Never understood why traffic enforcement agencies werent more - TopicsExpress

Never understood why traffic enforcement agencies werent more compassionate and instead seemed to be sadistic and take great joy in adding to the miseries of those living in poverty:Stocky’s crime : speeding. Which then led to an examination by the deputy of his driver’s license, which had expired two days earlier. His total fines and court costs were $ 175, money he did not have. Hopper County had contracted with a private outfit to strong-arm the money out of Stocky and other poor people unlucky enough to commit petty crimes and traffic offenses. If Stocky could have written the check, he would have done so and gone home. But because he was poor and broke, his case was handled differently. The judge ordered it to be administered by the crooks at Judicial Response Associates. Lady and Stocky met with a JRA operative the day they went to court , and he explained how the payment plan would work. His company tacked on fees— one called the Primary Fee at $ 75, one called the Monthly Service Fee at $ 35 per, and one at the end, assuming they ever got there, called the Termination Fee, a bargain at only $ 25. Court costs and a few other vague add-ons brought their total to $ 400. They figured they might be able to pay $ 50 a month, the minimum allowed by JRA; however, they soon realized that $ 35 of the $ 50 was gobbled up with the Monthly Service Fee. They tried to renegotiate, but JRA wouldn’t budge. After two payments, Stocky quit and that was when the serious trouble started. Two deputies came to their trailer after midnight and arrested Stocky . Lady protested, as did their oldest son, and the deputies threatened to zap them with their brand-new Tasers. When Stocky was dragged before the judge again, more fines and fees were added. The new total was $ 550. Stocky explained that he was broke and out of work, and the judge sent him back to jail. He’d been there for two months. Meanwhile, JRA was still tacking on its beloved monthly service charge , which for some mysterious reason had been increased to $ 45 per. Grisham, John (2014-10-21). Gray Mountain: A Novel (Kindle Locations 1153-1165). Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. Grisham, John (2014-10-21). Gray Mountain: A Novel (Kindle Locations 1152-1153). Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.