Tag Archives: missouri attorneys

Kinloch officials ordered to court to explain traffic ticket

May 23, 2017

A St. Louis County circuit court judge ordered City of Kinloch offices to appear in court to explain why they allegedly would not allow a citizen to contest a traffic ticket she received last month.

The individual, Kathy Grant of Florissant, received a $125 traffic ticket in the mail on March 6.  The ticket accused her of driving 51-mph in a 40-mph speed zone on North Hanley Road in Kinloch on February 16. 

Grant denies she was speeding.  The ticket was mailed to Grant’s husband but she admits she was the driver of the car, heading to work that day.

The ticket showed a photo of the back of Grant’s car and license plate but no photo of the driver.  Also, the ticket did not contain a specific address as to where she was caught speeding. 

 The ticket payment date for the fine was April 5, however, she gave her ticket to an attorney to handle.

According to court documents, Circuit Court Judge Douglas R. Beach ordered City Manager Justine Blue, Kinloch Mayor Darren Small, and a Kinloch judge, Christopher Bent, to appear in court last week on May 11 to explain why the ticket was not a violation of Missouri law.

The ticket apparently allows the fine to be paid directly to a private company, and was not filed in Kinloch municipal court, according to the order.

Apparently a party had asked the Municipal Court for a trial on the allegations against them.  They were told that the notice was not a ticket. At this point, due process was not granted nor is it available to challenge the notice, the judge’s order stated.

The concern is that the notices are misleading to the public that they are part of the court process with due process of law.

 

Mo. looking to educate drivers on how to interact with police

March 28, 2017

To avoid violent and sometimes deadly encounters between drivers and the police, the Missouri legislature is proposing bills that would help educate both motorists and the police on proper conduct.

The state of Illinois recently passed a bill that sets out a set of rules of engagement for drivers and the police to follow. A similar bill in Virginia is set to be passed.  There are also a few states considering doing the same: Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.

The idea is to make traffic stops and police interactions more transparent by educating both sides on how to behave. The so called “Rules of the Road” adopted in Illinois this February is a model for other states when it comes to the details of proper and safe driver behavior that can help reduce the stress during a police encounter.

In Missouri, leaders want to include the information as part of the driver’s examination, and even have suggested making a video that would have to be watched. 

The Illinois guidelines suggest the following:

If your driver’s license or insurance card are in the glove box or under the seat, wait until the officer arrives and inform him or her about it and ask permission to retrieve them.

Be sure to keep both hands on the steering wheel in plain view and leave them there until you are instructed otherwise.

Never exit the vehicle unless you are asked to do so.  Getting out of your vehicle gives the impression that you are being aggressive and could be a potential threat to the officer.

Other suggestions are to always be polite and cooperative and avoid arguing the officer.  You can always fight your case in court if you feel your rights have been violated. 

If you are concerned that the officer may be a fake officer, roll down the window a little and tell the officer and state that you would like to go to a public place to conduct the stop.  Most officers will allow this unless they have a reasonable suspicion that you could be intoxicated or impaired in some way.

Finally, when stopped, turn off the engine, so the officer knows you will not try to take off and potentially hit him.  Then turn on the internal lights and open the window partway before the officer gets to your window.  And, of course again, keep your hands on the wheel.

Fate of GPS for interlock ignition devices uncertain in Minn.

March 14, 2017

If you are a convicted drunk driver in the state of Minnesota, your location is being tracked through a GPS tracking system.  However, the Minnesota state legislature never approved its current use by the Department of Public Safety. 

It should be noted for our Missouri readers that the State of Missouri, through the Department of Revenue, requires GPS tracking for hardship licenses and reinstatement after a DWI.

There are some 11,000 convicted DUI drivers in Minnesota.  The DPS is currently tracking their whereabouts with GPS.  The interlock ignition law was passed in 2010 without the intention of tracking drivers with a GPS system.  Some legislators in Minnesota are concerned about whether this tracking is overreaching and unconstitutional.

A bi-partisan group of lawmakers are proposing a bill to end the use of GPS tracking of DUI offenders using ignition interlock equipment.

