S.C. Trooper Charged With Misconduct

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S.C. Trooper Charged With Misconduct

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A state trooper was arrested Friday after authorities accused him of taking thousands of dollars from Hispanic motorists instead of issuing traffic tickets.

Lance Cpl. Stephen A. Watts, 28, of Pelion was charged with misconduct after he collected $40 from a driver instead of writing a ticket during a traffic stop Oct. 30 in Lexington County near Columbia, according to an arrest warrant.

More charges were expected, authorities said.

Lexington County Sheriff James Metts said investigators were tipped off after a farmer asked if it was appropriate for police to stop migrant workers and take money without issuing a ticket.

Witnesses and victims spoke little to no English, the sheriff said.

"I think most of them were pulled over because they were Hispanic," Metts said. "This person wasn't interested in making legitimate stops in my opinion. He was interested in extracting money from these people."

Telephone directories did not list a number for Watts, who was suspended without pay.
 
I think I remember a time. many many years ago, when this was acceptable practice.
Not the extortion thing but paying a ticket at the scene.
Small wonder it's not done anymore
 
In Illinois you can still take cash bond on the road. I don't, I won't. I can also take an Illinois Drivers License, a bond card from an approved insurance or bond company, write a notice to appear or take what's called an I-Bond which amounts to letting the offender sign the ticket and promise to appear.

I don't want any part of handling cash.

Jeff
 
Jeff White said:
In Illinois you can still take cash bond on the road. I don't, I won't. I can also take an Illinois Drivers License, a bond card from an approved insurance or bond company, write a notice to appear or take what's called an I-Bond which amounts to letting the offender sign the ticket and promise to appear.

I don't want any part of handling cash.

Jeff
Click to expand...

You are a wise man, sir.
 
The same thing happened to my dad and I when we were in Monterey Mexico. We were way out of town when we go stopped by a Mexican policeman. He informed us that we were speeding in a school zone, and had to pay the $100 fine on the spot. Our optoins were to pay the fine, or go down to the station. We paid the fine and went about our business.


If they are illegal immigrants I don't feel sorry for them. If they are legal US citizens then I think they have a beef.
 
I thought I remebered my mother paying a roadside fine in Ala some years ago.

I figured that it had to be legit, her cousin was the sheriff of Mobile county


I once paid a cash bond of $20 to get out of going to jail in Vinh Long once, but that was a whole nother issue:)
 
The reason he concentrated on Hispanics was that is the system they are used to, so they would think nothing of paying a cash fine on the spot to a police officer. In those countries everyone knows that the cash never gets to the public treasury, but it is the way things are done.

Jim
 
IIRC, in Mexico, this practice is called La Mordida, or The Bite. Been a long time since I used my Spanish so I could be wrong.
 
THIS cop needs to removed ASAP. His criminal activity reflects on all cops. The credibility of the police depends on how clean they keep their own rows. Only clean police departments have the authority needed to uphold the law.
 
I learned that when pulled over for speeding in Michigan with an out of state Drivers License you have to leave bond money with the police officer when he issues you a ticket. Last summer I got ticketed on the interstate in Michigan (doing 75mph in a 70mph zone). The officer tells me he is going to write me ticket and he wants to know how much money I am going to give him. I was very confused! I wasn't sure if he was asking for a bribe or if I had to pay the ticket in cash or if this meant something totally different. I apologized for my ignorance and asked the officer to explain what I was giving him money for. He acted as if I was an idiot for not knowing that I had to leave at least $50 bail for the speeding ticket. To make matters worse my wife and I did not have $50 in cash on us. Fortunately I was able to persuade the "nice officer" into taking all of the cash we had (about $28) and let that be enough. That was quite a learning experience for me.
 
I learned that when pulled over for speeding in Michigan with an out of state Drivers License you have to leave bond money with the police officer when he issues you a ticket.
Click to expand...
Hmm, being from a state that doesn't have such a practice (that I know of), if a police officer tried to tell me that, I'd assume he was looking for a bribe. I guess I'd probably call 911 to try to get some clarification, since under the circumstances, I'd have no other way to verify what he was telling me.

Can anyone point me to something in writing that verifies that in a given state, you can be compelled to come up with the cash for a "bond" or the like by the side of the road? Jeff said it's optional in his state, if I understand correctly.
_________________
-twency
 
Michigan, and I believe Minnesota are the only two states that are not part of the Non-Resident Violator Compact. They do not honor other states efforts to recoup traffic fines, and will not suspend or otherwise pounish offender who are cited and fail to appear in another state.

Officers in other states have the right to arrest and hold, or require bond be posted in incidents involving drivers from those states. Officers in those states have the same responsibility, since there is no recourse if the person does not pay or appear.
 
Fairly Common Practice

This is the general practice in Europe... of course you do get a receipt... Plus if you pay on the spot there generally are no points assigned to your dirver's license.

Apparently North Dakota also allows payment on the spot (with receipt) so it is possible more states allow it as well.

If the cops are honest it isn't a bad system....

FWIW

Chuck



Rusher said:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BRF_TROOPER_ARRESTED?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US



S.C. Trooper Charged With Misconduct

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A state trooper was arrested Friday after authorities accused him of taking thousands of dollars from Hispanic motorists instead of issuing traffic tickets.

Lance Cpl. Stephen A. Watts, 28, of Pelion was charged with misconduct after he collected $40 from a driver instead of writing a ticket during a traffic stop Oct. 30 in Lexington County near Columbia, according to an arrest warrant.

More charges were expected, authorities said.

Lexington County Sheriff James Metts said investigators were tipped off after a farmer asked if it was appropriate for police to stop migrant workers and take money without issuing a ticket.

Witnesses and victims spoke little to no English, the sheriff said.

"I think most of them were pulled over because they were Hispanic," Metts said. "This person wasn't interested in making legitimate stops in my opinion. He was interested in extracting money from these people."

Telephone directories did not list a number for Watts, who was suspended without pay.
Click to expand...
 
Rusher said:
Lance Cpl. Stephen A. Watts, 28, of Pelion
Click to expand...

Wow. I went to school with him... I can't see him doing something like this. I hope there's more to the story. :(
 
Another example of a bad LEO~! Hey folks, it happens within some
departments in one form or the other.
Click to expand...
fixed

There's not a bad cop in my dept. (All 5 of us)
 
What peeves me is that they are being racist! Wish they would make the same offer to me!! (Fat middle age white guy!)
Watch it Sportcat!
 
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