Sheriff's Booking Fees overturned

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Sheriff's Booking Fees overturned

Submitted by DrewHendricks on Fri, 09/01/2006 - 12:16pm.

U.S. District Judge strikes down booking fees law;
Thurston County owes $662,000

The Olympian article is here.

When I was arrested in the early morning hours of May 23rd, I had about $13 on me (that was about 40% of my total cash at the time). The booking guy told me that I had to pay at least $10 into the booking fee, that I would owe another $90, and that I had no choice in the matter. He put my money into a drawer, and handed me a slip of paper to sign for my money (and to agree to the other $90). I signed it "Duress" and handed it back to him, hoping that in time I could show a judge that I was in custody, had no choice but to agree to the contract I was signing, and thus could not legally sign the contract.

Since then, I have worried (not much, just a little) about whether I would be able to get my shoes back from the Sheriff, since I had unpaid booking fees totaling $90. Now I can go back and get my shoes! Yay!

What I wonder about is this: when the booking fee is not paid, it goes to collections. The collections folks add their own profit (ahem, fees) to the mix, and the total is likely to be far more than the original amount owed - especially as time goes by. So what will happen to everyone whose credit and pocketbooks have been affected by these collections agencies and their entries on the 'permanent record' of our credit histories?

Well this should help out

Submitted by Norm on Fri, 09/01/2006 - 3:39pm.

Well this should help out the county jail. I feel sorry for the poor person who is afraid for their life and finally at ease when they realize the person they thought would be in jail gets turned out after being booked because the jail just can't afford to hold them any longer. You may find this to be far fetched, but I have an aunt who would disagree.

I find it odd that the jails

Submitted by Phil Owen on Sat, 09/02/2006 - 12:48pm.

I find it odd that the jails have a hard time holding dangerous offenders, yet are also packed full of people who committed non-violent, non-victim offenses, like possession of drugs/paraphernalia, drinking in public, trespassing, etc.

It's all precedence, and

Submitted by Norm on Sat, 09/02/2006 - 1:16pm.

It's all precedence, and perception. You and I may know that a person is dangerous, and be afraid of them, but unless the courts have proof they aren't going to hold that person. Likewise, although the county is gettinger better and better about setting up alternatives to drug charges ( rehab, day jail, etc. ) there are still those that end up sitting there and really it serves no purpose, they are going to get out and keep doing/selling drugs and jailtime at Thurs Co. isn't going to change that.

Right On!

Submitted by olyrickm on Fri, 09/01/2006 - 4:24pm.

The booking fee was/is a way for the criminal in-justice system to rake in the dollars for the criminal/industrialist complex. Found money. Similar to the payday loan companies that are everywhere nowadays. Similar to atm fees to access your own money. If we had a fair tax system that did not allow the huge fish to find amazing loopholes to avoid paying their fair share we wouldn't have this kind of crap going on in our nation. We wouldn't need to attempt to hijack those who are already hijacked for a few extra dollars to make sure the cell doors close smoothly. We have socialsim for the rich and free market for the poor. It's how the rich stay rich and how those in power stay in power. And just a brief word to Norm: predictiablitly in answer is a sign of myopia, a refusal to deal with ambiguity of which is absolutely essential, since it's the heart and soul of authentic lilving. How come you always defend those who are already in power, those who already make the rules, those who already have most of the money. How come?

oh, I tend not to defend

Submitted by Norm on Fri, 09/01/2006 - 4:44pm.

oh, I tend not to defend those with money, I just don't defend those who end up in jail. It's really pretty simple, if you follow my posts you'll see which side I'm on, and it's not those that end up arrested.

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