Virginia: Lawnmower Rider Could Become $2750 Remedial Fee Victim

When I read this story I just couldn't believe it. I guess the state is in need for money. That of Va just love to make up new stupid laws to rip off their Citizens. Sometime I think the Federal Gov't should indicted VA under the Rico Act.

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Virginia: Lawnmower Rider Could Become $2750 Remedial Fee Victim
A man accused of lawnmower DUI could fall under the so-called abusive driver law and pay a minimum $2750 in fines and spend 20 days in jail.

A Waynesboro, Virginia handyman could declared a "dangerous driver" for the crime of riding a lawnmower after drinking a few beers. Glenn Bowers, 46, was arrested Wednesday while riding home with his dog after completing a lawn cutting job. Police stopped the Craftsman lawnmower, which has a top speed of 6 MPH, on Waynesboro Street. They subjected Bowers to sobriety tests with a breathalyzer machine ultimately claiming Bowers scored a .24 blood alcohol content (BAC) reading. If found guilty, Bowers would pay a mandatory minimum of $2750 in fines and spend 20 days in jail.

"I think it's a bunch of [expletive], if you want my opinion," he told the News Virginian newspaper.

On May 7, 2003, Bowers was accused and subsequently convicted of lawnmower DUI. The Waynesboro General District Court sentenced Bowers to 30 days in jail and fined him $551. His driver's license was not suspended, because Bowers does not have one.

That means Wednesday's lawnmower incident represents a second DUI with a BAC in excess of .20. For this charge, Virginia imposes a number of mandatory punishments, including a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 days in jail, a $500 mandatory minimum fine, and he must place an alcohol ignition interlock on his lawnmower (Virginia Code Section 18.2-270). Bowers would also be subject to a mandatory $2250 civil remedial fee (fee details) as a so-called abusive driver. A judge has the discretion to increase these penalties to a year in jail and $4750 in fines, but he may not reduce them.

Bowers already paid $65 for the release of his lawnmower from the police impound lot.

Source: Waynesboro man charged with DUI on lawnmower (Waynesboro News Virginian (VA), 8/4/2007)

Va Pilot Double standard onn Story involving people tring to kill themselves

Last week the VA Pilot post then delete a story about a man who killed himself at the JDR Court House in Chesapeake, but today they post about an inmate who try to hang himself in Chesapeake Jail. I guess the inmate trying to kill him self make a better story than some one who kills himself in a Courthouse, Whom wasn't an inmate..

By Kristin Davis
The Virginian-Pilot
© July 24, 2008

CHESAPEAKE

An inmate at the City Jail was in critical but stable condition Wednesday after trying to hang himself a day earlier, Lt. Col. Jim O’Sullivan said today.

A Sheriff’s deputy found Carlton Edwards, 62, hanging in his jail block around 7:50 p.m. Tuesday, O’Sullivan said. The deputy cut him down and performed CPR.

Other inmates had last heard Edwards talking about three minutes earlier, he said.

“The deputy was able to revive him,” O’Sullivan said.

Edwards was taken by EMS to Chesapeake Regional Medical Center just after 8 p.m., O’Sullivan said. His status Thursday morning was not immediately available.

Edwards was serving time for statutory burglary in Virginia Beach, O’Sullivan said. He was being housed in the Chesapeake jail as a courtesy to that city, he said. Edwards was back in Virginia Beach custody Wednesday.

Update: to Access Deny Post

Post link Click here, I wrote them to ask if I could get a copy of the story this is Their Reply:

Thank you for your message to HamptonRoads.com and Pilot Online.

The story you cited does not meet our criteria for reporting on a suicide. Typically, we don't report suicides except when there are extreme or unusual circumstances, and this was not one of those cases.

The story was erroneously posted on our web site by a new online reporter. It was removed when it came to the attention of editors.

I hope that answers your question. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Jane Elizabeth

Director of Online News

Please I have read other stories that were completely lousy, I still think there is a cover up on this one....

First off why did this guy choose to kill himself in the JDR Courthouse, After hours when there was no one else around.. Knowing that he would be found till next morning..

Norfolk Va Police Officer Arrested, Suspended, Charged After Drunken Wreck

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA - Police in Norfolk face disciplining one of their own after he was charged with DUI.

We’re told that 27-year-old Norfolk Police officer Keenan Gilligan was in his personal car at around 2:00 a.m. on July 11th when he was involved in a minor traffic accident in the 8600 block of Tidewater Drive.

