Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with violation

do your worst copper!!

oblio_one — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:37:19 -0800

Can a New York Transit Authority ticket catch up with me back home in Los Angeles? Have received a ticket in NY but am a CA resident with no ties to the NY area.

When filling out the ticket the PO took down my SSN, Ca driver's license number, cell phone, and the address of our host. My partner's ticket has only the host's address and license number, no SSN or phone number. The driver's license state is not recorded on the ticket, and the violation is 4(a) entered without payment.

Our host insists we ignore the ticket, that nothing can happen. I will without any question pay the fine to avoid even the possibility of trouble, but am now looking into the issue for purely hypothetical / curiosity reasons.

It seems from Internet searching that since CA and NY are both members of the DLC a traffic violation could prevent license registration in CA, but it's not clear if this qualifies. It also seems clear that were I to travel back to NY at any given time in the future I could find a warrant issued over the violation, and that another worst case is getting calls from a collection agency. Again I will pay the fine regardless of what I learn about it, am just interested in knowledge for it's own sake. Has anyone experienced this or have any insight?

How do I get a wrongful suspension lifted in fewer than 30 days?

carofowler — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:25:17 -0800

How do I get a wrongful suspension lifted in fewer than 30 days? How do I get a wrongful suspension lifted in fewer than 30 days?

A client's account was suspended for no reason and it's essential we get it back up asap!

This problem is very serious for us and our client is incredibly upset, as are we. If Twitter has an automated suspension mechanism, they should really get back to you MUCH faster than this since I'm sure they suspend plenty of accounts are are not really spammers!

Please help. We have already replied to the twitter message, but there seems no other way to contact them. Is there another way to contact them immediately?

Help! I've gotten a ticket and I don't know what to do!

Groovytimes — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:55:46 -0800

Could I argue this handicap parking violation? I recently got a ticket for parking in a handicap parking slot. It occurred around 8:30 pm and I truthfully did not notice it was a handicap spot when I parked in it (I know this is not a valid reason for contesting it). The only reason that I am considering contesting it is the fact that it was not properly painted. There is a sign, but the curb is extremely faded and there is no painted symbol on the ground. Just down the street in the same square there are multiple cases of properly painted and signed spaces.

My questions are:

Is it the law to have these spaces properly painted or is it just enough to have the sign? What are the regulations for a handicap space? Do State regulations or Federal govern city regulations? If I go to court, could I plead “no contest” or just “not guilty” and how would I argue this? (If in fact it is arguable).

Here here here and here are pictures of the spot I parked in

Here and here are pictures of a spot on the other side of the square.

I live in the Bay area in California. The ticket is $308.00. The ticket tells me to write a letter first if I wish to contest it, then I’ll receive a letter back if I can, isn’t that weird?

legal advice for a boston city ordinance violation please, details within

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:37:41 -0800

What are my next moves? This past marathon monday, a couple buddies and I were drinking out of solo cups on private property, adjacent to a side street. A group of policemen came around and asked us to move to the street for a "lecture." We put down our drinking cups and move out for said lecture. Turns out the lecture is just a pretense for them to hand out citations for alcohol in public. (200 dollars) The policeman apologizes for doing this, but says that hes under orders to hand out citations. He says that this ticket will be easy to appeal, because he messes up some of the details on the ticket, and he won't show up to the appeal.

I'm having trouble finding resources online regarding how to appeal this citation. (Boston, MA) Links to any resources will be appreciated.

The directions on the backside of the citation says to make a written request to the clerk magistrate of the court. Are there any formal conventions for this letter?

Any anecdotes in a similar situation will also be helpful. I know you are not a lawyer, but given the background, general advice will also be appreciated.

What happens when a doctor breaches confidentiality?

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:27:50 -0800

What happens when a doctor breaches confidentiality? I was talking with my doctor in her office at my appointment and mentioned my friend Jane Doe. My doctor said, "oh I know her, I treated her for these conditions, and furthermore you should know she is this kind of person." Now I feel like I may not have privacy with my doctor because who knows what she's saying behind my back? (I have not told Jane Doe that I know about her medical condition.)

I got the number for a local patient advocacy place, and would like to call them, but I want to know what will happen? Will the doctor just get into minor trouble or will she lose her license? Will I need a lawyer? What if she tries to say I lied and she didn't tell me this information? Can she get some kind of revenge or sue me? If the doctor goes to a new state, will the complaint follow her or will she be able to start fresh with a new license?

My husband does not want me to turn her in. He says that other doctors will not want to treat me after I do this. Is he right?

