I do not mean to be offensive in any way please excuse me if I offend you.

Are you really a Native American? Are you for real? Anyone have any knowledge of trentrivers?

Again, I apologize in advance and mean no offense. Just very curious about you.

This person no more exists than does Elvis! Just have some fun and assume "something."

When you made the comment that she lives in Clayton county, I looked on Fayette county tax records. No Scales Johnson, then I looked in
Clayton county tax records and there she was. But when I looked at the address ...it says Fayetteville! So more than likely, the parents are showing a tax bill that says Fayetteville, as that is where the mail comes, but no one is looking closely at it because...the address ...IS IN CLAYTON COUNTY....AND SHE IS PAYING CLAYTON COUNTY TAXES...NOT FAYETTE.

For those of you who do not know, the nearest post office often determines the name of the community.

For example - some legitimate Fayette County addresses (near the Pavilion) are listed as 'Jonesboro' and they attend Fayette County High.

As for the subdivision River's Edge - it is indeed in Clayton County but carries a Fayetteville Address.

The area is in Clayton County, despite the Fayetteville Address and is the River's Edge Elementary/Lovejoy Middle/Lovejoy High attendance area - in Clayton County.

On Corinth Road, the mailing addresses are "Jonesboro" although they are zoned to attend Fayette County schools.

The same situation occurs on County Line Road with the Ridgecrest subdivision being zoned to attend Whitewater HS.

Crazy, confusing, and basically sounds like it's a huge gray area on the Attendance Maps for the FCBoE. In the past, I had been told (by a Realtor, no less) that anything on the east side of County Line Road is Clayton County and would attend their school system. That isn't a hard and fast rule of thumb, apparently. What else is new for the FCBoE!

You are indeed correct. I suppose the difference is, like Oldbeachbear said, the mother they are talking about is indeed sending her kids out of district and out of county.

It makes you wonder if the schools all know, even though it is a Fayetteville address, that River's Edge is not Fayette County but Clayton County.

On the flip side, I can imagine the poor folks who live On Corinth Road bringing in water bills that say Jonesboro trying to convince the school they live in Fayetteville!

that there are, indeed, a limited number of houses in River's Edge that are truly located IN Fayette County. I am not sure of the exact number or the location, but I remember hearing something about that. Keep the faith

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

It's simple. All they have to do is bring a copy of their tax bill. This will prove that the address (Riverdale/Jonesboro/Fairburn) is located in Fayette County.

Some of North Fayette County is on Riverdale/Fairburn address.

It's not simple - for anyone, for example Realtors, to say to potential home buyers "anything east of County Line Road is Clayton County and those kids go to Clayton County schools" because that is not correct. Add that to the residences that have a Jonesboro address, but lie within Fayette County and the confusion is quite easy to understand.

I live in the middle of Fayette County and my children attend Fayette County schools, so I am very familiar with the proof of residence paperwork. But until you purchase, you don't have the tax bill to produce as residential proof.

The point I made was when a home owner purchases in Ridgemont or off of Corinth Road, their mailing address may very well say Jonesboro, but they are zoned for Fayette County schools. THAT is the confusing part.

Won't you just let the various Superintendents make these decisions?
My Lord, it is like voting on every question on every test given!
You are only putting off total integration of our races for a little while longer with these shenanigans!

You must be quite dense to post a remark like you did (above) when you are constantly starting new blogs that only mean something to the various personalities in YOUR head. I've honestly never glanced over one of your blogs that have a valid point, make sense, or are worth the time and effort to respond to.

This forum is clogged with your ramblings - you must be so happy.

Not valid huh, for a guy who makes a quarter million dollars a year to decide upon who goes to what school? You want to decide, don't you?
I realize you may be limited in having any interest in national or world affairs, but I will continue to speak of them!
You only like the simple, racial things!

It is YOUR blogs that don't have VALID points.

Your comprehension skills need some sharpening, dude! I NEVER mentioned I wanted to decide who goes to what school, nor did I ever mention race. What is up with you trying to drag that into it now? You are trying to stir the pot like you love to do on here. I'm not taking your bait.

Your blogs speak of national and world affairs? Hard to tell when you only use a few "letrz frum ur keebord" on so many of your blogs and posts.

It doesn't have anything to do with race. It has to do with the county you pay taxes in.

FCSB has caught many people cheating or attempting to cheat from Rivers Edge plantation in particular. This woman slipped through some how. Now we want our 8,000+ dollars back. If she wants to send her kid to a Fayette County school she needs to buy a home here.

