"Matthew Russotto" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Scott en Aztlán <newsgroup> wrote:
>>Having a son who graduated high school a couple of years ago, I know
>>EXACTLY how big a stigma it is for high school kids to ride the school
>>bus these days. This judge is BRILLIANT - I hope to see her on the
>>Supreme Court one day.
>>
>>http://www.chicagosuntimes.com/outpu...nws-bus14.html
>>
>>Punishment for teen drivers: riding the bus
>>
>>August 14, 2006
>>
>>PORTAGE, Ind. -- A judge fed up with teen traffic violators is hitting
>>them where it hurts -- in the driver's seat -- by sentencing them to
>>the embarrassment of riding the school bus.
>>
>>Porter Superior Judge Julia Jent got the idea after a girl in her
>>court for a moving traffic violation appeared not to take seriously
>>either the offense or the possible fine.
>>
>>The judge said she knew she had found a way to reach the teen after
>>she ordered her to park her car and ride the school bus.
>>
>>''The girl cried outside my courtroom. I guess I found the right
>>button,'' said Jent.
>>
>>Jent not only orders teens ages 16 to 18 to ride the school bus
>>instead of driving to school -- she also warns their parents that they
>>could be held in contempt if they drive their child to school.
>>
>>''Kid does crime, kid does time, and mom and dad can't get them out of
>>it and don't have to feel guilty for not helping,'' Jent said.
>
> Same problem with this as with pretty much all "creative" punishments
> -- unequal justice under the law.
>
> I'm sure the law doesn't prescribe "riding the school bus" as a
> penalty for moving violations. I'm also a bit concerned that a judge
> thinks that making the defendant cry is a proper measure of her
> sentencing.
>
>>The judge has told every law enforcement agency in her jurisdiction
>>that all moving traffic citations involving drivers age 16 to 18 must
>>go before her.
>
> There's that "unequal justice"
>
>>If the teens are found guilty, she orders them to ride the bus instead
>>of driving to school. If they comply, the case is dismissed.
>
> Ahh. So there's how she gets around the lack of a prescribed penalty.
>
>>If they don't -- and Jent has been checking with schools and bus
>>drivers to make sure -- then the teens' licenses are suspended and
>>they are fined.
>
> And there's the unequal justice again. For violations in which an
> adult would simply be fined, a teen faces suspension.

Doesn't this go both ways? For cases in which an adult would do hard and
long prison time with a lifelong felony record, a teen might just end up in
Juvie and with a clean record upon adulthood.

brink