A spokesperson told WAVY.com that Gilligan is now on administrative duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

Appeared Here

Access Deny Why?? What are they Hiding

Man dies of self-inflicted injury at Chesapeake court building
The Virginian-Pilot, VA - Jul 16, 2008
By John Warren Police responded to the Chesapeake Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court building on Wednesday night to find a worker who had killed ...

Brother of woman who died in jail sues Chesapeake sheriff, others

By Kristin Davis
The Virginian-Pilot
© July 21, 2008

The brother of a woman who died two years ago after suffering a heart attack in the city jail has filed a federal lawsuit against the Chesapeake sheriff and other unknown parties.

The suit, filed July 16, claims wrongful death, medical malpractice and negligence in the death of Sotina L. Cuffee, who was serving eight months for a violation of probation for welfare fraud.

In addition to Sheriff John R. Newhart, other defendants of the suit include unknown sheriff deputies, physicians, physician’s assistants, health care providers and other jail employees.

The lawsuit seeks a total of $11 million.

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Unless things have change alot in Chesapeake Jail, the women have only five to 8 cell blocks in the old section, where the so-call guards/officer do a walk through every hour or so, some times once or twice a shift after serving meals.

More bad Cops, Norfolk, va

OT:Cop Fired Over Coffee Threats

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I wonder how much this type of police action happen in the Commonwealth of Virginia

OT: Police tased Blind woman

whatever illegal stuff her families up to the lady is still blind. I doubt she's a drug dealer or doing too many drive bys. Proof again that just because you give somebody a badge, gun and uniform that good judgment doesn't necessarily come with them - remember that next time you get pulled over.

ok how is this woman supposed to have punched a detective? i know she can hear but surely her aim must have been off.

WARNING to the Blind, when the police comes to your door, make sure you have a big old sign that reads, "I'M BLIND, PLEASE NOT TASED ME"

Old, but interesting

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First off I guess the reporter had to find the dumbest guys he could. However If the ads were those that hangs in Victoria's Secrets Windows nothing would have been said. I like how they always use the children to get they their points across.

17-year-old charged in teen's homicide may be tried as adult

Now nice in VA if you are 14-17 you can be tried as adult but you can't consent to have sex with another the same age or over 18.

I wonder what judge was assigned to his arraignment, no less by Video, I guess the sheriff"s office had some cut back, unable to drive these defendants less then two blocks to the courthouse.

Chesapeake Commonwealth's Attorney Nancy Parr says, "Under the law in Virginia anybody over the age of 14 who's charged with murder or rape will be tried as an adult after they have a preliminary hearing in juvenile court." She went on to say, "If the court determines probable cause he will be transferred over to the Circuit Court and tried as an adult."

Also if it is the law, by even bother having a hearing in JDR court anyway. I guess that could also save money. Also if this is law then they would have an arraignment it would be a Probable Cause hearing then. So I ask which is it, was it an arraignment where one is informed of their's rights, or was it a probable cause hearing, was his lawyer there, if not then it was just an arraignment. So when does his Probable Cause hearing in JDR Take place..

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CHESAPEAKE, VA (WAVY.com) -- A 17-year-old charged in the shooting death of 18-year-old Lonnie Andrews, Jr., appeared at a video arraignment this morning in Chesapeake Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

The teen's parents stood before a judge as he heard the charges: Murder and Use of a Firearm.

Chesapeake Commonwealth's Attorney Nancy Parr says, "Under the law in Virginia anybody over the age of 14 who's charged with murder or rape will be tried as an adult after they have a preliminary hearing in juvenile court." She went on to say, "If the court determines probable cause he will be transferred over to the Circuit Court and tried as an adult."

The teen's father, who didn't want to reveal his name, tells WAVY.com, "I'm so sorry this happened. This is something I feel like could have been prevented and everything's going to come out. Just don't make judgements on any one of those young men. Just wait until the facts come out then make a judgement."

Also in the court was the victim's mother Marie Abbott, who said afterwards she just wants "justice for my son." She said nothing good can come from this for either family.

The teen remains held at a juvenile detention facility in Chesapeake. A preliminary hearing in the case is set for July 22.

Andrews was an Oscar Smith High School graduate who planned to attend Virginia State University in the fall on a full football scholarship. He was killed early Tuesday morning.