Sunday, April 1, 2012

+25MPH? No court supervision

A short article in this morning's Northwest Herald informs readers that, if they are convicted of driving 25MPH or more over the posted speed limit, then their chances for Court Supervision are gone.

Big deal. What is court supervision, anyway? All it is, is a period of time during which you keep your fingers crossed that you don't get another ticket. If you don't get caught, then the violation doesn't go on your driving record on a State level. It doesn't mean that you haven't violated any laws; it just means that you didn't get caught violating them.

"Court supervision" is one of the dumbest ideas ever to come down the pike. I wonder who dreamed up that one? Probably some legislator with a speeding habit or a family member who got too many tickets.

Why not just eliminate court supervision entirely? If you get a ticket, it goes on your record. When your record is bad enough, your insurance premiums go up. So what? Let those who violate the laws pay more. Pretty simple. Eventually they might even "get the message".

By the way, does that McHenry County legislator with a reputation for driving 90MPH to Springfield still do so? Shouldn't legislators be the first to obey the laws, not the last?

Kind of like cops, in my book. They too should be the first to obey the laws. How can you enforce them, if you break them yourself?

5 comments:

Karen30036 said...

What makes you think people under supervision are speeding anyway "with their fingers crossed"?
It's an incentive, to watch yourself and your speed without getting reamed up the azz by insurance. Speaking of which, it's the LAW to have insurance. Why is this not unconstitutional, but to have health insurance is? A car is more important than healthcare? Hmmmm

Anonymous said...

Traffic laws... I know you well enough not to go there.
Supervision allows traffic criminals to develop new behaviors in a measured amount of time, and if they succeed, their violation is kept off the books so to speak.
I was on supervision once... I was only allowed to buy 24oz cans of brew for 90 days. Then I could go back to my fav 40oz bottle if I didn't spill. DOH!

Anonymous said...

BTW Gusomundo... since my posts usually (always?) involve alcohol content, do you remember the late comedian Foster Brooks? He was notable for being the affable drunkard and was absolutely hilarious. Of note- he never drank alcohol! Now THAT'S a DOH!

Gus said...

Foster Brooks was hilarious. I've watched his routine with Dean Martin many times - the one where Brooks played an airline pilot stopping for a drink before his flight. Martin cracked up and could never recover, and Brooks knew it.

Anonymous said...

I remember that skit! Martin couldnt keep it together despite trying!
Ya just dont find too many comedians like that anymore.
May they both RIP... doh.