| One day I happened to go to downtown | | | | punish those who can least afford it - if this lady |
| Charlotte to register some business documents | | | | were rich she would have had her lawyer take |
| and was told to go from this building to that. | | | | care of these things for her.I just recently read |
| From this room to the next. I have a disability | | | | an article in the Charlotte Observer that described |
| from a bad car accident, so on the way through | | | | how many inconsistencies there are with the |
| one of the buildings - which happened to have | | | | court and policing system in Charlotte. Basically |
| some of the criminal and/or traffic courts I had | | | | from what I saw is the system is geared to take |
| to sit and rest my back. The only place to sit was | | | | advantage of the poor and destitute. These |
| inside one of these courtrooms. So I sat and was | | | | people aren't all bad. They are your blue collar |
| amazed at what I heard.It wasn't what I heard | | | | hard workers and they are trying to climb out of |
| from the judge or assistant district attorney that | | | | financial holes many were born into. It wasn't just |
| caught me offguard. It was what I heard from | | | | this one lady. It was one after another, after |
| the police. They were there to answer for the | | | | another. Good people getting slammed by the |
| citations and such they issued. According to the | | | | system and at fees that they cannot possibly |
| U.S. Constitution every person is innocent until | | | | afford - $110 court costs + fines. Let's see at |
| proven guilty. But to these police officers, that | | | | least 100 people were in that one court room. |
| was not the case. These people were referred to | | | | Thats a lot of money. And there are many |
| as scum, inbreeds that belonged on Jerry | | | | courtrooms full of people just like this one in |
| Springer, etc... I overheard racist remarks, jokes | | | | Charlotte.Hmmm, it sounds like we are taking |
| about the defendents, etc... all muttered between | | | | advantage of the poor to fill probable extravagant |
| the police officers. I thought these officers took | | | | local government pockets and coffers. This is just |
| an oath to uphold justice and American laws. It | | | | taking advantage of the people that these police |
| sure didn't sound like it.Then I noticed something | | | | as sworn officers swore to protect. It sounds to |
| even more disturbing. There were a few deviant | | | | me like we have created a legalized bully system |
| individuals in there, but mostly it was the poor and | | | | as I did not hear one police officer that had |
| destitute in there. It was also mostly black people. | | | | anything nice to say about these people. And |
| As I looked around there was not one wealthy or | | | | after watching the news and looking things up on |
| even middle class person present. The only people | | | | the internet I see many articles on police brutality, |
| in these catagories was the lawyers, assistant DA | | | | missuse of power, fraud, corruption - and its not |
| and the judge. It was mostly poor people that are | | | | just one instance - there are thousands and |
| working hard to just barely make it by. The black | | | | thousands of these.This is wrong and needs to be |
| lady I sat next to was there to fight a speeding | | | | changed. I'm sure this happens in every city and |
| ticket and an unregistered license plate. The | | | | every state. We need to stand up to this - why |
| Assistant DA came over and offered to drop one | | | | is it that the local firemen are the first to the |
| citation if she would plead guilty to the others. | | | | scene, always happy to see kids and help out, and |
| The lady's reply -"I was held after at my first job | | | | always speak positive regardless of the situation. |
| and was rushing to get to my second job so I | | | | The police scare people lately. I wouldn't hesitate |
| wouldn't be late. I have already been late due to | | | | to take my kids to see the firemen - they come |
| my first job and my other job on the weekends. | | | | out with coloring books, stickers and let them play |
| I was afraid of being fired and I would lose my | | | | on their trucks. The police are too busy and don't |
| kids to Social Services as I wouldn't be able to | | | | have time, and to be honest, I wouldn't want to |
| provide for them. I have three jobs just to put | | | | take my kids to see the police. Not after what I |
| food on the table - I can't afford even one of | | | | saw in one day in downtown Charlotte. Maybe all I |
| those fines. I can hardly afford gas. Maybe I | | | | saw were the bad police - where are the good |
| should just go on welfare." I couldn't believe what | | | | ones? I know there must be some. I just wish |
| I heard - This lady was working 3 jobs to provide | | | | there were more of them.David Maillie is a highly |
| for her kids. She wasn't doing anything wreckless | | | | regarded and much sought after internet |
| - her ticket was for going 5 miles over the | | | | marketing guru. He is an alumni of Cornell |
| speedlimit. There was no way she was lying. This | | | | University and holds numerous patents including his |
| brought tears to my eyes - I took what money I | | | | recently awarded patent for headlight repair, |
| had in my pocket and wrapped it in a piece of | | | | cleaner and restorer. He is also a highly regarded |
| paper and gave it to her when I walked out. She | | | | expert on press releases and getting publicity |
| needed it more than I did and it was the right | | | | both nationally and internationally. He can be |
| thing to do. What has this world come to. We | | | | reached at M.D. |