[Grovenet] Policing in the Grove

[Jeff Howden]

Steven,

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> From: Steven
> 
> The other issue is that everyone I know (and many I
> don't) have been given tickets in town for nothing more
> than the seat belt law. When first implimented, this
> was not going to be enforced this way. [...]
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Enforced what way?  If people aren't wearing their seatbelts (which is
required by law) should they not get a ticket for it?  If not, how would you
envision it ought to be enforced?

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> [...] It looks like the city trying to drum up business
> for their court.
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Certainly there's a fine line between the police department performing its
civic duty and simply living off the ticket book.  However, enforcing a law
like the seatbelt law that actually saves lives and is simple for everyone
to follow is hardly "drum[ming] up business for their court".  I think few
would argue with the notion of elevated traffic citations in a town that has
relatively few motor vehicle accidents or egregious speed violation issues
being anything but "milking the cash cow" when there are more important
issues (real crime, gangs, graffiti, etc.) to address in Forest Grove.

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> Stop city council from doing illegal things like the
> business license fee (Tax).
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I'd much rather the police department didn't doubly waste taxpayers dollars
by tying up two tax-funded agencies with something that neither is truly
equipped to work out.  Instead, let's have the police department out on the
streets doing what they're really designed to do and stop/investigate crime
in our city.

If you have an issue with the business license fee or other ways the city
council runs the town, may I humbly suggest that you seek the proper avenues
for addressing it where it may actually do some good.

Jeff