Put bonkers back on even she makes more sense.

If they are zoned for Fayette County schools, they live in Fayette County. No matter what the post office address is, if they live in Fayette County, they attend Fayette schools. If they don't have a tax bill, they can go to the county tax assessor's office and get the info for the school. This will show the mailing address AND the county name.

Yes, this is the way it works and I totally agree with you. I was pointing out where there is confusion about the situation.

Let the buyer beware!!

If a school is important to the buyer, after a decision is made on a house, the realtor can get the correct info on schools -- but of course, they probably won't if there's a chance it would kill the sale, and the buyer has not even thought about checking school districts. Then when school starts, they just send their children where the realtor told them they would go, not realizing they could not attend Fayette schools if they lived in Clayton County and had a Fayetteville mailing address. (Some people really aren't aware of this, but the realtors are).

Maybe the schools could coordinate with the tax office on these borderline subdivisions, or even street addresses. I don't have all the answers. That's why we pay school officials. I only know that something needs to be done, and if parents' cars are registered in another county, then that's where they pay tax, and their children should go to the county where they pay tax.

Park in any Fayette County Schoollot (Sandy Creek is a good example)
watch all the out of county car tags dropping off or picking up kids.
(Cars will usually have several students). Fulton and Clayton county
appear most often, but I have seen Coweta. I have seen 15-20 out of county tags in just the past few days - that's a lot of tax payer money at $ 8000 per student. This has been going on for yars and appears to be getting worse - no wonder test scores are dropping!
If you want your child to attend a school in Fayette County come on down and pay the taxes.
If you live and pay taxes in Fayette County, the sticker on your tag will say "Fayette", no matter where the nearest post office is located.

... unless you buy a used car or lived in Fayette when you bought the car and then moved to another county.

If I'm following you correctly, the fact that this woman lives in Clayton county and sent her kids to school in Fayette somehow absolves the Fayette police and/or Sheriff's office from any wrongdoing?

Two wrongs make a right?

Methinks "Red Man Speaks With Forked Tongue".

_______________________________________________________
Why won't Enigma answer one simple question ?

Let's see if I have this right.....

This woman has lied to us.....after reading the police reports there is a good reason her kid and his friends were pulled over...starting with the outstanding warrant...

Then we find out that she has been breaking the law by sending her kid to our schools instead of her chosen county...

She plays the race card to get out of trouble.....

and somehow the cops are too blame?? Great logic. They obviously were picking on this poor little racebaiting mother's kids. I wish we could watch the DVD from the cops camera....it'll be great in court.

It's good to see you back. Interesting information.

-------------------------------------------
Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

If your facts are correct then your post is priceless.

Thanks Chief! Don't be a stranger.

________
In regards to Democrats, Republicans, gangs, and other scads of coterie Kool-Aide drinkers; Remember this..... Eagles Don't Flock

Tell the good folks of Fayetteville where your sons and your daughter were living when they were all going to WHS and WMS - like last year - when your son was a senior - Ready?

It was River's Edge in Clayton County - on the road to the pool in Pinehurst - right? I won't be any more specific than that out of respect for your 'privacy' (unlike what you afforded the police officer you called out by badge on a baseless allegation.)

Yep, good old Clayton County - Come on Ms. Scales - let's see how honest you really are:

Tell us where your kids lived while they attended Fayette Schools and where they parked the ole' "Chevy Boy" while attending Whitewater High School (your daughter has the white Taurus I am told).

Will you tell the truth about it - or will you lie about it?

Did you know that over $8,000 a year is spent on each child in school in Fayette? Did you know it was breaking the law and stealing from the people of Fayette by you not having your kids attend the schools in the county they lived in? (That's the Lovejoy district they were living in.) Let's see, $8k per child times 3 children = $24,000 per year - wow..... looks like Fayetteville has actually been VERY good to you guys... except those 'racist' cops of course.

Yep, I know all this because I own a few houses in there ... two in Pinehurst in fact and I had dozens of tenant complaints about your son, "Chevy Boy", in the burgundy Impala coming from Championship Court 'Flying through the neighborhood blasting his boom'.

I lost some very nice Hispanic tenants there a few doors down in fact.

In fact - you still have kids at Whitewater - right? And you said you MOVED to Fayetteville - but - that's not exactly the whole story either now is it Ms. Scales?

People in glass houses really shouldn't throw stones.
________________________________________________________________________
Ground Zero - What Radical Islam Wants for You and Your Family

She needs to be prosecuted and pay back the 8,ooo+ that she owes the taxpayers of Fayette County.

