Judge Downer has dismissed charges against four people ticketed for “excessive honking” in their support of living wage protesters on West Main Street in July. The judge based his ruling on police officer’s selective enforcement of the law. The defendants, all women, were responding to protesters’ “honk for a living wage sign.” The full story is in today’s Progress.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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The judge is absolutely right. Though I agree with the police’s ticketing (the drivers were, after all violating state law), I also agree with the judge that the law was being enforced unfairly. The police did their job, the judge did his. And now, best of all, Chief Longo intends to have a long talk with the judge and the city attorney to ensure that this sort of uneven enforcement doesn’t happen again. I’d say this worked out.
Sidenote: I thought it was interesting that Judge Downer believed that horn-honking is not a valid form of protected speech.
How nice it must be for those with the proper politics to know that they have a free hand to act with near-impunity in this town. They can make all the noise they want, go wherever they wish, create as much of a nuisance as they desire; so long as it be in the name of a sanctioned cause, the benevolent hand of an activist judge will wipe the slate clean every time.
This is really a petty crime but it’s still disgusting considering the way the trespassing charges turned out.