HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990 Annual Report of the Village Justice.PDFI 990
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE VILLAfiE JUSTICE
VILLAGE OF CAYUOA HEI6HTS
REPORT OF WILLIAI{ TUTKEII DEAN, VILI.AGE JUSTICE
flost of the work of the cour't continued to be in the vehicle and traific
law area. The numb,er of juny trials for cases of driving wh'i1e intoxicated
has remained low, because most defendants have been eligible for the
Turning Point Program, administered by the District Attor"ney. Under this
program such defendants have an evaluation, for a fee, b), an aicoholism
counselor of the extent of their drinking problem and in the Village Court
thel': ppx51 also continue to har.re counselinq for what may be months When
the process is completed, they are permitted to plead gulir_r,r to the
infraction of dr'irring whrle ab,ility impaired as against the mis,Jemeanor of
dritting while intoxicated. Thene are indications that the new Distr ict
A.ttorne;r may drop the Turn'ing troint program. lf he does so, trials by lury in
the Village Cout-t will increase'considerably, since the court has not b,een
lvilling to accept a plea bargain for a reuduction from drir.rrng while
intoxicated to drir.ring while abilit.v inrpaired unless the blood alcohol
readlng is marginal.
The shanp increase in the autc,motirre f ines f c'r lggg f r om $27,734 to
$44,6i4does not nef lect Efiir 1n..*ased seirerity by the court b,ut r-alher the
enactment by the legislature of a scale of minimum f ines for motor vehicle
convictions and an incnease in the suncharge, an additional civil penalty.
Although ffiminal matters not inrrolving the Vehicle and Traffic Law
remain limited, they rose in percentage more than automotive cases.
Civil cases remain few.
The village Justice attendtid two day-long training programs of the
0f f ice of Court Administrar_ion.
The fullest cooperation was
able Chief David Wall, Some
Police, the County Sheriff, and
rendered by the Village police, headed by the
cases, however originated with the State
the Connell Department of public Safety The
ul i/ci,-,^^- lr^.-Lr,&*
William Tucker Dean
Village Justice
Assistant District Attorney Gary Surdell, represented the people of the
State of New York in all trials in which the defen,Cant was reCIresented bv a
lawyer,
Frances Stiles has made an important contribution to the effective
operation of the court. As the volume of cases rises, and this will continue
as Savage Farm in the Villaqe and the Sundown area in Lansing begtn
development, attention must be given to the computerization of the heavy
load of paper wor[< State rules comp'els. llrs Stiles is now investigating the
hardware and sof tware 0n the nrarket for Justice courts.
Februany 6, I 990
| 989
VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC HATTERS
Comparative Tahle of Convictions in lggg
and the pneceding 5 yeans in the Village of cayuga Heights
OFFINSE
Speeding
Stop sign
Driving whi le intoxicated
Driving with ability
impaired by alcohol
Failure to keep right
No passing zone
Unlicensed openator
License suspended or revoked
Unregistered vehicle
Uninspected vehicle
Eguipment violations
f{iscel laneous violations.
r_984
241
30
I
7
r 985
285
2l
0
0
r986 t987
499 496
26 t8
tl
96
?26
412
24 66
012
49 98
248 t70
30 36
20 t6
4
I
9
3
l4
3B
6
0
6
6
ll
4
t8
69
l4
9
l98B t989
436 560
t9 37
0l
7 ll
4
6
t7
0
25
69
23
t2
B
7
IB
I
34
t22
t9
l5
TOTAL CA5E5 4t6 399 691 743 839 | 053
The above total convictions for 1989 does not include 198 dismissals or verdicts ofnot guilty.
ToTAL floNlES C0LLECTED including fines, parking fines, civil fees and mandatory
suncharge:
r9B4 1985 19136 r9B7 1988 r9B9
$ r5,463 $ r4,926 $25,939 $26,9 r8 $zt lsq $qa,6sq
I989 CIVIL I1ATTERS
The court disposed of l0 civil cases during lggg
I9E9 CRIIlINAL I1ATTERS
During the past year the court handled 70 miminal matters
not involving Vehicle and Traff ic Law.
OFFENSE
Crim inal impensonation
lssuing a bad check
Criminal possession of stolen property
Criminal possession of a weapon
Criminal possession of a forged instrument
Criminal mischief
Robbery in the I st degree
Unlawful possession of manihuana
Aggravated hanassment
Harassment
Unlawful dealing with a child
6rand larceny
Petty larceny
Disorderly conduct
Trespass
Consuming alcohol in the park
Unlawful possession of f ireworks
In the park after hours
Dog control
I
3
3
I
3
4
I
6
I
5
3
I
I
I
I
7
t3
7
4
4
2
TOTAL 7A
ln l9EE the court handled lB ffiminal matters not
Law.
involving Vehicle and Traffic