Opponents of the GPS tracking say that the issue is not that they are being tracked while driving drunk but that they are being tracked while they are sober. During recent hearings on the issue, the ACLU has stated that GPS tracking equates to a 4th Amendment search.  Criminal defense attorneys have testified that prosecutors could subpoena the GPS data for other criminal cases that are not connected to the DUI conviction.

The DPS has argued that the advantage of GPS is that they have immediate reporting of user violations, allowing them to take instant action instead of waiting at least 30 days to check a driver’s log.  Log verification was how it was done in the past.  DPS further states that they do not use or store data that they receive beyond the actual day it was recorded.

The proposed bill has received two amendments out of committee. The amendments would mandate that all DUI convicted Interlock users must be informed that their interlock device could potentially track them via GPS, and that they can be turned on by a court order.

St. Louis County Municipal court revenue down since Ferguson unrest

February 21, 2017

Looks as if the amount of revenue from St. Louis area municipal courts is way down since the social unrest in 2014 after the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson. This is according to research tabulated in an annual report by the Missouri state court system.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch tabulated information from the report and found that the data shows there has been a significant drop in revenue collected by municipal courts in St. Louis County.  Revenue was down from $53 million in fines and fees collected in year ending June 2014 to $29 million in year ending June 2016.

A similar trend can be seen in the number of traffic cases in the city of St. Louis.  The number of traffic cases filed last year fell to 66,008. This represents a drop of 69 percent compared to two years ago.

The data shows that the number of traffic cases in Ferguson last year, 1,736, had dropped 85 percent from two years ago, and non-traffic cases were down a similar percentage.  Ferguson’s court revenue plummeted from more than $2 million two years ago to just $579,000 this last year.  Ferguson had been under fire from the U.S. Department of Justice in the aftermath of Michael Brown. 

Ferguson’s municipal court system had been the target of a scathing U.S. Department of Justice report as well as intense scrutiny from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and other media.  Local attorneys can tell you that the long lines out the door are no longer the case.

Other cities in North County known for their intense speed traps along the I-70 corridor have also seen a drop in revenue, according to the court report.

St. Ann, for example, saw revenue drop nearly a million dollars from $2.6 million two years ago to $1.7 million this last year. Tickets issued fell during that same time period from over 25,000 to 9,880. 

Florissant municipal court revenue went from $2.6 million to $1.7 million. Normandy fell from $1.4 million to slightly over $788,000.  Pine Lawn dropped from $2,2 million to $652,925.  Berkeley was down from $1.2 million to $378,327.

Missouri relaxes penalties for 1st time pot possession charges

January 3, 2017

As of January 1st, 2017 the State of Missouri has relaxed penalties regarding possession of marijuana. These apply to charges brought be a state agency. Municipalities, such as Maryland Heights, may or may not have their own rules for enforcement of possession infractions.

For a first time possession of less than 10 grams there is no incarceration. This charge will be classified as a Class D Misdemeanor. The maximum fine associated with a Class D Misdemeanor is $500.00. 10 grams is more than a quarter ounce, but less than half an ounce. This only applies to first time offenders with less than 10 grams.

Previous pleas of guilty to possession of marijuana or possession of 10 – 35 grams will result in the charge being classified as a Class A Misdemeanor. Penalties for a Class A Misdemeanor are up to 1 year in jail and up to $2,000 in fines. Possession of more than 35 grams is a still a felony.

The penalties for possession of paraphernalia remain the same. Further, possession or use of marijuana still results in a suspension of the offender’s driving privileges if the person is under 21 at the time of the charge.

Kirksville Municipal Court Traffic Information

September 8, 2012

Kirksville Municipal Court
Adair County

General Information:
Phoebe Powell Herrin, Municipal Judge

Linda Sandstrom, Court Clerk
201 S. Franklin
City Hall
Kirksville, MO 63501
(660) 627-1237 
(660) 627-7941(facsimile)
http://www.kirksvillecity.com/
Hours: 8:00 – 5:00 

City of St. Louis, MO Municipal Traffic Court

March 19, 2012

St. Louis Traffic Law and Speeding Ticket Attorneys | St. Louis MIP and DWI Criminal Defense Lawyers

Did you get one of the 19,921 tickets issued in St. Louis City in 2017? Get a free consultation with one of our top City of St. Louis traffic court attorneys. Click Here now or call us at 314-667-5297. Let us help you.

