MORE BELIEVE IT OR NOT IN THE SELMA POLICE DEPARTMENT
This site has been informed of a situation which continues to happen. An individual recieved a traffic citation from a Selma Police officer for speeding on June 23, 2006.
The individual asked his wife to go to the magistrate's Office in the Police Building to pay the fine prior to the court date. On July 7, 2006, the lady went to the Magistrate's Office to pay the ticket but was informed that the citation (TICKET) was not on file in the Magistrate's Office.
The lady then asked what she should do.She did not want to have a warrant issued for her husband for not paying the ticket and not appearing to court. The Magistrate's Office told the lady to go across the street to the Post Office, get a money order for a certain amount and drop the money order in the hole in the window at the Magistrate's Office or mail it in. ALTHOUGH THE TICKET WAS NOT ON FILE, THE MAGISTRATE INSISTED THAT SHE PAY THE STATED AMOUNT.
We have the following questions about this questionable operation of the Magistrate's Office:
1. If the citation is not on file, should the Magistrate take the payee's word for what the offense is and then set an amount of payment for whatever offense the person tells the Magistrate.
2. IF THE CITATION IS NOT ON FILE, 2 WEEKS AFTER IT IS ISSUED, WHERE IS IT?
3. Are the citizens expected to blindly drop money through a slot for a ticket OF WHICH THE MAGISTRATE HAS NO KNOWLEDGE?
4. Where does the money go if it is not levied against the citation?
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE PROBLEMS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MAYOR PERKINS AND POLICE CHIEF MARTIN.
