Curse Word On Check May Cost Jail Time

FishTail · 06-27-06, 01:06 PM

BERKLEY, Mich. -- The parking fine was $10. But the comment Robert Militzer added to the check could land him in jail for 30 days.

The computer programmer from Allen Park got the ticket May 29. When Militzer wrote the check to Berkley District Court, he scribbled on the memo line, "BULL (expletive) MONEY GRAB."

That got Militzer an in-person court appearance -- on a contempt of court charge.

He's scheduled to go before a judge Wednesday, accompanied by an American Civil Liberties Union attorney who will argue Militzer's remark is protected by the First Amendment.

Militzer, 38, was ticketed for parking in front of a friend's house overnight. He said he obeyed signs prohibiting parking between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. during previous visits, but the signs weren't there the morning he was cited.

"I thought they were gaming me, collecting fines without giving people a fair chance to avoid it," Militzer told The Detroit News. "If the sign had been there, I knew what the law was. I would take my lumps and move on."

Militzer said he realized the off-color notation "didn't solve anything." But, he added, "It let them know I felt they were being unfair."

Richard Eshman, Berkley's public safety director, said Militzer could have requested a hearing to argue against the ticket.

"There's an avenue for protesting that kind of thing," he said. ACLU lawyer Elsa Shartsis said Militzer's "choice of words may not be the best, and it may offend some people, but it's not illegal."

Local 6

**Standard Dave** · 06-27-06, 01:14 PM

Hopefully that will teach him to keep his mouth or in this case his pen shut if he has nothing of relevance to say.
Lots of people could do with that lesson

**Crimebytes2** · 06-27-06, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by Standard Dave

Hopefully that will teach him to keep his mouth or in this case his pen shut if he has nothing of relevance to say. Lots of people could do with that lesson

Especially if they're guilty of the offense!

**sflcop** · 06-27-06, 02:33 PM

Stupid

**Retdetsgt** · 06-27-06, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by LongTail

"There's an avenue for protesting that kind of thing," he said. ACLU lawyer Elsa Shartsis said Militzer's "choice of words may not be the best, and it may offend some people, but it's not illegal."

I gotta agree with the ACLU on that one. Big frigging deal! It was just a notation on a damn check. Sounds like the court there doesn't have much else to do.

**Radar** · 06-27-06, 03:25 PM

It was even funnier the guy who got in hot water with a little town in middle tennessee who wrote "FOR SPEED TRAP" on his check to the city for his speeding violation. The city refused his check and tried to charge him, I don't remember exactly for what.

**Autumn2009** · 06-27-06, 04:35 PM

Bwahahahah, dumb ass. Seriously, its $10.

**Ducky** · 06-27-06, 04:40 PM

Well, if he felt he was being screwed, he could have put "sexual favors" on the "for" line.

**dlocke1419** · 06-27-06, 05:49 PM

I think its funny, i hope they do lock him up for 30 days, teach him to be a smart ass.

Cheech · 06-27-06, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by Retdetsgt

I gotta agree with the ACLU on that one. Big frigging deal! It was just a notation on a damn check. Sounds like the court there doesn't have much else to do.

Im with RDS on this. Who cares. Kinda funny. What do they expect? some people dont take things lightly!

**Piggybank Cop** · 06-27-06, 06:29 PM

Pansy ass judge; put him on the street for a week and see what he does.

**Retdetsgt** · 06-27-06, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by dlocke1419

I think its funny, i hope they do lock him up for 30 days, teach him to be a smart ass.

You wanna live in a country where you can be locked up for a month merely for being a smartass? I'd be serving life by now.

**dlocke1419** · 06-27-06, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by Retdetsgt

You wanna live in a country where you can be locked up for a month merely for being a smartass? I'd be serving life by now.

Not for being a smart ass,, but for beging a idiot and insulting a judge by the comment on the check. Its called contempt of court.

**Radar** · 06-27-06, 07:33 PM

did he actually see a judge? sounded like he mailed it in.

Cheech · 06-27-06, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by dlocke1419

Not for being a smart ass,, but for beging a idiot and insulting a judge by the comment on the check. Its called contempt of court.

How did he insult the judge? I mean I cant believe this check was made public! Think about it Jail time? why would you send someone to jail for the words "bull#%@"?

**dlocke1419** · 06-27-06, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Memphis

did he actually see a judge? sounded like he mailed it in.

It sounds like he mailed it in and then received another summons to go to court because attempt of court. It said he had to go before a judge on Wednesday.

**TXCharlie** · 06-27-06, 07:51 PM

Personally, I liked it when my wife used to tell me about the people who did that in person when she worked at the tax office... the Marshall marched them out the door, and had extended talks with them in the parking lot, especially the ones who got mad because they were in a hurry

FishTail · 06-27-06, 07:52 PM

So, a minor protest that few people saw and even fewer cared about is now news. Well done.

**TheOldRhino** · 06-27-06, 07:58 PM

I agree it's BS. Let the guy vent. It's after the fact, and he's paying the fine. It's just like I tell perps: You don't have to do it and like it, you just have to do it.

Charging him for expressing his feelings is unconstitutional.

Cheech · 06-27-06, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by Centurion44

I agree it's BS. Let the guy vent. It's after the fact, and he's paying the fine. It's just like I tell perps: You don't have to do it and like it, you just have to do it.

Charging him for expressing his feelings is unconstitutional.

couldnt of said it better