Ticketed, but never stopped

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
February 24, 2009

Have you ever received a traffic ticket, but never been stopped?

"Oh, that can't happen." Really?

Read today's story in the Chicago Tribune about a vehicle owner who is being harassed by one or more members of the Chicago Police Department; then make up your own mind.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-tue-problem-0224-feb24,0,6344552.column

The problem of the man about whom the article is written is multiple tickets issued by the same officer. Most are parking tickets, but the whole deal smells when you read the story.

Does this ever happen in McHenry County? In Woodstock? With moving violations?

One driver I know claims she received a speeding ticket in Woodstock, but the officer never stopped her to issue it. Can't happen? Oh, really?

Here's the story:

A speeding ticket was issued in Woodstock to a woman who says she was never stopped by the officer. Seeing as how she was never stopped or handed the ticket, she didn't know about the court date, and she didn't show up.

What happens when you don't show up for your court date? The court sends out a letter, telling her "You'd better be here the next time."

She didn't get that letter, because someone submitted a change-of-address to the court before the court date and changed her address to a P.O. Box in Wisconsin. So she didn't show up for the next court date.

The judge found her guilty and sent the information off to the office of the Illinois Secretary of State. And the court sent her a letter about the fine, which she didn't pay. Because she never got that letter!

This case is like a snowball that rolls downhill and keeps getting bigger and bigger. And it's not over yet.

Solid proof that an officer stops a driver is the bond information on the ticket; right? No officer makes a traffic stop, issues a speeding ticket and just lets the driver go. The driver must post bond. Either a driver's license or cash bond (receipted for) or a bond card. And the officer then fills in the bond portion of the citation, before he gives a copy to the driver.

In this case, the bond portion of the citation is blank. Totally blank.

It used to be that a driver had to sign the citation, not admitting guilt but only as to being there at that time and place.

Will this driver be found Not Guilty when she finally gets her day in court?