29mph over in Michigan - Idiot step brother - 79 in a 50 - What are we looking at?

mrflibble — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 10:52:10 -0800

Michigan Speeding - Step brother got hit for going 79 in a 50 - 29 friggin miles over in a car i co-signed ... info no where to be found on MI.gov... He wasn't pleasant with the cop who did in fact write the entire 29 miles over on the ticket probably due to both attitude and radar detector on dash.

The 50 mph road was Gratiot, for those not familiar with the road it's 3-4 lanes each side with businesses and strip malls along it. Nothing country or highwayish about it.

I know they aren't going to give him any leeway whatsoever. 29 is completely different from say even 10 over, even on a first offense.

One theory is this constitutes Felony Speeding here in michigan, possible jail time... They sent a letter for the court date, not the typical pay or contest letter.

I've searched and searched... DMV.gov, MI.gov/sos .. can't find anything with a decent breakdown of violations and their penalties.

I just can't believe how stupid..... just looking for some way to prepare..

Thanks

Is there any way to keep the plants on my roof without violating any laws/codes in Brooklyn?

staveitoff123 — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:23:18 -0800

I have 15 medium-sized vegetable plants on my roof in Brooklyn, which is easily accessed via stairs (i.e. not through a hatch in the roof). The roof has been treated with that silver paint stuff and is surrounded by a metal railing. My landlord originally asked me to remove the plants for a "fire safety" inspection. I removed them but put them back the following day after the inspection. Today (several weeks later) I received a letter from my landlord stating that I had to permanently remove the plants because he received a violation for "illegally occupying the roof deck." I really don't want to get rid of my plants! Is there any way to keep them on my roof without technically violating any laws/codes??

Open source skulduggery

jbrjake — Wed, 21 May 2008 07:23:03 -0800

How should an open source project deal with someone misappropriating its code for profit? I help administer HandBrake, a small video conversion project that's somewhat popular in the Mac world.

We've just been informed that a company called Kandalu has appropriated our code, modified it to add licensing and changed some icons, and is now selling it for $25 a pop as KVideoPodPro.

They do not make source code available, and they claim on their website they wrote it themselves. However, even a cursory comparison of screenshots reveals the truth. Running their executable through the strings command even reveals an instance of "HandBrake 0.9.1" in the binary as well the fact that when they were slapping on the registration code they were working in this filepath:

/Developer/Projects/Others/HandBrake/macosx/Registration/Fondamentals/SESenuti.m

Considering that HandBrake has no "Registration" directory, since it's free, that's a pretty clear-cut sign they've modified the code.

Now, HandBrake is GPL. We give it away free, but there's no reason someone can't sell it (not that I'd suggest it with libdvdcss in there...). And there's no reason they can't modify it.

But they aren't publishing the modifications, and they aren't crediting the original authors, and they sure aren't following the GPL.

Added fun: HandBrake uses a lot of other open source libraries like ffmpeg and x264. It modifies these libraries with patches, that are publicly available on our website. This "KVideoPodPro" is using the same patches and building the same ibraries, but isn't saying it's using them, that's it modifying them, or how it's modifying them. So this does extend out to the greater FOSS world.

So what do we do? HandBrake is totally volunteer. We have no money at all to use in fighting this.

Obviously the first step is getting in touch with these people and asking them to publish their source code changes. But what's the right thing to say, and the right way to say it? And what do we do when they blow it off?

Nearly ruined an awesome road trip...

lou — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:49:34 -0800

On a road trip across the midwestern United States. Out of state driver, small town speed trap. Can I ignore the ticket? and other questions. I got pulled over passing through Foristell, MO, in what is apparently the worst speed trap in Missouri. Also, I have an out of state license (California), driving a rental car with out of state plates (Texas), which means I'm a big flashing dollar sign for them. I don't take too kindly to being extorted, so I'm wondering if a small town in Missouri will actually report this to California and have my license suspended if I don't pay up, or is that just an empty threat by the cops to make sure I fill their tiny city's coffers. I've heard that they could issue a warrant for your arrest but you could avoid that as long as you never plan on returning. On a similar note, do out of state moving violations count as points on your driving license in your home state and will it raise insurance premiums? I know this would differ between states (and which combinations of states) so any specific experiences with California drivers in Missouri would be appreciated.

What can an artist do about unauthorized commercial use of his artwork?

espertus — Sat, 26 May 2007 11:36:16 -0800

An artist friend of mine was surprised to see his artwork used without permission on a flier for a band. He had posted the artwork on his website. What can/should he do to stop the misuse? I know that he automatically holds a copyright on the work as its creator. (I have advised him to post watermarked versions of his work in the future to prevent future misuse.)

Can I keep ignoring this thing?

