70 citations issued in three months

March 09, 2006|by DANIEL J. SERNOVITZ

HAGERSTOWN

Between Nov. 1, 2005, and Jan. 31, 2006, the Hagerstown Police Department issued 70 traffic citations to motorists who were stopped for driving a vehicle with expired registration and towed 25 of those vehicles from the scene, according to police records.

The Herald-Mail filed a request Jan. 31 with the City of Hagerstown requesting details about the procedure the police department follows in determining whether to issue a traffic citation, data relating to Hagerstown City Councilwoman Alesia D. Parson-McBean's traffic stop on Jan. 20, a list of motorists cited for expired registration violations during a three-month period and a list of motorists warned but not cited for registration violations during the same time period.

The city replied Feb. 24, making available all of the requested information except for the number of warnings it issued. In denying that request, city Public Information Manager Karen M. Giffin said the department cannot extract that information.

Records indicate that among the 70 motorists cited, two were given tickets on Jan. 20, the day Parson-McBean was stopped but not given a ticket. The two vehicles were not towed.

Police department policy states that officers have the authority to issue written or verbal warnings, "usually issued when the officer believes that a violation was unintentional and of a minor nature where life or property was not threatened and no interference with the rights of other motorists occurred." Officers also have the discretion to tow vehicles if they are "bearing stolen, altered, expired or no registration."

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