Our traffic law attorneys regularly represent and defend people in the Municipal Court (traffic court) for the City of St. Louis, MO on all sorts of traffic law violations and criminal charges. The following are typical of the type of cases we handle in the City of St. Louis, MO:

  • Speeding Tickets – where “no points” is the goal
  • Driving while Suspended/Revoked
  • Careless and Imprudent Driving (C&I)
  • Stop Sign Violation
  • Electric Signal Violation
  • Driving while Intoxicated (DWI)
  • Minor in Possession (MIP)
  • Possession of Marijuana
  • Possession of Paraphernalia

Let our City of St. Louis traffic court attorneys help you. Act now. You’ll be glad you did.

Click this link to request your FREE, private, no obligation consultation and attorney fee quote.

City of St. Louis, Missouri Municipal (Traffic) Court

City of St. Louis Municipal Court
1520 Market Street, Suite 1120
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 622-3231 (automated ticket Info line)

Richard Torack
Court Administrator
314-657-1878

Newton McCoy
Administrative Judge
314-657-1899

Online ticket information

Rights in Municipal Court

Business Hours:
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday – Friday, except City Holidays.

City of St. Louis, Missouri Judicial Circuit 22
Click Here | City of St. Louis, Missouri Judicial Circuit 22

City of St. Louis, Missouri Traffic Law Defense Lawyers

The traffic law defense attorneys at PulledOver.com are experienced lawyers who provide vigorous legal defense of all types of traffic law violations in the City of St. Louis. From City of St. Louis speeding tickets, to City of St. Louis MIP (minor on possession) defense, to City of St. Louis DWI defense, we can help you avoid the harsh consequences of not having a top defense lawyer to protect your rights in court.

City of St. Louis Speeding Ticket Lawyers

The City of St. Louis lawyers at PulledOver.com handle speeding tickets in the City of St. Louis. We know what you want – “no points” – and we know how to get results.

City of St. Louis MIP Lawyers (Minor in Possession)

If you have been charged with MIP (minor on possession) in the City of St. Louis, we can help. To check our MIP (minor in possession) page, click here. We know what you want – to keep your license from being suspended and your record clean of a conviction – and our City of St. Louis MIP defense lawyers know how to get results.

City of St. Louis DWI Lawyers

Your license and your freedom are at stake when you get a DWI in the City of St. Louis. Time is of the essence. You need an experienced St. Louis DWI lawyer…and you need one NOW. Our top St. Louis DWI criminal defense attorneys provide effective legal representation on Driving While Intoxicated charges. Get a free consultation with one of our top St. Louis DWI defense lawyers, click here now or call us at 314-667-5297. Let us help you.

 

Adair County Traffic Court Information

March 19, 2012
Adair, Judicial Circuit 2
Adair County Courthouse
106 W. Washington Street
Kirksville, Missouri  63501
(660) 665-2552
(660) 665-3420 (facsimile)
Russell E. Steele, Circuit Judge
Kristie J. Swaim, Associate Circuit Judge
Docket  Call:
Judge Steele calls his docket on the first and third Monday and  first Tuesday, following the first Monday, of each month.
Judge Swaim  calls her criminal docket every Wednesday at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. She hears  civil and small claims cases on the second and fourth Monday of each month.  Judge Swaim hears domestic cases on the second and fourth Tuesday of each  month.
General Information:
Clerk’s Office
Linda  S. Decker, Circuit Clerk
(660) 665-2552
(660) 665-3420  (facsimile)
Hours/Days of Operation
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays.
Adair County DWI/Drug Court
106 W. Washington Street
Kirksville, MO 63501
660-665-4224
Adair County Family Treatment Court
106 West Washington Street
Kirksville, MO 63501
(660) 665-4224

Adair County Prosecuting Attorney

Matt Wilson
PO Box 314
Kirksville, MO 63501
Phone: (660) 627-3625
Fax: (660) 627-3835

Municipal Courts in Adair County
Kirksville Municipal Court

Brashear Municipal Division

Novinger Municipal Division