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Home My WebLink About1990 Annual Report of the Village Justice.PDF 1990 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE VILLAGE JUSTICE VILLAGE OF OAYUGA HEIGHTS REPORT OF WILLIAM TUCKER DEAN, VILLAGE JUSTICE Most of the work of the court continued to be in the vehicle and traffic law area. The number of jury trials for cases of driving while intoxicated has remained low, because most defendants have been eligible for the Turning Point Program, administered by the District Attorney. Under this program such defendants have an evaluation, for a fee, by an alcoholism counselor of the extent of their drinking problem and in the Village Court they must also continue to have counseling for what may be months. When the process is completed, they are permitted to plead guilty to the infraction of drivinc, while ability impaired as against the misdemeanor of driving while intoxicated. There are indications that the new District A,ttornPy may drop the Turning Point Program. if he does so, trials by jury in the Village Court will increase considerably, since the court has not been willing to accept a plea bargain for a reduction from driving while intoxicated to driving while ability impaired unless the blood alcohol reading is marginal. The sharp increase in the automotive fines for 1989 from $27,734 to $44,634 does not reflect any increased severity by the court but rather the enactment by the legislature of a scale of minimum fines for motor vehicle convictions and an increase in the surcharge, an additional civil penalty. Although criminal matters not involving the Vehicle and Traffic Law remain limited, they rose in percentage more than automotive cases. Civil cases remain few. The Village Justice attended two day-long training programs of the Office of Court Administration. The fullest cooperation was rendered by the Village Police, headed by the able Chief David Wall. Some cases, however originated with the State Police, the County Sheriff, and the Cornell Department of Public Safety. The Assistant District Attorney Gary Surdell, represented the People of the State of New York in all trials in which the defendant was represented by 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 Village and the Sundown area in Lansing begin development, attention must be given to the computerization of the heavy load of paper work State rules compels. Mrs. Stiles is now investigating the hardware and software on the market for Justice Courts. February 6, 1990 Wj 11 jam Tucker Dean Village Justice 1989 VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC MATTERS Comparative Table of Convictions in 1989 and the preceding 5 years in the Village of Cayuga Heights OFFENSE 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 Speeding 241 285 499 496 436 560 Stop sign 30 21 26 18 19 37 Driving while intoxicated 1 0 1 1 0 1 Driving with ability 7 0 9 6 7 11 impaired by alcohol Failure to keep right 6 4 4 8 2 26 No passing zone 6 9 6 7 4 12 Unlicensed operator 1 1 9 17 18 24 66 License suspended or revoked 4 3 0 1 0 12 Unregistered vehicle 18 14 25 34 49 98 Uninspected vehicle 69 38 69 122 248 170 Equipment violations 14 6 23 19 30 36 Miscellaneous violations. 9 0 12 15 20 16 TOTAL CASES 416 399 691 745 839 1053 The above total convictions for 1989 does not include 198 dismissals or verdicts of not guilty. TOTAL MONIES COLLECTED including fines, parking fines, civil fees and mandatory surcharge: 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 $15,463 $ 14,926 $25,,939 $26,918 $27,734 $44,634 1989 CIVIL MATTERS The court disposed of 10 civil cases during 1989 989_CRIMINAL MATTERS During the past year the court handled 70 criminal matters not involving Vehicle and Traffic Law. OFFENSE Criminal impersonation I Issuing a bad check 3 Criminal possession of stolen property 3 Criminal possession of a weapon I Criminal possession of a forged instrument 3 Criminal mischief 4 Robbery in the 1 st degree I Unlawful possession of marihuana 6 Aggravated harassment I Harassment 5 Unlawful dealing with a child 3 Grand larceny I Petty larceny I Disorderly conduct 7 Trespass 13 Consuming alcohol in the park 7 Unlawful possession of fireworks 4 In the park after hours 4 Dog control 2 TOTAL 70 In 1988 the court handled 18 criminal matters not involving Vehicle and Traffic Law.