Quote:
Originally Posted by rkimball
Let me first state that I did not receive a ticket or summons from the local sheriffs office or any other Florida Police Force.
To answer your question:
I read in The Villages Daily Sun about the Sheriff closing Coconuts Internet Café. This closing was done after a Sumter county judge already ruled against the sheriff in a previous case against Coconuts. This to me reeks of harassment. The judge also made the sheriff return all of their computers so that they could reopen.
I also had previous problems with enforcement of the SWFWMD water restrictions. It is the responsibility of the sheriff to enforce this state statute. He has not done his required duty. Section 10. County and city officials and all law enforcement authorities are required to enforce this statute.
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/files/...e_swf07-02.pdf
I went to an AAC meeting that made a representative for the Sumter County Sheriff available for questions. I asked him about two rumors I had heard about. The answers I received did not seem reasonable to me, as they had no common sense. The first question was on roads that had golf cart/ walking lane attached to automobile lanes could one golf cart pass another slower one. The sheriff’s rep said no. This did not sound logical since a cart could pass a walker. Nowhere did I find in the Florida Traffic laws did I find that a golf cart had to stay in that dedicated lane. There are so many places that in fact they have signs directing carts to merge with auto traffic.
I think it was back in 2002 that a female police officer from the Lady Lake Police Department ticketed a golf cart driver for this exact ominous violation. When Chief Nathenson reviewed this summons, he had it revoked. Since the Daily Sun has no archives, I cannot find the article back this up so you would have to take my word for it.
For some reason some one called TALK HOST thinks that I am a liar. When I tell him he could have gone to the Government Meeting last Saturday it seemed to up set him that I might be right, there is also a thing called the telephone.
So, lets get back to the Coconuts Café thing. MY WIFE WENT TO COCONUTS AND PURCHASED A PREPAID TELEPHONE CARD. THIS CARD IS GOOD FOR 30 DAYS AND HAD 600 HOURS OF TIME ON IT. I REPEAT 600 HOURS (HOURS not MINUTES). I computed this to be 600 hours time 60 minutes times .10 for a value of $3600. Not bad for 20 dollars. Not only that but the phone card was good for all of the US not just the contiguous states. I used it to call my wife when she was in Hawaii.
So why would the sheriff close them down again? So why is this guy TALK HOST all upset? Your guess is as good as mine.
Oh, the other question was: Does the Sheriff have the right to enforce traffic laws on private property? This time I did not get a reasonable answer. So, that is part of the story. |
Let me get this straight - you (your wife) purchased a calling card that you state has a value of $3600 for $20. At this time I would become a little suspicious of this establishment. (But that's my opinion. I'm still looking for a Lexus dealer who will sell me a new $36,000 Lexus for $200.)
I know that legal cases can get complicated. (And thrown out. Just because a case is thrown out doesn't mean the case didn't have merit.) According to you the first case was thrown out. Perhaps something new happened that got the attention of the district attorney - maybe a complaint from someone like you who thought the calling card should be worth $4500 and felt ripped off. Maybe they allowed 110 people in the establishment and it is only licensed for occupancy of 108. Who knows? (Who cares?) Bottom line is that the sheriff or the DA felt the need to shut them down again. Of course there will be two sides to the story. Hopefully a court of law will make the right decision, maybe the same judge will get the case again and they'll be back in operation. Or maybe he'll pursue it this time. I know nothing, zip, nada, zero, about this case. And I'll bet that very few people do.
Sorry you're not getting answers to your questions to the sheriff, but you pointed out the statutes, and they can get confusing. (Especially golf carts, they are not the normal vehicle that law enforcement has to deal with and ticket, etc. Look at the bright side, if you get a ticket from a confused officer all you'll need is a sharp attorney and you'll be home free. Use some of that $3580 to pay for the attorney!)