Cary PD - unusual practices

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
September 27, 2010

What could be going on at the Cary (Ill.) Police Department, when an officer makes a traffic stop, does not issue a ticket, but keep the driver's license and tells the driver s/he must go into the P.D. to pick up his license?

A phone call has been placed to the Cary P.D. for information. In the meantime, perhaps readers can tell their own stories.

First, if a driver gets a welcome break on a ticket, considering the fines and exorbitant court costs at the McHenry County Courthouse, he appreciates that. A driver might thank an officer for information about a violation and appreciate an officer's courtesy.

But why would the officer keep the driver's license and merely give the driver a business card with a note on the back "Driving on a ticket", when no ticket was issued? What's going to happen if that driver gets stopped by another officer? (This is an easy one; the second cop is going to laugh and write a ticket!)

The driver must then go to the Cary P.D., probably during daytime, "normal" business hours.

Why would a driver then be asked to pay a $120 bond to get the driver's license back? Sure sounds to me like the driver was either issued or was going to be issued a ticket. But this driver says no ticket was issued. So, what is the $120 for?

How many driver's licenses is the Cary P.D. holding in this manner? 10? 25? 50? Some of the drivers will believe they have to fork over $120 to get their driver's licenses back. Some will know that they don't and insist that the driver's license be returned - and will get it.

More details will follow, as soon as the Deputy Chief of the P.D. calls me back.