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The New York State Police decree removing troopers from having the ability to plea bargain traffic violations is ludicrous.
This terrible new mandate will likely take away enormous amounts of revenue townships rely on throughout Sullivan County. Not only will it put us in a potentially further deficit, but it will stall our legal system
To put it as blunt as possible, District Attorney Stephen Lungen does not have the manpower to handle plea bargains when it comes to traffic violations, and to ask him to do so would be criminal.
Assistant District Attorney James Farrell recently discussed with me the heavy case load Lungen’s office faces on a daily basis prosecuting those who have committed felonies and misdemeanors in Sullivan County.
Lungen’s staff is burning the candle from both ends for the protection and well-being of all Sullivan County residents.
It would be outlandish and a waste of all of our taxpayer dollars to require Farrell and all of our other overworked Assistant District Attorneys to be required to appear in court to negotiate traffic violations.
And – with all the budget woes our county is facing, we can forget about our legislators approving the hiring of additional assistant district attorneys.
Stephen Lungen runs one of the most respected, hardworking, and efficient district attorney offices in New York State, plea bargaining traffic violations must not become part of their duties.
The one person could stop this potential travesty from happening is Governor George Pataki. But he refuses. What a terrible legacy Pataki will be leaving by allowing this mandate to happen, and ignore the wishes of both houses of the State Legislature.
State Senator John Bonacic has taken a leadership role in the New York State Senate in an attempt to stop this new system, and to keep it the way it has been for years. Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther has supported the measure in the Assembly. This bi partisan bill almost unanimously passed by the legislature was inexcusably vetoed by Pataki.
Hopefully, the legislature will have the power and willingness to override his veto.
In the past, If a motorist got a speeding ticket from a New York State Trooper, the police officer in court had the option to reduce the violation to let’s say “parking on pavement.” The proceeds from this fine would then have gone into the local town coffers instead of the state, and the motorist would have received no points on their license.
But, now this has all stopped.
There are various arguments as to why troopers can no longer plea bargain traffic violations, and why this new mandate is being implemented.
Despite all this, the fact is, the old system was a win win for everyone involved. The motorist was disciplined for his crime, the town received additional revenue, and our court system was not tied up.
Mind you, all this was done after the courts and the trooper writing the summons went through the record of the motorist, and only then, the reduction of the violation is agreed upon.
So many credible officials have joined together clearly stating this mandate stinks and it won’t work. But, like with so many other issues, Pataki just does not care.
According to Town of Thompson Supervisor Anthony Cellini, just last year, his township received about $180,000 in extra revenue from such traffic violation plea bargains. Each township throughout our State will now be losing this important revenue stream.
We all know that municipalities rely on these monies, and this will only lead them to raise our taxes or cutback on services. What an outrage this is for all of us!
Even the New York State Trooper PBA has major problems with this directive. Tom Munger who is a Sullivan County resident and First Vice-President of the State Police PBA has said that this new order will cost taxpayers a great deal of unnecessary monies, and will place an unnecessary burden on the Sullivan County legal system.
Munger is right on target.
So many respected people cannot be wrong on this matter.
Wake up Governor Pataki and look at what you are doing to our motorists, municipalities, police, taxpayers and the judicial system in New York State. Paralyzing our government is no way to leave office.
The system worked - don’t you understand that Mr. Pataki?
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