Please stay in your own county if you can't behave. Since you like to break the law wouldn't you feel more comfortable in clayton-crime county anyway??

Success is a choice, not a birthright!

The Fayette County Board Of Education is responsible for part of this too. Why don't they do something? I pay a lot of school taxes and this makes me furious.

Why on earth are you people worrying so much about where kids go to school?
Each county is going to spend all they want to spend anyway---whether there are just their county kids here or a mixture of some from another county!
If they can make the grade here, that is good for all of us!
If what you say is true then why do we hire teachers and helpers from other counties and their kids can go here.
How do you even know whose kids are whom?
This is a fake way of pressuring not to have any minorities here at all. Including those who actually live or stay with grandma here!
Forget about it and let the Superintendent worry about it. That is why we pay him a quarter million dollars!

The school board is to blame also. They should press charges against this woman. Like one other poster alluded to, they were probably afraid of the race card. Which stinks! They should not be afraid to do their job,....same goes for our DA.

I need to know this.

Trent

The parents make crooks out of their children, just as your people made Indians from yours!

Her house sits in Clayton County, (or so we're told) if this is true her kids need to go to Clayton schools not ours, as it appears they do.

I yam what I yam....Popeye

This woman sent or sneaked her kid into a Fayette County school, but she lives in clayton county. She is not the only one guilty of abusing our tax dollar.

Have a good day.

I know it is wrong and i learned a new word today that word is crook! it is a criminal. thank you skyspy and i like you name to! the mother not the children who goes to school is the criminal or crook. got it now.

Trent

Yes the mom is the crook. The kids are just doing what they have been taught, which is to break the law, lie, and pull the race card.

This joker of a woman needs to pay for her theft of services. I want my tax dollar back.

Do something right for a change, while you still have a job. Before we gave you the privilege of working for us we had a DA that would throw the book at people. Most of them never came back to Fayette County.....and we like it that way...nice and safe. Your weak spine is why the maggots from clayton keep trying to commit crimes here.

the rest of us that LIVE in Faytette county and pay taxes could never get our kids moved around...much less if we are white...live in Clayton and send our kids of Fayette. This makes me sick...I'm moving to Coweta or out of state...everything around Atlanta is purtrified by this entitlement bull s....t!

Out of state is better...there are still some places that you can be judged as for as what you are and get a job on that...not stand in line behind entitlements...They cost big bucks, cause once you get them...they sit on their backsides and dare you to fire them...been there done that...what you have here goes on no where and I mean no where but here...it is very sick...I will not pay another tax dollar for this farce...or is that fart!

If you are white, you have to obey the law.

If you are any other color, do whatever the heck you want and when someone catches you play the RACE CARD. Always play the race card then you never have to work hard or be honest, and you will get away with it. That is how it works.

Happy Race Card day.

One of the toughest lessons to learn in life is to accept responsibility for your own actions.

1. Your friend can't even follow simple rules (apparently) if part of his parole agrement said he could not leave the state then he should have gone to school here. It is called paying the price for a previous bad decision.

2. Cops have to investigate anything that looks suspicious. They not only investigate crimes that have happened, part of their job is preventing crime as well. As one of the taxpayers who has had their taxes raised this year (in part to pay for buses that have been vandalized) I applaud their efforts.

You sound a little more mature than your mom. Good for you. Don't try to place the blame for poor decisions onto cops, by saying "they are racist".

3. Cops will investigate anyone haning out after hours in any parking lot. My friends and I have been targeted (middle aged white people) while talking late into the night after Starbucks closed. Of all places. He stopped to ask us what we were doing. That is good police work.

Your mom needs to stop the "poor me" "victim complex". False cries of racism diminish the value of people who have been true victims of racism. When the race card is used and abused people turn a deaf ear to all cries of racism. Which is not good. Unfortuantely in the Atlanta metro area the race card has been used and abused.

Gotta blow the {{{{{{{{{{{{{EDITED & WARNED for language}}}}}}}}}}}} alarm on this one dude.

First off, there NO WAY the probation folks took the time to write a "violation of probation" warrant just because your friend went to college out of state. (Parole is for those leaving prison early, hope you got that wrong and it is just probation).

If it was a run of the mill 'traffic offense' your friend was on probation/parole for, he wouldn't have gotten probation, just a fine. Chances are your friend broke a "Serious" traffic violation i.e.DUI or speeding 25+ over the limit OR he's a multiple traffic offender.

