It's not just *our* legal system...

[ColinJ]

What is up with these people!     

 

[ohnovino]

A financial manager for wealthy clients will not face felony charges for a hit-and-run because it could jeopardize his job

"Felony convictions have some pretty serious job implications for someone in Mr. Erzinger's profession"

Errr ... isn't that kind of the point of a criminal record

 

[PBancroft]

Ah, but that's the difference. It's OK to penalise working class oiks, its quite a different matter to cause grievance to people with standing in the civil society.

The class system is still alive and well.

 

[ColinJ]

Ah, but that's the difference. It's OK to penalise working class oiks, its quite a different matter to cause grievance to people with standing in the civil society.

The class system is still alive and well.

Exactly the point made by the mate who sent me the link. You'd get a much stiffer sentence for stealing a car than for being the driver in a hit-and-run!

 

[Over The Hill]

I am not in any way defending the bloke in the clip but there is some point to their action.

If two blokes had a fight outside a pub and were both charged.
Bloke A works in a factory and gets a fine and carries on his life £60 out of pocket.
Bloke B is a lawyer, he cannot then carry on his profession with a criminal record so loses his livelyhood. That could cost him many thousands of pounds in lost income and affect the rest of his life.

So is the law not right in looking at this and recognising that the application of the law would affect bloke B too much for the crime comitted?

 

[mr_hippo]

What is up with these people!

I see that your location is West Yorkshire - as far as I am aware, US law does not apply there.

 

[snorri]

I see that your location is West Yorkshire - as far as I am aware, US law does not apply there.

The hint is in the thread title.

 

[ColinJ]

The hint is in the thread title.

Er, yes... D'oh!

I was making these points:

• the powers-that-be are fools in other countries too

• money talks

• cyclists are apparently considered a lower form of life, not worthy of protection
  

 

[ColinJ]

So is the law not right in looking at this and recognising that the application of the law would affect bloke B too much for the crime comitted?

We are not talking about a little disagreement outside a pub here! A cyclist was left mangled in the road while the driver did his best not to get caught and, as far as I can tell, did nothing to summon help to his victim! For all he knew, the cyclist would die without immediate attention, and he would clearly have been in agonising pain. 

If somebody has a responsible job and loses it because of their criminal behaviour then that is their lookout. Perhaps they shouldn't drive in a dangerous fashion, and then try and evade the inevitable consequences of their stupidity!

 

[Arch]

Hear hear!

I suppose the only point is that while in his high powered legal job, he can afford more compensation. Although compensation isn't everything, and certainly wouldn't be if the chap had died.

I agree, it's crap.

 

[magnatom]

We are not talking about a little disagreement outside a pub here! A cyclist was left mangled in the road while the driver did his best not to get caught and, as far as I can tell, did nothing to summon help to his victim! For all he knew, the cyclist would die without immediate attention, and he would clearly have been in agonising pain.

If somebody has a responsible job and loses it because of their criminal behaviour then that is their lookout. Perhaps they shouldn't drive in a dangerous fashion, and then try and evade the inevitable consequences of their stupidity!

+100

That is outrageous. I'm lost for words!

 

[sheddy]

and a renowned pFootballer gets off DD charge with a suspended sentence - http://www.bbc.co.uk...d-tyne-11954284

4x over the limit FFS !

 

[ColinJ]

and a renowned pFootballer gets off DD charge with a suspended sentence - http://www.bbc.co.uk...d-tyne-11954284

4x over the limit FFS !

Hmmm!

You are not heavily convicted and you have nothing currently on your record of a similar nature

Perhaps he's trying to make up for lost time...

Gascoigne is also due for trial on a separate drink-drive charge

 

 

[Dan B]

I am not in any way defending the bloke in the clip but there is some point to their action.

If two blokes had a fight outside a pub and were both charged.
Bloke A works in a factory and gets a fine and carries on his life £60 out of pocket.
Bloke B is a lawyer, he cannot then carry on his profession with a criminal record so loses his livelyhood. That could cost him many thousands of pounds in lost income and affect the rest of his life.

So is the law not right in looking at this and recognising that the application of the law would affect bloke B too much for the crime comitted?

No, it's not. Bloke B can still get a job in a factory, so it's not as though this puts him worse off than bloke A. If he doesn't want to be treated by the justice system as a common oik, he should avoid behaving like one. His privileged background and expensive education gives him much more opportunity to commit crimes suitable to his station in life, such as white collar fraud and tax evasion - he should stick to those