Paul Holden has learned that the greatest peril of having a blowout on a local highway is not the possible crash but reporting it to state officials. Holden’s truck experienced the blowout on Ohio Route 286 when a six-pound metal road reflector slashed into his tires. When he reported the debris, he started a saga that led to fines and threats from Ohio officials, including the office of Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray.
Ironically, when Holden called in the debris, he did not request any reimbursement. He just wanted to warn the state about the debris so other people were not endangered. The debris reportedly made his truck jump and forced him to the side of the road. He was told that he could file for reimbursement.
He decided to pay the $25 cost for filing a claim for the $89 tire.
The state rejected the claim because he could not prove how long the deflector had been laying on the road — a curious defense since no driver could prove such a fact. He decided not to appeal and write off both the tire and the $25 filing cost.
Then came the $22 fine for the state’s investigation plus $6 post (that right Ohio charges citizens for mailing them fines).
The fines continued to mount until the Ohio Attorney General sent a letter threatening to seize “wages and bank accounts” and that the sheriff may seize and sell his personal property, including the start of “a foreclosure action against any real estate owned by you may be initiated.”
For the full story, click here.
Unfortunately Spindell is correct. With property taxes way down because of plummeting real estate values, local governments everywhere are using more parking and speeding tickets, moving violations and, as we see here, damn near anything they can think of to raise needed revenues.
The cops are out in force in my locality, and the recent moving violation I received (my first in at least fifteen years) will cost me almost four hundred dollars to discharge.
This is particularly hard on those with lower incomes, as these “taxes” are the reverse of progressive. Many poorer people simply cannot pay the huge fees, and lose their cars to the parking-ticket “pound” or even lose their right to drive.
Many of us cannot work without a car, but that doesn’t matter just so long as the $50k-SUV drivers don’t have to pay a few hundred more in income taxes.
Our country is on the way out. We have lost any sense of community.
For all of those tax-o-phobes out there let this serve as a lesson. Because of the fear the anti-tax movement has thrown into politicians, “taxes” are raised sub rosa with “complaint filing fees” and “investigation costs” charged to the complainant. In Florida for instance if you get a ticket and want to go to court, you first must go to arbitration where your are charged $65 for the privilege, despite your plea. If you then go to court you are assessed court costs, whether or not you’re guilty.
What do you expect when the government is in charge of this shit.
must be something else going on?
here is the AG’s bio:
Cordray’s career has been guided by the spirit of community service and the belief that government should strive to make a positive difference in the daily lives of its citizens. As state representative, he sponsored the Ohio Community Service Education Act. An accomplished lawyer, Cordray has argued 6 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and taught constitutional law for 13 years at The Ohio State University’s law school. In 2003, he earned the Presidential Service Award from the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation for his work supporting legal services for the poor, and in 2000 the Human Rights Campaign named him “Humanitarian of the Year” for his efforts to promote tolerance and understanding in our communities.
As Ohio Treasurer, Richard Cordray managed the state’s investment portfolio of about $18 billion. His commitment to cutting costs, enhancing economic development, and promoting financial security among Ohioans earned national recognition in 2008, including the Excellence in Government Leadership Award from the Association of Government Accountants and NeighborWorks America’s Government Service Award as the foremost national leader in state government for his work on foreclosure prevention.
Cordray earned a master’s degree with first-class honors from Oxford University in England and graduated from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was the editor of the Law Review. He lives near Grove City with his wife Peggy and their young twins. His earliest claim to fame was as an undefeated five-time champion on the Jeopardy TV show.
Calling the police-ever-is like grabbing a wolf by one ear. See a dead body; walk right by. Witness a rape or break-in;deny,deny,deny. Great to be an American, huh?
Entrusting certain people with the power of government will ensure that such outrageousness will follow.