Motorist Sentenced to Publicly Apologize for Illegally Parking in Handicapped Space

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Fire Chief - 15 Dec 2006 22:47 GMT

Motorist Sentenced to Publicly Apologize for Illegally Parking in
Handicapped Space
December 15, 2006 14:43

UNION, S.C. -- A man who parked illegally in a space reserved for
handicapped drivers was sentenced to stand outside the store with a
sign telling everyone about his crime.

Ragheem Smith, 29, was standing in front of a Bi-Lo grocery store
Thursday with a handmade sign that read "I am not handicapped. I just
parked there, sorry."

Magistrate Jeff Bailey imposed the sentence. "I figured he needed to
apologize in a public way," Bailey said.

Smith told Bailey he didn't have the money and couldn't afford the time
away from work a jail sentence would require. He could have been
sentenced to 30 days in jail or fined $325.

"That was better than having to pay a lot of money," Smith said of his
punishment. "I know I won't do it no more."

___

Information from: The Union Daily Times,
http://www.uniondailytimes.com/

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Joan Carter - 15 Dec 2006 23:36 GMT

>UNION, S.C. -- A man who parked illegally in a space reserved for
>handicapped drivers was sentenced to stand outside the store with a
>sign telling everyone about his crime.

I love it, Chief. Thanks! :-)
---
Joan

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Cindy M - 16 Dec 2006 13:18 GMT

Thinking it was a good punishment...especially since the young man couldn't
afford the fines...
Shows this judge is more about making things right and not about money...
Cindy

> >UNION, S.C. -- A man who parked illegally in a space reserved for
> >handicapped drivers was sentenced to stand outside the store with a
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> ---
> Joan

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DeeTee - 18 Dec 2006 16:51 GMT

Unfortunately, although this individual will probably not repeat his
crime, onlookers may not be so quick to take note. It's always the
other guy who gets caught. At least the judge had the right idea!

DeeTee

> Motorist Sentenced to Publicly Apologize for Illegally Parking in
> Handicapped Space
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>
> ... No new mail for you -- want someone else's?

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Nann Bell - 18 Dec 2006 22:03 GMT

> Unfortunately, although this individual will probably not repeat his
> crime, onlookers may not be so quick to take note. It's always the
> other guy who gets caught. At least the judge had the right idea!
>
> DeeTee

It got me thinking --

Now they could have jailed the fellow on work release so he could still go to
work, but I don't really think jail is the appropriate punishment. I kinda
like the public apology, but it isn't quite enough. how about sentencing
someone to a week in a wheelchair (when out of the house anyway), with a sign
saying something like, "I'm here for a week because I illegally parked in a
handicapped space. Next time you want to do the same, think what life is
like for people with physical limitations."

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Nann
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