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Shady Cove has gentler ticket idea BY MELISSA MARTIN SHADY COVE -- Drivers who commit minor traffic violations in this river community may get the chance to mend their ways. The City Council next month will put in writing a philosophy that encourages the municipal court and police department to give some traffic violators a chance to right their wrong. "We want to convey a message that on those occasions when somebody might be driving without a license ... or stopped without insurance for the first time, rather than impose a heavy fine, give them a time where they can correct the problem, show their license or proof of insurance and then forget the ticket," said Shady Cove Mayor Tom Anderson. Because Shady Cove has more police officers on the streets than it did a year ago, revenue from traffic fines and bails is higher than budgeted -- $91,870 for the past 12 months, compared to $75,000 projected in the general fund. Last winter, Shady Cove lost two officers who accepted higher-paying jobs in Eagle Point. But by January, the city replaced them thanks to voter approval of a three-year police levy last November. The city also has a federal COPS grant that helps fund the police department. But besides having more officers to write tickets, the city's municipal judge has found more effective ways to collect fines, said Police Chief Jim Johnson. "We are doing a better job of collecting fines by being more understanding with people and fitting the method of payment to their needs, putting them on a payment plan that works for them," Johnson said. A written philosophy to guide courts and police won't mean that the streets will become unsafe in Shady Cove, said the mayor. "This doesn't threaten public safety," Anderson said. "We're not talking about chronic traffic violators or repeat people. It's people that are behind the eight ball, giving them a second chance." Johnson agreed that a motorist who drives 8 to 10 miles over the speed limit through town, rolls through a stop sign or fails to carry a driver's license is in a much different category than someone committing a traffic crime such as driving intoxicated or with a suspended license. Traffic felonies are tried in circuit court, not municipal court. "Those are traffic crimes, dangerous or hazardous violations," Johnson said. "We don't write warnings for those." The mayor said he was motivated to ask the council about a written philosophy after visiting municipal court, which he described as "a sad environment." "Many of the people there, by the time they paid for the ticket, they had no money left to buy auto insurance," he told the city council recently. Shady Cove resident Chuck Johnisee agreed. "The minimum wage-earner has no way to get back over the top," he told the council. ``If they make $250 a week and the ticket for running a red light is $170, they can't get out of debt. They can't take food out of their kids' mouth to pay for the ticket." The City Council is expected to discuss a draft philosophy during its study session at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, in city hall. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA