Update Anita Zaffke's killer has ticket dismissed, prosecutor displays ignorance

LEGISLATOR DRESSED FOR WORK 


Updated by Bruce Arnold (see link Below), arrogant, irreverent, cynical comments by yours truly:

Traffic ticket dismissed as probe into fatal crash continues

By Tony Gordon [ tgordon@dailyherald.com ] | Daily Herald Staff

Published: 6/5/2009 4:16 PM

Prosecutors have dismissed the traffic ticket issued to a Morris woman
suspected of causing a May 2 crash that killed a motorcyclist, while they
investigate filing more serious charges at a later date.

Lets see how this works, lady is sitting at a stoplight on her motorcycle. Wearing a helmet, dressed "conspicuously" (Florida's new buzzword and magic bullet to reduce motorcycle carnage, see post here) fully trained, endorsed and experienced when Lora Hunt comes zipping down the highway in her cage and knocks Ms. Zaffke into the here after.  Here it is June 8th, more than a month after the homicide and Prosecutors are "Investigating" filing more serious charges (What? you mean failure to reduce speed to avoid an "accident" was not a serious enough charge? Oh you Lake County Barbarians you!).

Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller said Friday he elected to
dismiss the ticket for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident given to
Lora L. Hunt, 48, to avoid potential double-jeopardy issues.

Ummm, excuse our cynicism but do ya think that maybe the blow back he might have received as a result of the "turn your head the other way while manslaughter is committed ticket" may have had something to do with the "Election" to dismiss the ticket????

Police said Hunt was polishing her fingernails as she drove and struck a
motorcycle stopped for a traffic signal at Rand and Old McHenry roads near
Lake Zurich.

And remember now the original charge was:

"failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident"

Like the cop looked at Ms. Zaffke's mangled body a couple hundred feet from impact and pieces of her  motorcycle, then looked in his little book of "Crash Charges" under the chapter "reduced charges if crash results in the fatality of a biker" and picked the least egregious charge for a most egregious incident and said to him/her self,   "Thats the charge".

Adding insult to injury by referring to the selfish, self serving, overt negligence of Ms. Hunt as an "accident." Kinda like a hit man taking out his target and then blaming it on his bullet moving to fast.

The driver of the motorcycle, Anita Zaffke, 56, of Lake Zurich, was killed
by the impact.

Well we sure can't understand how. After all she was wearing a helmet, she did have on conspicuous Florescent clothing, she was trained?

The tragedy has touched off an angry and emotional outcry, particularly among motorcycle enthusiasts, about the danger caused by distracted drivers.

We are not surprised at the "particularly among motorcycle enthusiasts part".  We all know that cagers don't give a damn.  Hell, judging by the actions of the Florida legislature and Florida "Bikers" last session we would be hard pressed to believe they give a damn.  In fact we are bit fearful that Florida Legislators might be inclined to give Ms. Hunt a medal!

Waller said an accident reconstruction specialist is preparing a report on
the crash, and investigators from his office are re-interviewing witnesses.

Re-interviewing?????? Did they forget their hearing aids and glasses during the first investigation????
An accident reconstruction specialist????  Lets see, how does that work? Car is speeding down the highway with driver painting fingernails, Car rear ends parked motorcycle, no skid marks, knock motorcycle and rider into here after.  Oh hell yeah call in a damn specialist.

He said it was necessary to dismiss the traffic ticket before Hunt's first
scheduled court appearance, which was set for Monday, June 8, to avoid
potential double-jeopardy issues.

Lets see, states attorney, prosecutor, law school graduate (we assume) "well gosh guys I had to consult on that there double jeopardy stuff."

"Had she chosen to plead guilty to the traffic ticket, it could have
prevented us from filing more serious charges if the investigation indicates
they are warranted," Waller said. "If more serious charges are not
warranted, the traffic charge can be reinstated."

WHAT????????  WHAT???????  I SAY AGAIN, WHATTTTTTTT???????????
MR. WALLER right now I have any number of descriptive terms running through my little ol pea brain that "could" apply to you, were they not to kind.

Lake County Sheriff's police have already said drug or alcohol use on Hunt's
part is not an issue in the case, and Lake County Coroner Dr. Richard Keller
said Hunt's toxicology tests were negative.

Well hell thats a damn relief. Cause Ms. Zaffke would probably be deader had Ms. Hunt been drinking. But now we be wonderin about the drug thing. Anybody ever huff fingernail polish?
Actually this is sad. Ms. Zaffke doesn't even have the option of saying I'm an alcoholic I couldn't help myself. Instead it is proven she was in full possesion of her faculties. Such as they may be.

Waller said he could not predict when the investigation would be complete,
but added he expects the results within a few weeks.

Well Mr. Waller, from reading this article we are not surprised that you can not predict when the investigation will be complete. In fact we would be more than surprised if you could predict your own damn birthday!

and Bruce ends with [ AND THE GAMES BEGIN! ]
and we say, maybe we play hardball!

Source:

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=298760

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Tallahassee Veterans in need of household items

The American Legion Post 13 is collecting items from laundry detergent to bathroom rugs to fill 13 four-bedroom apartments that will house 52 homeless veterans.Donated items can be dropped off at American Legion Post 13, 229 Lake Ella Drive, or interested parties can call 222-3382 or Bob James at 228-8970.
See story at the Tallahassee Democrat here

And remember why you are Free.  Well at least supposed to be.Add to Technorati Favorites

ABATE of FLorida and finances

While trying to obtain the attachments referenced in the post below

And another even more interesting ABATE of FLorida letter-has the president resigned

We came across a fairly interesting tidbit of info. Especially considering the post above mentioned post and emergency meeting called by the state treasurer.

Although we have no idea whether or not the two are connected and the info we received is not documented (though it is from a trusted source) it appears that at least one chapter president was requesting unsigned checks and inadvertently copped to the fact that a treasurers name was being signed to checks by someone other than the treasurer. That it was a matter of practice.

Now again we want to emphasize that we have no documentation to verify that info. We do trust the source who provided us with it. Either/or it should be easy enough to verify by matching signatures on checks to treasurers signatures.

Though we suspect that may be the least of ABATE of Florida's problems.  It would seem to this writer anyway, that if you are a "not for profit" organization that claims to receive state monies from federal grants and your president/lobbyist sits on a federal committee having to do with bikers rights/safety that you might want to be as transparent as possible regarding financial matters.

Don't get us wrong, we do not find the fact that somebody might screw over the government particularly upsetting. After all, they screw us daily. What cranks our tractor is when people claiming to be for "bikers rights" ripping "bikers" off.

ABATE of Florida wants to get all territorial and keep out the MRF and the AMA.  They want to keep non-member bikers out of the legislative process and keep citizens of the capital (tax payer) grounds.

see:http://www.bigbendbikersforfreedom.com/2009/04/abate-freedom-rally-what-morning-it-was.html

and

http://www.bigbendbikersforfreedom.com/2009/04/abate-of-florida-freedom-rally-all.html

Which means ABATE of Florida has stepped beyond the limits of "their territory"
and have crossed the line onto mine and others. To which I must say:Add to Technorati Favorites