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Home My WebLink AboutAnnual Report of the Village Justice 19771977 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE VIL[,AGF JUSTICE VILLAGE OF CAYU3A HEIGHTS • In the past year the 10299 cases disposed of in the Village repre- sented a new high in volume. Most disturbing, however, is the sharp rise in the convictions for drunken driving, from four in 1976 to 16 in 1977. Most of the cases were disposed of by guilty pleas or verdicts after a jury trial. Resentment has been expressed.in Court by counsel, who say that in all the other courts in Tompkins County drunken driving charges are routinely reduced to lesser charges. After each conviction the re- gional office of the State Liquor Authority is routinely notified of the name and address of the bar where the defendant had been drinking. Attnched is a statistical compilation prepared by the Police Depart- ment, giving the details of each drunken driving case in 1977 which orig- inated with an arrest by a village officer. There were several additional such arrests by other police agencies. Criminal cases not involving vehicles and traffic increased moder -, ately, and there were a few more civil matters. While four separate police agencies filed charges in Court, most originated with the Cayuga Heights Police Department. The tireless leader- ship of Chief Harlin R. McEwen and the efficiency of the officers on the force made it possible to handle matters with a minimum of confusion and delay. Excellent service was furnished by Mr. Charles T. Currey, Assistant District Attorney, whose tenure came to an end at the close of the year. It is hoped that Mr. Joe Joch, District Attorney of Tompkins County, will provide the same level of service throughout 1978. Most misdemeanor con- victions were followed by pre - sentencing investigations by the capable staff of Mr. Donald Wilson. Without this help sentencing in such cases ' would be much more difficult. Mr. Theodore O. Lindsay, a law student capably assisted the Village Li Court as clerk until October, when Mrs. Barbara B. ndsay took his place with equal devotion to the smooth administration of the Court's business. The Honorable Warren A. B1 a Acting Village Justice,.heard several. cases which are not included in this report. The time required by the Village Justice for Court business was. 251 hours plus innumerable telephone calls at all hours of the day and night. The Village Justice again served as Treasurer of the Tompkins,." County Magistrates Association. Respectfully submi ejY"� William Tucker Dean " Village Justice February 1 Lf, 1978 .0 VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC MATTERS Comparative Table of Convictions and Fines Collected in 1977 and the Preceding 5 Years in the Village Offense 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 Speeding 396 395 430 456 428 471 Stop sign 51 20 53 52 36 54 Passing stopped school bus 6 1 O O 2 1 Driving while intoxicated 2 3 a, 4-:'" 16 Driving while ability impaired 2 0 5 1 6'., '17 Failure to keep right 10 5 6 5 13 .';; 13 No passing zone 10 6 14 18 8. 