Secondly, on your gas drive off I'm not surprised you overheard the description of another car over the officers' police radio. I've got a police radio I listen to as a hobby. It's very common for police to "Be On the Look Out" (BOLO) for more than one car at a time for different incidents. Particularly when "speeding autos" and really crappy driving are reported ALL THE TIME!!!

Even if that's not the case, it wouldn't be the first time erroneous information was given to police initially when they get on the scene. How you gonna blame the cops for that?

The "racist cops" don't have time to target you Jordan unless you do something consistently to make yourself a target. Heck the Ingles incident you walked up on, according to your mom, and you weren't pulled over for that.

I suggest you meet with some minority officers in the area and ask them if they feel folks of color are targeted. I guarantee you'll be surprised by the answers.

Yet somehow you Google the word crap and it shows 420 results on TheCitizen.com.

Nice consistency gang!

Thanks for sharing your comments on this blog. I just want to offer a possible explanation, for the reasoning the police may have had for targeting you and your brother.

I was stopped several times, when I was a youth, driving in my car, maybe a little too fast, etc etc., and I am white. Many of my white teenage friends at the time, were also stopped by the police, while driving, and I wonder if police tend to target teenagers of all races, because they think (and for good reason) that the kids could possibly be doing something 'naughty.' I know that I did some things that were stupid (not illegal), and the police probably had every right to stop and check me out.

Not sure if this helps you feel any better, but that was my thinking when I first read your mom's letter, that maybe the police are just out to bust some kids (white or black) for wrong-doing. Tell your mom that I would have been mad as hell too, if the police had treated my kids that way. And I think most parents would have been outraged as well.

Before you write a post dealing with real people in a situation you most certainly do not have the facts on; throughout the post calling them "pathetic excuses," "bigoted," "delinquents," "racist," etc. Your distant silence on beaver's very prolific postings of race-baiting banter make me wonder why NOW the emotional outpouring from you. Mixer, do you know this family? Have you met these kids you call "delinquents?" Have you no self-restraint at all? They use their names. They are not hiding. They are giving their perspectives on a situation or situations they faced. If you don't have some FACTS to these events that allow you to definitively judge these people as "delinquents," "bigots," and "racists" I suggest you chamber your epithet weapon and show the ability to use judicious speech. Why pour gas on a fire? Mixer, if incidents of racial profiling of motorists were not a problem here, President Bush and then AG John Ashcroft would not have formed a commission to fight it.
The response given by members of law enforcement in this paper have been very compelling, professional, and reasoned. I, like you, will give them the benefit of doubt in the performance of their job. But you, Mixer, might learn a bit of how one should address people involved in these real life issues, from the members of law enforcement who, though personally implicated by the original posts, responded with true candor and reason.
And Mixer, if you're going to get this fired up over issues of racism real or perceived, should you not at least show some consistency here? I would love to sit down with you and share my stories and my father's stories of being pulled for having "out of state tags" or "looking young to be driving that sports car." I'd love to share with you the questioning I've received of "whose car are you driving" and "where are you going today/what's your business here in Mississippi?" "Serving my country at Colombus AFB, sir." "Do you have proof of that?" "Here is my military ID." "You're an officer, huh?" "Yes sir." "Well, you have a good day now." In this exchange in Statesville, Ms, not once did the officer ever tell me why he pulled me over. He passed me going the opposite direction, turned around, and pulled me over. No explanation. I wasn't that surprised. It is almost a fact of life some places. I still love police officers, fire fighters, parameds, first responders of all shades, but don't try to tell people they haven't been profiled and that they are "delinquents" if you don't have compelling facts to prove your position.

Cheers, and do some Tai Chi to relieve the stress,

Hack

One: You will NEVER find a post where I addressed 'The Beaver' other than the first time when I blasted him for being a racist pig because I do NOT talk to him or respond to his racist blogs.

Two: I'm going to tell you something that really shouldn't matter but might help drive home my point: I have an interracial family (black and white interracial Hack) and really do not need anyone telling me stories about driving while black, white, or any other color. I live, as do the ones I love, with black/mixed/interracial on a daily basis so I walk the walk in my life. (Try that for a while Major.)

I sincerely hope that you are not so ignorant as to believe that racism doesn't exists in the heart, mind and souls of blacks, whites, or any other shade or flavor equally. This Christmas for example (as in all past Christmas's) my son-in-law was not permitted to bring his wife, my daughter, to his families home .... not even at Christmas ... nor was my grandson, their son, permitted to go since he is 'half white'. That is racism Hack.