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:25:11 -0800

Is there a statute of limitations on a red-light camera ticket fine received in California and not paid? I recieved a red-light camera citation via mail from the City of Beverly Hills in February 2000 (Wilshire & La Cienega), back when I was a dirt poor college student (my justification for not properly paying this of course.) I ignored the initial documentation due to my frustration and lack of money and shortly thereafter the fine went up to $400+ dollars, and after that was taken up by a collection agency.

Seven years later, I receive notices from this agency in the same orange and white envelope, however they arrive only about twice per year. I've never received a phone call from them to collect the debt and I've gone into the DMV multiple times to renew my license, and pick up personalized plates and such, and they've never prevented me from doing these things or mentioned I have anything on my record (I've also obtained a copy of my driving record.) The documentation from the court/collection agency has included threats regarding the prevention of license renewal, so I'm not sure if this is obviously false. Also, a delinquent payment/collection file has never appeared on my credit report, on all three agencies (I check semi-annually.)

Although the collection agency still contacts me regarding this debt (if it known as such), does the statute of limitations regarding debt apply in this case? Has anyone else obtained red-light camera violations in the City of Beverly Hills or surrounding areas that have not paid them and not incurred severe consequences?

Red Light, Green Light!

trixare4kids — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 15:52:22 -0800

How much is the fine for running a red light in Oakland, California? (Alameda County). I've searched around but can't find a definitive answer. I got pulled over for running a red light today in Oakland, California. (My first time getting pulled over and I about passed out from the adrenaline rush.) I gunned it on the yellow and didn't quite make it. I don't usually do that, but um yeah, I did it this time. I was wrong, I know I was wrong and he caught me fair and square. He was incredibly polite and respectful about it and I didn’t argue with him. I actually said, “Ok, I think that’s fair” when he said he was going to write me the ticket. As it turns out, he let me off with a warning saying he had something more important to get to. Whew!!

But.. to ensure I don’t do it again, I think it’s important to know exactly how much my complete stupidity would have cost me.

P.S.
Dear Oakland Police Officer: Thanks for being so nice and even bigger thanks for letting me off with a warning! I really needed the break today. Also, hi. You were damn cute. Ahem.

MFC Access Violation

b1tr0t — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 15:26:24 -0800

Why does executing a SQL query via MFC's CDatabase class always result in an access violation? I log data to a remote MySQL database via MySQL Connector/ODBC 3.51. Every time I call CDatabase::ExecuteSQL(), I get an access violation logged to Visual Studio's debug window:

First-chance exception at 0x7c809eb2 in DBTester.exe: 0xC0000005: Access violation reading location 0x00000005.

The deepest I can trace is CDatabase::OnSetOptions(), when it calls SQLSetStmtOption() on SQL_QUERY_TIMEOUT. The comment above that call says "Ignore failure." Unfortunately, the failure is not ignored. I get a debug message every time that line is executed despite the try block around CDatabase.ExecuteSQL(). The data is successfully logged to the database, but the error is polluting my output window, makeing it much harder to debug more important issues.

1. Is there a way to fix the error?
2. If not, can I make it go away somehow?

Crossing a pair of double yellow lines. What does that mean exactly?

zzztimbo — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 17:51:28 -0800

TrafficTicketFilter: I was cited for CVC 21651(A)(1) in Aliso Viejo, CA. Please help me determine if I can beat this ticket. This is what I was cited for: CVC 21651(A)(1)

Divided Highways

21651. (a) Whenever a highway has been divided into two or more roadways by means of intermittent barriers or by means of a dividing section of not less than two feet in width, either unpaved or delineated by curbs, double-parallel lines, or other markings on the roadway, it is unlawful to do either of the following:

(1) To drive any vehicle over, upon, or across the dividing section.

Please have a look at details of what happened, here:
http://local.live.com/?v=2&cid=DAA28689322CC8BA!107

It is best to look at it in "Bird's eye" mode and clicking on the icon with the bigger buildings (I assume this is "greater detail" mode).

I understand you are NOT supposed to cross a PAIR of double yellow lines. But what about the area that can be seen in pushpin #1. I claim that I drove safely into this area and then proceeded to merge with the traffic in the west-bound lane on Pacific Park. I seriously double the cop could tell exactly what my path was from his distance [the cop was situated at pushpin #2].

Next, he decided to pull me over, so I pulled over around where pushpin #3 is. He joking said I violated CVC 21651(A)(1) again when I pulled over into the parking lot. The citation was for the initial left turn.

If this cop's interpretation of CVC 21651(A)(1) is correct, then shouldn't the cars making a left turn into the supermarket parking lot also deserve tickets [pushpin #4]? There are clearly a line of cars waiting to make left turns similar to what I did.

Thanks for any feedback!