Fugitive in California ???

[M0T0Geezer]

In 2007 I blew thru an automated toll gate in San Fran CA while driving a rental car.

Eventually Da Po-leese tracked me down to my home in CO. After months of ever more threatening mail from them, the fine had grown to over $1,000. No way I am payin' that!

The hate mail stoppedbthree years ago but I am still afraid to visit CA for fear there is a warrant out for my arrest.

Any CA residents or LEOs out there who can say if I am still at risk?

'Geezer

[oldbike54]

 From my experience with California , yes . Got a ticket for walking on the freeway when stationed in Riverside in '73 . Now , this happened somewhere on I40 way out in the desert as I was leaving the state . Old truck broke down , was walking back to civilization at 2 AM , young trooper stops , gives me a ride , still cites me. 6 months later returning from overseas to Austin , get a visit from the local sheriff , big hassle , USAF basically takes care of it . Kinda forgot about the ticket , busy and all . One would think the state of CA had better things to do than screw with an active troop  ::)

  Dusty

[Cage Free]

In 2007 I blew thru an automated toll gate in San Fran CA while driving a rental car.

Eventually Da Po-leese tracked me down to my home in CO. After months of ever more threatening mail from them, the fine had grown to over $1,000. No way I am payin' that!

The hate mail stoppedbthree years ago but I am still afraid to visit CA for fear there is a warrant out for my arrest.

Any CA residents or LEOs out there who can say if I am still at risk?

'Geeze



We have lots of undocumented residents to care for here in Ca so do your part and mail a check. ;D

[Monza-jockey]

Computers never forget; now with the license plate readers keeping a low profile isn't easy..

[Dilliw]

I think in CA it takes a couple of outstanding warrants before they will take you in for it.  So as long as you don't do anything real serious when you visit they probably won't bother with you for a traffic issue.

I got a parking ticket last time I was out there and thought about not paying it but then just sent the check.  $50 for 5 mins over the meter!  I'm such a conformist...

[GearheadGrrrl]

A few years back the formerly great City of Minneapolis went on a zero-tolerance housing code enforcement campaign, and I amongst my neighbors was cited for "peeling paint" on the roof trim 20+ feet above the ground. To convey the gravity of their seriousness, the city in their infernal wisdom used the criminal rather than civil statutes to enforce these citations. I missed the court date due to Buell problems and a warrant was duly put out for my arrest, for "peeling paint". A couple times while I was driving the black Golf TDI 2 door with the deep tint windows from the factory that looks like an asian or mexican kid's hot rod Honda from a block away the Minneapolis police would stop me for the usual intermittent taillight that mysteriously started working again as soon as they stopped me. After realizing that the driver was an old white lady the officers would unvaryingly ask me to get the taillights checked and take care of that old warrant for pealing paint or whatever... The jail was full!

But one night I was all set up to grab a great pix of the Empire Builder coming into the Red Wing station in the fog under a classic truss bridge when the bored Red Wing police interrupted me. Citing that warrant, they insisted I visit their new and spacious county jail. They were clearly disappointed when I posted bail and they lost out on the chance to bill Minneapolis for a nights stay in their pretty much empty jail. I splattered the story all over the internet, and when I got to court the judge apologized and accepted a small fine, still haven't paid the fine. Minneapolis quietly gave up on using criminal charges in response to perceived housing code violations and I moved out of Minneapolis.

[pehayes]

In 2007 I blew thru an automated toll gate in San Fran CA while driving a rental car.

Are you sure you did so?  Usually the rental car company pays your toll with your credit card and then takes an additional $50 for providing you with additional administrative services.  The Golden Gate Bridge has gone all automated and the rental car companies are raking it in.

I have received several scam emails about strange automated tolls from places I have never been.  Be wary.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Lannis]

I'm not going back to California but it's not because of an outstanding traffic warrant - I'm afraid of the murderous Wheat Germ cults they've got there ....

Lannis

[mtiberio]

Unpaid stuff can result in a unpaid summary judgement and a ding on your credit rating. Might matter to you if your looking for a loan or have a security clearance.

I used to love flipping the bird to municipalities. Now I just pay.