In addition, my father for years prohibited allowing my son-in-law, my daughter, and my grandkids from attending the same family gatherings as some of the other family so as not to "confuse" the "other" little ones (their biological cousins). That is racism too Hack.

I really don't need a lecture on racism - I know it when I see it, and when me and my kids and grandkids feel it.

Three: I find it interesting that you are defending this obviously racist woman while blasting away at the 'white' 'beaver'. Have you no consistency man?

The 'kids' car' matched the description of the drive off vehicle ... you ignore this fact, the kids matched the description ... you ignore this fact, and the music violated the noise ordinances ... but you ignore this fact. And yet somehow, both you and this 'woman' can see racism and all the worlds problems (( President Bush and then AG John Ashcroft ??)) in this one officer doing a great job trying to keep YOUR city a law abiding, quiet and safe place to raise a family, and for this, he gets allegations of racism and hassled by a mother whose sons can make every excuse in the world for them, and their friends violation the law. Blaming this cop for past transgressions against you and/or your father IS racism Hack..... his race is after all the only thing this cop has in common with those you detest who exhibited racism. This 'woman' who " ... look(s) forward to personally meeting Patrol Officer J. Davidson (Badge #2150), along with his decibel reader [sound meter], in court this February." should make her son pay the fine out of his own funds for blasting his music and be thankful that Officer Davidson was out sacrificing potential pay and security to help protect and serve. Again- she not only has misguided anger and is tarnishing the name of one of your local police officers and crying 'racism' but she is dangerously close to slander and liable of this fine officer. What is she teaching her 'children' Hack?

So, should I dislike YOU for the treatment of my grandkids and daughter by her black in-laws?

Should my son-in-law detest me because of the treatment of him and my grandkids by my father?

Can't you get past the color of the police officer?

Would you feel better knowing that since my father made his wishes known that I told my daughter and son-in-law that if 'he' is not welcome there - then 'she' is not welcome there(that THEY are ONE) - and therefore 'I' was not welcome there and thus, we have not attended a family function at my father's house since her marriage - I stand with them Hack and against racism. When my father overcomes the despicable practice of judging by color and carrying the 'chip' of racism, we will join them as a family should in his home without restrictions ... but until then, we will stand together as a family who loves and respects each other and celebrate each other and out family in MY home.

Maybe you should reflect more on your own racial intolerance. I abhor racism whether it comes from her, you, my daughter's in-laws, my father or 'The beaver'. I owe that and more to my son-in-law, my daughter, and my grandkids at a minimum. I am a fortunate man Hack, I do not suffer the burden of racism ... I hope you can one day shed the burden as well.

No stress here Hack ... life has never been better! But thanks for caring.

My favorite website.

The fact that you are a hell of a man is not in question. I've always known that and I wish there were more Mixers out there. The question is whether or not Jordan Scales is a delinquent. He doesn't wwrite like one. I can't make that judgement. I don't believe you can either. That's my point. We all need to leave judgements for the court. Both sides. I wonder how many folks will apologize to this family if they win in a court of law (no probable cause for stop, excessive force for drawing weapon over potential fuel drive off, and lack of evidence for noise violation). Take care, brother, and God Bless

A few years ago my teen was involved in similar situation. He and friends were on the way home from a school function and were pulled over by 2 law enforcement agencies in a Fayette city (other than Fayetteville). The police were searching for a suspect involved in a crime. His car wasn't the same make/model as the one identified. (the kids heard it on the police radio) For whatever reason they identified it as a possibile link to the crime. The police were brusque with them and they had to prove identity, have car check run, etc. and keys were taken from my son and one of the occupants was frisked for weapons. When it was determined they weren't involved they were sent on their way. I wasn't happy this had happened and at first slightly outraged my teen had to go through this, but I understand that these police men and women risking their lives for our citizen's safety were doing their job. No one in my son's car got an apology. (we're okay with that). Unfortunately, in order for police to catch criminals as they invade our neighborhoods in Fayette there may be more of these kind of experiences. I forget to mention we are white. I don't believe it's a race issue with the police. I'm not mad at local law enforcement, but mad at the thugs who are trying to ruin my peace of mind. Everyone should council their kids that drive that this kind of thing could happen to them so be prepared. It probably won't happen but never say never.
As for the noise ordinance, I've heard in college towns the kids all know blasting your stereo while driving around is a sure way to get pulled over by the police. I don't think Fayetteville police are the only ones enfording this kind of ordinance. Parents should council their kids on that also.