6 Unlicensed operator 42' .14 21 20 21 .. 29 Driving with license suspended or revoked 5 2 0 1 5, 4 -. Unregistered vehicle 51 13 20 39". Uninspected vehicle 59 59 80 .32 101 109 155 No insurance 14 3 1 0 3: 1 Improper plates 12 2 7 4 27 2 Equipment violations 8o 10 22 50 70, 96 Soliciting a ride 4 0 0 0 4 1 .. Miscellaneous violations 21 42 48 .42 28 19' TOTALS 765 *575, 709 , . 78? 823 • Total fines collected, including parking fines $129653 $139974 5159497$1690676150261 99469 The above total for the past year, 1977, does not include 209 dismissals or verdicts of not guilty. 41 OTHER MATTERS I � _J During the past your the Court handled 37 criminal matters not involving the Vehicle and 'Traffic Law. Issuing a bad check .9 Possession of a•dangerous weapon 0 Disorderly conduct 2 Petit larceny 2 Public intoxication 0 Miscellaneous 19 Felony arraignments , 3 The above totals include those cases dismissed. The ',Court also disposed of four civil cases during 1977. • r CAYUGA HEIGHTS VILLAGE COURT \1) -DATE--, CASE AGE TEST CHARGE DISPOSITION /77 9257 26 14 DWI. 2/15/77 Plead Guilty- 66n.DiaC iJ DWI 10% or more BAC 2/15/77. Dismissed; S eedin 42115176 - Dismissed 2/16/77 9277 .,' 42`' refused UWI 10 /12 /77-Plead Guilty DWAI - ..: : , .... Con:Disch 26 _ 14 DWI g /1/77. Plead Guilty -Con. Disc: DWI .10i. or, more BAC 3/1/77. Plead Guilty- Con.Disch Crossed Double Line ":'- 1 . - 7 Plead Guilt Con.Diach 3/4/.77 9399 18' 13 DwI'.. 3 /8 /77`'D1smissea DWI .1%, or more'BAC. 3/8/7?, Plead 'Guilt - Con.Disch 3%8/.77:•. .':9318 .• 33 DWl.. 3/8/77:, Plead Guilty.850,fine DWI. 1. OA, or more AC, 3 /8 /77 ;Plead'Guilty $50 tine ,. U erator i..,:: _2.... 6' 28 7: .2'Warrant' %•iedu'ed��+:,,."., 3/9/77 9324 19,:,. .10 DWI 3/22/77 Dismissed DWI '.10% or more, BAC 31 22/77. Plead Guilty DW LZw k ,Con., Mac] Failure to Kee • Ri ht 22 Plead Guilt $1 fin, 7. 1j,9331, 21 .18 :; DWI:. 7/11/77 Guilt a ter Tri. y- ftruh. ` DWI .1096 or mo re re BAC . on. 11 Guilty after jury Tri+ 7/ /77 r 'S Con Dieo�: 'eedin 7 11 77 Dismissed ; /77 9351 29 .12 DtJi 4%12/77 !:Plead Guilty DWAI= Con.r.Diech. ..;'. DWI .1076 or more BAC 4%12/77 ':Dismissed' :.`, - • :, -•• : ..: ::. ...:.. .. Speeding ' . ..: :. ;: .3A2/77 ..:Plead . guilty '510 fin( 3/2(x/97 9374 43 . 21 DWI 7/27/77 Disroiseed. DWI..10% or more BHC ': 7/97/,77 Plead Guilty - Oo�.Die( Feilure to Kee Ri ht :• 47 27/77' Diemieeed; ":.1't' 3/27/77 , 937..7 20 .11 DWI 4/19/77 Plead guilty DWAI.'., tl r Con.Disck DWI_.10 ti r. o'more BAC. 4/19/77-:.b i i ii sikiiei d' �',.:• = Speeding 4%19/77.,: P1 C. Guilt w X18.• fine 4/2/77 939+ 18 10 DWI 4/26/77 Dismissed..,,'• . i DWI .10%. or, more; BAG : 4/26/77 = Guilty DWAI =• Cot .Plead; F.,ilure' to Keep Right,:, 4%26/77 Guilty :fine In(id: Lights •';Plead :. 