not fair to the rest of the public to not pursue that person," he said. "There is some expense involved, but it goes back to the principle. We have laws. The laws have to be complied with. At what cost do you stop enforcing the law?"
Combs is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 20.
People also forget that the police have NO discretion when it comes to an arrest warrant. The cop may feel that the charge is the most ridiculous thing ever to come down the pike, but if a judge signed it, they have to arrest.
Sad but true. Those types just put the hours, never anything to make the community safer. ===Hey that's dangerous!!!!!
"Whether it's $1 they owe us or $1,000, it's not fair to the rest of the public to not pursue that person," he said. "There is some expense involved, but it goes back to the principle. We have laws. The laws have to be complied with. At what cost do you stop enforcing the law?"
I wonder what would happen to Mr. Enderle if he was pulled over for going 45 in a 35 zone in his fair village? City Officials would not be cut a break on a $100 traffic citation I don't suppose?
You never lived in Philadelphia, did you? It is called the "City Wage Tax," and it's 4.5% at this time, in addition to State and Federal income tax, school tax, and lots of other Philly taxes. It is one of the main reasons I no longer live or have my business in Philadelphia. Hell, why I no longer even live in Pennsylvania.
I'm sure that the cops have to follow rules as well, one of which probably is "approach any stopped vehicle with caution and your hand on you pistol with index finger on the safety strap..."
I was at a secure government site. In an out-of-the way place and near an even more secure site (but where I was supposed to be). A patrol truck pulls up and the guy jumps out and grabbing his M-16 in one smooth move. In one split second I was "oh s..." and in the next thought "it's standard procedure". (It was).
They do have habit over reacting in situtions that it is not called for. See that dangerous old man that Four NO people beat the shit out of....
Yep. Taxation without representation. And there are school district income taxes, too.
What's next, Neighborhood Association Income Tax?
Well, some municipalities, like New Albany, OH do something very similar to that.
Ohio is a tax hell.
She should request a payment plan at a penny a month.
Well then some of the cops need to be treated as "potential lunatics" since we don't know witch ones are, we will have to treat them all as such. Again, it is the behavior of the cops, that is suggesting the way they want to be treated.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Stuck on stupid? OK lets talk about stuck on stupid
The deputy only knows they have a warrant for her arrest, he has no idea what the amount is. Most likely the warrant was for failure to appear. Beings she hadn't filed in 5 years, SHE's the one stuck on stupid.
And i recommend all officers approach a vehicle with their hand on their weapon, saves lives.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
If you read my comments the majority is directed to the stupid city policies.
Who is stuck on stupid??
I made the assumption that the reason for the stop was to serve an arrest warrant. (Giving the cop the benefit of the doubt) I stand firmly behind the officer's choice to be cautious in the line of duty, as quite of few of them are killed while doing so.
I did not intend to defend the reason for the stop. I think it's obsurd.
Unless this officers jurisdiction is different from 99% of other jurisdictions he was not told the amount. Cops are told that there is an outstanding arrest warrant for a particular charge. He most likely didn't even find out the amount until after this hit the media.
Secondly, cops have discretion when it comes to some things, discretion over an arrest warrant is not one of them. If a judge signs it, the cop must arrest
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Stuck on stupid? OK lets talk about stuck on stupid
The deputy only knows they have a warrant for her arrest, he has no idea what the amount is. Most likely the warrant was for failure to appear. Beings she hadn't filed in 5 years, SHE's the one stuck on stupid.
And i recommend all officers approach a vehicle with their hand on their weapon, saves lives.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
If you read my comments the majority is directed to the stupid city policies.
Who is stuck on stupid??
"wrote of any amount less than 2.50. Why? It took more effort and cost and office time to collect receive and deposit that it was worth."
A few years back, I wrote off a business trip with my employer. Due to exchange rate fluctuation my trip report was off by $0.10. They started calling me every day and hassling me to write a check to them for ten cents. I absolutely refused and told them I would increase my next trip claim by a dime. They found this unacceptable and eventually garnished my paycheck for the double nickle.
They then forced my manager to council me regarding the issue. We had a good laugh at the expense our company was willing to incur to recover $0.10! It was quite amusing.
It is certainly their choice to treat their fellow citizens the way they do. No doubt about it. It is then their decision to ask the public to treat them the same way in return.
When they look the other way when they see fellow officers violate the law, doing the same thing they write up normal citizens for, their motive is not enforcing the law. It is rather to take money from the people, under the guise of pretending to equally enforce the law.
You may think otherwise but I think it says volumes about their morals. Again it's the golden rule, treat others as you would have them treat you.
Damn, what a desperado she is. I fell much safer now with such a criminal taken off our streets.
Like in New London where they take people's property to give to private developers and then have the nerve to charge the evicted back rent?
BTW. When did Ohio become a 'little mid-western state'? It's the 8th largest state in the Union (4 times the population of CT.), and geographically 5 or 6 times as big as CT.
It's not a little state by any measure.
Sorry, did I touch a nerve? :-)
I'm from Missouri originally if that makes you feel any better... but yes, Ohio is a little mid-western state in my book.
Don't imagine I was, to tell you the truth, I'm not at all sure what you're talking about.
When a city is so stupid its chasing 1.16 they are stuck on stupid. Don't you get stuck on stupid.
This lady was a lawrbraker! We need to enforce the lawr so that everybody pays fair share! All lawrs are moral and good because the govt sez so. Obey the lawr.
xxxxxxxxx
honest people don't laws. They learn to just get along and not nit pick the small stuff.
Perhaps you have yet to learn that.
Stuck on Stupid can apply to anyone who has does not see the light of forgiving.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.