Come on Mix, quit beating around the bush and tell her how you really feel.

I yam what I yam....Popeye

Don't want to sound like I'm picking on you Sky, but it is a widely accepted "opinion" that PTC and Fayetteville police tend to go overboard on people who aren't white driving nice cars (unless they are sporty cars). I almost never see a car pulled over unless it is old and beat-up (preferably with black or hispanic people inside), or a sports car. I say opinion and not fact because I don't want to bother supporting this claim with data. I am too busy and we all already know the truth. I'm sure if one were inclined to do research the data would back me up. You can use this to attempt to refute me if you want but unless you have data which indicates otherwise, that argument would lack intellectual honesty. You yourself admit they pick your car to pull over because it is red. I've heard numerous reports of them stopping cars simply because there were several young people aboard. They then hassle them looking for any opportunity to cite them, usually resorting to "music too loud" even though that was not the reason for initially stopping them. Sure, this may intimidate some teens from breaking the law, but more often than not they are simply harassing law abiding citizens. It is not justified. It is not professional. It is not necessary. And it is not within the spirit of the law to go about their job that way. Yes, it is a tough job. Yes, the job is tougher when they follow the laws and don't break or bend the rules. And it is their duty to deal with those difficulties while providing the service of law enforcement and protection for the citizens. Anything else is just plain wrong. We must hold them accountable in order for the system to work for everyone. Cheers!

You don't have data either to support your claim so it doesn't make sense to say that "what you say" is "FACT" unless somebody has data to support this.

In the City of Fayetteville I can say that my wife has been caught for speeding (in a 2002 Mini Van) not because she's white or black or green, BUT BECAUSE THEY GOT HER IN THE 35 MPH ZONE! So if you think that it's the minorities that are getting profiled, I honestly don't agree. Maybe it's just all the cars that you see pulled over were going too fast in the speed traps! Speeding is revenue and REVENUE DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE! And if you are from a different county driving through you have a better chance of getting a speeding ticket because you don't know that they are sitting waiting for you to be 46 MPH or more in a 35.

As far as music being loud, thats "Just Cause" and "against the law" which gives cops a "reason" to pull anybody over. Not just for Hip Hop but if you are cruzin around town blasting Kenny G or Celine you will also get pulled over (I would hope faster for Kenny G and Celine LOL) but for some unexplainable rebellious reason Teens like to blast their music. I bet cha that if a 70 year old white lady was blasting Frank Sinatra at a traffic light next to a cop in Fayetteville they would pull her over! And she would sue because of bad hearing or something like that, but he "Can" pull her over if he has "just cause" which that would be in that case.

I saw a kid at the new Kroger gas station in PTC the other day (white) blasting Foo Fighters or something like that and if I were a cop I would have pulled him over for sure and I bet PTC's finest would have if they were there.

The national data - and the data from many urban areas will back up your opinion. I'm an 'old lady from Pasadena' who has time to be observant here in Fayetteville - and I must say I have observed professional police work regardless of 'race' while driving down 85(Glenn). The 'minority' citizens as well as the 'white' citizens that I have noticed being questioned did appear to be 'suspicious'. Parents need to realize that if their child is driving a 'hot rod' they are going to be pulled over eventually. If they have a light broken, etc. - they will be pulled over. If they are sporting 'gang' paraphernalia, they will be pulled over. Driving while 'black' has been a reality in many communities, but we have the justice system to challenge unjust behavior by law enforcement. It is right to challenge unjust acts - but we can't paint all law enforcement as 'racist'.

What if the vehicle is has Grateful Dead stickers all over it? I think that is why my daughter was pulled over. Would that be called "born in 81, but it feel like 61" paraphernalia? ha ha ha

Was she driving while "dead?!"

Ah, the voice of moderation and reason. Salient and well spoken points. Peace!

First of all it is NOT "widely accepted" that cops target anyone who is not white. It is the opinion of some, but not all.

Some people, myself included think that many black people make false claims of racism. It(the race card) is an easy way to get out of whatever trouble who have gotten yourself into. Since I have moved to Atlanta I have seen the race card used more times than I can count. It is used to try and bully their way out of any legal mess when the evidence is stacked against them. When they have no defense left they use the race card. "Thems poooolice is picking on meeee"

Can it! Everyone is sick to death of hearing that excuse when there is no evidence to prove it, and when there is security camera evidence to prove that you commited the crime!.