4` 26' 7 !P.Plead?Gui1ti ' ;$ `•Sine 4/3/77. 9395 27. '/ .14 DWI 10/4/77. Not. Guilty' ,after..Aury trial DWI .10ti or more BAG 104/77 : :Not, ty :Guil.aftaii;Jury ' trial: 4%9/77... 9407.' .10 DWT 11/15/77 .Diemieaed,., DWI .10% or more BAG 11415/,77• Plead Guilty-, DWAI -Cor • Dfech.'. S eedin , 11M/7 Dismissed 4/12/.77 94 22 .•.. , :19 • DWI 11/19/77 Dismiaeed.l ,; '' DWI :10X or more sac .4/19/ 7?,'.Plead 'Guilt - Coa. Di r CA '1UGA IMMITS VILLAGE COURT (2) DATE I CASE AGE TEST CHARGE DISPOSITION 7/77 9428 17 .10 DWI 8/24/77 Plead Guilty DWAI- Cc Disch. DWI .10%, or more BiX 8/24/77 Dismissed Failure to Keep Right 8/24/77 Plead Guilt $25 fin 5/3/77 9481 25 .09 DWI 5/3/77 Dismissed Speeding 6/21/77 Guilty after Trial- $50 fin 5/15/77 9522 ;n Retuned DW1 y/;r7/17 Plead Guilty DWAl- $50 fin, Speedillg 7/27/77 Plead Guilty $50 fin, Unre. . Vehicle 2 Dismissed 6/3/.7.7 .9573 17 .12 DWI 6/7/77 Plead Guilty DWAI- Con, Disch. DWI .10% or more BAC 6/7/77 Dismissed Failure to Keep night 6/7/77 Plead Guilt $10 "fine 6/19/77 9629 18• .13 DWI 8/30/77 Plead Guilty DWAI- Cor MVA -PI ..Disch. DWI .1016 or more BAC 8/30/77 Dismissed 6/26/77 9647 28 .10 DWI 6/28/77 Warrant issued DWI .1010 or more BAC 6/28/77 Warrant issued Fnilure to Keep Right 6/28/77 Warrant issued 7/6/77 9684 39 e7.3 :llWI 12/5/77 Dismissed . DWI .101K or more BAC 12/6/77 Plead Guilty- Con.Disc Studded Tires 12 Plead Guilt 7/18/77 9711 45 Refused DWI 9/28/77 Plead Guilty DWAI= Con Disch. Failure to Keep Right 9/28/7? Plead Guilty- $25 fin 7/19/77 ' 9713 21 .14 DWI - 9/5/77 Dismissed llh,l .1t1;h or more 15AC.: 9/5/77 Plead Guilty- lyre prol Unregistered Vehicle 7/.19/77,; Dismissed..: .. Failure to Keep Right 9/5/77 Dismissed 8/13/77 9784 19 .10 DWI 12%6%77 ,Dismissed DWI .106 or more BAC 12/6/77 Plead Guilty DWAI - $50 fine Speeding, 9/20/77' Plead'Guilt $ 2.fine 8/14/77 9785 24 Refused DWI 9/28/77 Plead Guilty DWAI- Con. Disch. Speeding 9/28/?7 Plead Guilt $ 0 fine 8/77 9805 51 .22 DWI 1 /3 /78''Guilty DWAI after. jury trial DWI .IQX- or more BAC. 1/3/78 Guilty after jury trial Crorsed Double Lines 1/3/78 Dismissed CAYUGA HEIGHTS VILLAGE COURT (3) DATE CASE AGE TEST CHARGE DISPOSITION 21/77 9887 20 .18 DWI Jury trial scheduled 2/6/78 DWI .10% or more BAC Fni.lure Dim Ifendli hts 9/25/77 9900 19 .18 DWI 11/7/77 Plead Guilty- Con.Di DWI .1(7,4 or more BAC 11/7/77 Dismissed Speeding 11 7 77 Dismissed 9/27/77 9903 24 .14 DWI 9/27/77 Plead Guilty- Con.Di D'd1 .IQr or more BAC 0/27/77 Plend Guilty- Con.Di 10/16/77 9945 21 .16 Uk'.I 1/9/78 .Guilty after jury trie MVA -PI DWI .I(7,Y, or more BAC 1/9/78 Guilty after jury trie Failure to Keep Right. 1/9/78 Dismissed Speed not Reasonable V 78 Dismissed 10/29/77 9983 22 .15 DWI Scheduled for jury trial Dlil .INJ cr more BAC 3/6/78 Stop Si *n 11/27/77 10046 21 ,o8 DWI Asset DA recommends plea to Failed to Keep Right DWAI in satisfaction of all Speed not Reasonable counts Unre.. Vehicle 11/29/77 Dismissed • 4