HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnnual Report of the Village Justice 19781978
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE VILLAGE JUSTICE
VILLAGE OF CAW6A. HEIGHTS
The total of 1,026 cases disposed of in 1978 in the Village is
not significantly below the number in 1977. The 22 convictions
for driving with varying degrees of impairment by alcohol are,
regrettably, a new high. Most of these were disposed of after
guilty pleas or convictions after a trial by jury. It has been
the policy of,the Court to entertain a motion to plead guilty to
a charge of less than drivin§ while i'ntokidatcd only when the
Breathalyzer reading is marginal, and in such cases to accept a
plea of guilty to driving while ability was impaired by alcohol.
The Court is indebted -to Chief Harlin R. MCEwen for the appended
list of drunken driving matters completed in 1978.
Full use was made in the case of misdemeanor convictions of
the sentencing recommendations of the Probation Department as well
as of its Diversion Program for first time offenders outside of the
vehicle and traffic area.
Wherever a drinking driver had been at a bar prior to arrest
that fact was reported to the regional office of the State Division
of Alcoholic Beverage Control, I have been informed that the
Tompkins County Alcoholic Beverage Control Board does not take an
interest in this matter.
Most matters on the criminal side originated with the Police
Department although the other three police agencies with juris-
diction in the Village were also represented, Chief McEwen and
his force continued to display high professional standards in all
contacts with the Court,
A series of discussions with Mr. Joseph Joch, District Attorney
of Tompkins County,have assured the Village of his continued deter-
mination to have his office represent the People of the State of
New York in cases where the defendant is represented by an attorney,
A few cases have been appealed to the County Court and disposed
of there. One case, however, has been under appeal for two years
and is still unresolved for reasons unknown to this Court.
The appointment of Mrs, Andrea Barnett as part -time Court
Clerk has greatly increased the efficiency of the Court amidst the
heavy flow of paper work mandated by the State of New York,
The Acting Village'Justice, The Honorable Warren A Blye,
heard several matters not included in this report,
A to of 195 hours plus the time for numerous telephone
calls were devoted to the work of the Court.
Respectfully submitted,
William Tucker Dean 1
Village Justice J
-2
VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC
MATTERS
;
Comparative Table
of
- Convictions
and
Fines
Collected in 1978
and the
Preceding
5 Years in
the Village
OFFENSE
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
Speeding
395
430
456
428
471'
521
Stop Sign
20
53
52
36
54
30
Passing stopped school bus
1
0
0
2.
1
2
Driving while intoxicated
3
2
0
4
16
4
Driving while abilities
0
5
1
6
17
8
impaired
Driving with greater than
10 of 1% BAC
-
-
-
-
-
10
Failure to keep right
5
6
5
13
13
6
No passing zone
6
14
18
8
6
13
Unlicensed operator
14
21
20
21
29
19
Driving with license
suspended or revoked
2
0
1
5
4
5
Unregistered vehicle
13
20
32
39
61
38
Uninspected vehicle
59
80
101
109
155
88
No insurance
3
1
0
3
1
1
improper plates
2
7
4
27
2
3
Equipment violations
10
22
50
70
96
74
Soliciting a'ride
0
0
0
4
1
1
Miscellaneous violations
42
48
42
28
19
36
TOTALS
575
709
782
823
946
859
Total fines collected, including
parking fines:
1973: $139974. 1974: $159497 1975:
$16.067
1976: $15,026
1977: $19,469 1978: $18,891.50
The above•.viblation total
for the past year,
1978,
does
not include
137 dismissals or verdicts
of not guilty.
♦ N .. �
3-
OTHER MATTERS
During the past year the Court handled 23 criminal matters
not involving the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
Issuing a bad check 6
Petit larceny 7
Disorderly conduct 1
Trespass, a violation 2
Grand larceny 1
Dog control law 2
Class D burglary 4
Total (including
those cases 23
dismissed)
i R
The Court also disposed of 7 civil cases during 1978.
CAYUGA HEIGHTS VILLAGE COURT (1)
!A E
CASE
AGE
TEST CHARGE DISPOSITION
L/13/78
10147
24
.24 !DWI
5/2/78 Dismissed
iDWI .10G or more BAC i
5/2/78 Plead Guilty -fond. Disch.
lUnlic. Operator
5/2/78 $10 Fine
Fail. Keep Right
5/2/78 Dismissed
3/4/78
10268
22
.19 IDWI
7 /25/78 Dismissed
DWI .10% or more BAC
7/:5/78 Plead Guilty -Cond. Disch.
Speeding
7/25/78 Dismissed
Stop Sign
7./25/78 Dismissed
Fail Keep Right
7/25/78 Dismissed
3/26/78
10323
17
.15
DWI
4/18/78 Dismissed
DWI .20% or more BAC
4/18/78 Plead Guilty DWAI -Cond. Disch.
Fail Keep Right
V18/78 8 $1 Fine
5/20/78
10472
2.3
.22
DWI
9/5/78 Dismissed
MVA -PI
DWI .10% or more BAC
9/5/78 Plead Guilty -Cond. Disch.
Fail Keep Right
8 Plead Guilty-$25 Fine
5/26/78
10476
33
.20
DWI
7/11/78 Plead Guilty ) 4 weekends jail
DWI .106 or more BAC
7/11/78 Plead Guilty ) 1 yr probation
Driving While Revoked
7 11 78 Plead Guilty -$100 Fine
6/28/78
10549
37
Refused
DWI
12/4/78 Plead Guilty
Unsafe Backing
8/2/78
10631
32
.26
DWI
10/10/78 Plead Guilty- Cond.Disch. 1 yr-pr
DWI .10% or more BAC
10/10/78 Plead Guilty- Cond.Disch. 1 yr pri
No Passing 'Lone
10/10/78 Plead Guilty $15 Fine
9/21/78
10752
22
.12
DWI
10/31/78 Plead Guilty DWAI
DWI .10% or more 13AC
10/ °+1/')8 Dismissed
No Lights
10/31/78 Dismissed
Wrong Way
10/31/78 Plead Guilty
Unlic. Operator
10/31/78 Plead Guilt
10/19/78
10812
38
.13
DWI
12/5/78 Plead Guilty
DWI .10% or more BAC
12/5/78 Dismissed
Speeding 46/30
12/5/78 Dismissed
11/19/78
10914
24
.16
DWI
12/5/78 Plead Guilty
DWI .1095 or more BAC
12 78 Plead Guilt
12/15/78
7.0974
22
.16
DWI
DWI .10% or more BAC
Fnil Keep Right
i