I know you are new here, but I am a slightly cycnical, sarcastic, facetious blogger. When I said the cops are picking on me because of my hot red car I was being facetious. I have several friends that are cops. I have respect for them. Everytime I have received a ticket, I earned it.(sad but true) I know who to blame, and if I want to get a good look at the "suspect" all I have to do is look in the mirror. I have actually received the same number of tickets in both cars. It doesn't matter the color. The fact of the matter is if you are going 10mph over the limit you will get a ticket here.

The women who wrote this letter last week had us all fooled, until the police report came out. She forgot to tell us, that one of the "angels" in question had a warrant out for his arrest. That is not "picking" on him. That was good police work!!! That is what our cops get paid to do. Pick up people who have warrants out for their arrest.

Our cops are very fair. Actually they go out of their way to give blacks the benefit of the doubt, because of the inevitable whining and false cries of racism that they will have to endure.

We must educate our children to get beyond this type of 'thinking'.
I think our country is turning the corner - most realize that blatant statements such as that below may be considered 'racist'. It is difficult to change. . . .but I think we're all improving. I don't think many' white people think this way - but I may be wrong.

Some people, myself included think that many black people make false claims of racism. It(the race card) is an easy way to get out of whatever trouble who have gotten yourself into. Since I have moved to Atlanta I have seen the race card used more times than I can count. It is used to try and bully their way out of any legal mess when the evidence is stacked against them. When they have no defense left they use the race card. "Thems poooolice is picking on meeee"

This statement is an insult to our professional law enforcement officers - IMO.

Actually they go out of their way to give blacks the benefit of the doubt, because of the inevitable whining and false cries of racism that they will have to endure.

I'm proud that we have a police chief who set the record straight. Skyspy, thank you for sharing your experience with law enforcement.

I'm sure there are many black and white mothers of teens in Fayetteville who have reacted differently than the 'women' who wrote the letter. Let's hope the mother who wrote the letter has disciplined her son - and awakened to reality.

She sadly did not awaken to reality, that's why she wrote a second letter to the paper.

Her son sent a message on here to myself and "others".

I know that you and I do not see eye to eye on this issue.

I have seen the "race card" played when it was clear based on evidence that race had nothing to do with the charges.

In my message to Jordan I shared one example of an interaction with a cop. My friends and I have also been questioned and warned not to loiter in a buisness parking lot after hours. (Starbucks)

A police office noticed our cars in the parking lot and came over to investigate. We were sitting at the outdoor tables. Without regards to the pricey cars and the fact that we are middle-aged (to say the least) he told us to move on. That is just good police work and a cop who was doing his job. Regardless of race or socio-economic status.

We for our part thanked him and went to one of our homes. We didn't back talk him or give him a stream of gratuitous profanity....we just went home. Thats part of being a good citizen.

Cops are actually good people, and they are doing an impossible job.

I wish you the best in everything.

Thanks. I certainly agree about 'cops'.

"Widely accepted" implies the opinion of some, but not all. Yes black people often do make false claims of racism. They also sometimes make justified ones. Your anger is understandable, but doesn't negate the fact that law enforcement sometimes gets carried away. They should be held accountable and conduct themselves above reproach even though it makes the job tougher. I'm sure many do. But when they don't, it is the obligation of citizens to point it out. Also, I'm sure you'd agree that if a red sports car and a 7 year old pickup truck go by a cop 10 mph over the speed limit, the cop would go after the sports car more often than the truck. I see it every day. I too have friends who are or have been cops and most of those admit this is true. It is just human nature. Many if not most of our officers do an amazing job in the face of overwhelming difficulty. The problem is that human nature will prod them to take shortcuts to make the job easier if not watched. The old "power corrupts" maxim is indeed true. We should err on the side of caution when it comes to our rights as citizens, even when it makes the job of those whose duty it is to protect us more difficult. That's all I'm tryin' to say! PEACE!

I agree with you I think 98% of the time cops do a very good job. We are lucky in Fayette County so far we have escaped the kind of problems that Atlanta police have, and other large police depts. have. That problem being crooked cops.

I think we have gotten by because of Sheriff Johnsons tough standards and the kind of people he hires. Only the best get by here.

You are right if it was tie between myself and a older truck, or a 4 door honda, I think the cop will target me, and make an example of me.

Getting back to the origin of this letter. This lady lied last week and I think her claim this week is false too. She has already proven to be a shameless lier. She should think about a career as a lawyer.

You're right about Randall. Wonder what's going to happen when he retires. I'm thinking seriously about voting for W. Hannah. He's been with the Sheriff's Dept. for a long time. I believe he will be the best one to carry on Randall's 'tough on crime.'

