Orr administration has only one goal with traffic tickets: Get as much of your money as it can

BY RICHARD JOHNSON

The HIVE, or High Intensity Visibility Enforcement just got a few more stingers. It's starting to seem like a City Hall wasp’s nest rather than a bee hive. 

Statistics show that about 95 percent of traffic stops are regular people like you and me; guilty of the "lead foot," a "California stop" or a broken light. Now more options are being taken from you in order to fill the honey pot.

In July 2019, the online traffic course option was taken from you. 

What does this mean?  In the past, when you got a ticket for a traffic violation, a judge could give you the option

of paying for the four-hour online traffic course instead of a hefty fine. 

With this option, you could give the court your results (provided you passed), and it would save you a 100 bucks. The judge would then tell you, “No tickets in two years," you would pay whatever was left of your fine and move on with your life.

Now this online traffic course option is only available if you’re a kid. If you are an adult that's gone 20 years never receiving a ticket and being a good citizen, your only option is to carry an albatross around your driving record neck for eight long years. 

The kids get "Alive at 25" while adults get screwed. Gotta bankroll the city somehow; we have Bloomberg grants to pay back!

What was the city's response when asked about its decision to take away the online traffic course?

They said, “It was too costly and time consuming for the courts.”

So will they implement NSC DDC Additional Dynamics of Driving? They’ll tell you they are still working on agreeing on a price, but it's a face-to-face class. You must give up six hours of your life on a Saturday. Why am I thinking of that movie with Bill Murray’s brother?

Here's what the Internet pulls up about this class:

"Attitudinal Dynamics of Driving is recommended for drivers with multiple traffic violations and those with poor driving behaviors who need a catalyst for positive change. The course is designed for court referrals and drivers who exhibit continuing patterns of risky and overly aggressive driving behaviors."

The class is designed more for dangerous and habitual offenders vs. the average Joe who got a little excited listening to REO Speedwagon and ended up with a speeding ticket. Once again, there will be no option for 95 percent of the populace because we are obviously worthless.

Next up is the new judge in Cheyenne.

The old judge was known to be just and fair, so you know that definitely pissed off the current administration that wants to cheat 24/7. The new judge will likely play hardball with all the speeding minivan moms in town. Some ’60s hot rod with new pipes probably just blew by an old curmudgeon's house in the avenues and disturbed “The Price is Right.” How dare they!?  

Going to court now for a speeding ticket is the same as taking your pitbull case on Judge Judy. You're never going to win. You might as well just pay the citation because the only thing you’ll get from the court is paperwork you can show your boss to justify using PTO. 

The whole thing is just one more slap in the face from government. 

Let's face it, the Cheyenne government is just here to fleece you. Why stand up for yourself? Just go sit in the HIVE and take another stinger in the ass. You deserve it for being human and making a mistake.

            Richard Johnson is a former City Council member from the east side of Cheyenne.