I'm sure the sheriff will endorse someone good.

I'm sad to see him go, he has been a model public servant. Anyone who has trained under him and is still at the sheriff's dept. will be good. He is tough, but fair. Any officer that made it through his training will be honest and tough on crime.

"I don't want to bother supporting this claim with data." As it will make you look ignorant, again.

If you're only going to believe what you hear, might I suggest you take you head out of you derriere.

Thank goodness I do data just fine, it’s why my boss loves me.

Let's start with ”your hearing” RED cars get more tickets. Do you hear voices as well?

WRONG!

Yes, now you're going to claim ”someone else” said that, but you still don't have any data to back it up. Are you taking lessons from Hillary now?

Here’s your data.

Crash Analysis, Statistics & Information Notebook 1996-2003

Fayette County, 1996 – 2003

Unsafe or Illegal Speed: Drivers in Crashes, 890
Motor Vehicle Crashes, 22,872
Motor Vehicle Crash Injuries, 7,849
Motor Vehicle Crash Fatalities, 70
Unsafe or Illegal Speed: Drivers in Fatal Crashes, 19
Alcohol and/or Drug: Drivers in Crashes, 454
Alcohol and/or Drug: Drivers in Injury Crashes, 199
Alcohol and/or Drug: Drivers in Fatal Crashes, 10
Pedestrians in Crashes, 59
Pedestrians Injured, 47
Pedestrian Fatalities, 4
Proper Child Safety Seat Use by Occupants Under Age 6, 2,962

Young Drivers in Crashes, State of Georgia

Crash Drivers
Age, 1996-2003
16 105,989
17,129,188
18, 146,815
19, 139,909
20, 133,172
21-24, 504,364
Over 24, 3,303,358

Injury Crash Drivers
16, 32,778
17, 39,050
18, 44,179
19, 41,827
20, 39,496
21-24, 145,392
Over 24, 931,057

Fatal Crash Drivers
16, 372
17, 447
18, 575
19, 501
20, 480
21-24, 1,864
Over 24, 13,420

The rate of accidents for teens is actually going DOWN by the way. It must have something to do with all the great parenting I keep reading about.

It appears that most people in Fayette County, if not all of Georgia, simply can’t drive worth a damn.

36 million drivers would flunk drivers tests

Illinois, Georgia, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Massachusetts were the least knowledgeable states overall, with an average scores under 75 percent

Georgians came in 44th out of 51.

And you want to know why people get stopped?

Maybe you are just baiting me as well, but at the risk of playing into your trap I'll defend what I stated earlier. I admitted that I was merely stating an opinion (please don't make me define the word opinion) based on personal experience and info from people I know from living here for 20 years. Admittedly, I didn't provide data for the discussion primarily because it would be hard for me to find not because it wouldn't support my position. People argue based on opinion here all the time yet I prefaced my remarks to make clear I couldn't state it as absolute fact. If you wish to refute my position with concrete facts, I would love to see you research and provide data on traffic stops and the race of those stopped as a percentage of the population. You did not provide that at all. A list of what people were cited for addresses none of the points in my post yet you claim I look ignorant and that data is your strong suit. Maybe data is a strong suit of yours, but reason and reading comprehension seem to prove a bit elusive for you. Data is useless without clear understanding and reason. I apologize for being abrasive, but you had to throw in the "ignorant" dig. Only someone with an agenda would attempt to argue that our law dogs don't randomly stop more minorities, teens, and sportscars than white people driving mini vans.
But please, produce the numbers to prove me wrong and I'll acknowledge your VICTORY! In the mean time, PEACE!

Tell me when the cops are running radar does it tell what race the people are? Also aren't you the one who said officer Bob was checking out the sweeties on myspace? If you won't provide data to support your views why should anyone else?

I yam what I yam....Popeye

by whom?
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

you want like a list of all their names or something...?

you're just overstating your beliefs.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

Okay, I was out and about all day, were you out- I beeped at two cars?

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"Hope Changes Everything"

I was out this morning, but I drove my "rain day" car, because it looked like it was going to rain.

I'm waiting for the next sunny day.

Now, can't you see me beeping at every red convertiable. It's kinda funny, if they don't look- I try not to look, if it's you, look at me at least- my rainy day car is always the same- just drive the convertiable in the rain- hey that would be fun. btw have you ever weighed a pizza, Hutch just asked, I met him at Starbucks- my husband did also- I must say he is a hoot. I mean that he can make you laugh.

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"Hope Changes Everything"