Ride For Justice Pt 2
Thread started by
aurisha at 10.29.10 - 6:28 pm
Ed Magos Ride For Justice Pt 2
11.3.10
The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) will host a second bicycle ride and protest on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 in honor of downed cyclist and City employee Ed Magos—and other victims of hit-and-run collisions whose cases have been unjustly treated only to have the drivers time and time again receive unfairly light sentences—if any at all.
When: Wed. November 3rd. Meet at 12:00 pm Ride at 12:30 pm
Sentence Hearing is scheduled for 1:30pm.
Where: Cyclists meet at Bicycle Kitchen- 706 North Heliotrope Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90029 and ride to La County Superior Courthouse - 1945 S. Hill Street, 7th Floor, Div 74
The “Ed Magos Ride for Justice” on November 3rd will follow Ed Magos’ former bicycle commute to Downtown Los Angeles. The ride will end at the courthouse building just south of the 10 Freeway. Cyclists will join community activists and others to pack the courtroom for the sentencing hearing of the defendant at 1:30pm.
All are invited to join to demand that our law enforcement authorities give equal treatment to cyclists who are victims of hit and run collisions.
The ride and our presence in the courtroom during the sentencing will highlight the need for appropriate punishment for drivers and equal justice for cyclists who are involved in hit-and-runs.
Come one come all. Let's Ride for Justice!!
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In case you missed last week's ride, there will be a third (and hopefully) final ride to the sentencing hearing TOMORROW, Wed, Nov 10th. Meet up at same place as last week's ride. Very powerful testimony last week.
The judge WILL issue the sentence to the hit-and-run driver tomorrow.
dudeonabike11.9.10 - 4:26 pm
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any bets on how light the sentence will be?
my prediction: $500 fine no jail time and some cal trans.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by dudeonabike
11.9.10 - 4:50 pm
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What would an appropriate sentence be to you?
Joe Borfo responding to a
comment by Roadblock
11.9.10 - 4:52 pm
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2 years suspended license with no "drive to work exception." $2500 fine, 30 days cal trans (no buy out option) and 5 days jail time.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
11.9.10 - 5:03 pm
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I would agree. What about to the driver of your own hit & run, would it be the same if you could cast his sentence? Sorry if off topic.
I would make the hearing if my work was more flexible.
Joe Borfo responding to a
comment by Roadblock
11.9.10 - 5:08 pm
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I think I would be satisfied with that kind of sentence.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
11.9.10 - 5:14 pm
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the only thing i the table if I remember correctly is:
1 year max jail time + restitution.
The judge is not able to revoke / suspend the driver's license. The DMV can suspend the license, and the judge can request the DMV to do so (or something like that). DJ Wheels explained this to me better.
This is essentially why Alex Thompson is doing his Life Before License campaign.
---
During the testimony, the driver sobbed and whatnot, and cried about not being a person who would want to hit anyone, etc.... It could appear heartfelt and genuine, except:
She didn't even know Ed Magos' name!
When asked by her attorney (for the record) who she was apologizing to, she said (paraphrasing):
"Him, I'm sorry I don't remember his name... the victim."
After all this time of heartache and essentially pleading not guilty until the last minute (changing to no contest), his name hasn't even been absorbed into her memory "ED"... so hard to remember, right?
Not only that, but during the trial you discover that she in fact drove only a couple blocks away, where she parked.
1) She called her mom FIRST
2) Then she called a friend and said "I think I need a lawyer"
3) From where she parked, she could see the scene of the collision (but claims she never looked). That is, she admitted from where she parked, she would be able to see the ambulance, etc, but never looked. Coincidentally, when she got herself together, she drove back 45 minutes later, BUT everyone was gone.
Ed's attorney did a great job of making the case that she ONLY thought of herself after the incident. She did not care about Ed. She didn't care about him anytime after the incident. And now in court, on trial, she is soooo sorry and apparently really cared about him when the collision happened, but didn't know what to do.
Except call her mom, friend, get the ball moving on an attorney.
md2 responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
11.9.10 - 5:23 pm
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I'm not much in favor of incarceration.
It was not intentional violence. She lacked judgment and made poor decisions about helping Ed. Her negligence and irresponsibility were criminal, but a year in prison is pretty harsh. I think losing the driving privilege is fair and the rest of what RB said.
Joe Borfo responding to a
comment by md2
11.9.10 - 5:28 pm
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I agree.
That's why I was upset to learn jail time is the only thing on the table. I think her license should be revoked forever. But I dont want her to go to jail either -- I dont know how it helps. Especially since Ed is in good spirits and recovering fairly well.
I would like to see her pay restitution, agree to not drive, and work on some community service type program to express her gratitude that her actions did not cause something worse. But thats what we hope people would do, but some people just dont care at all -- its crazy, but true.
But she fought Ed the whole way until recent (changing her plea to no contest when she realized her case was fucked). She doesn't give a shit, period. Doesn't even know the guy's name who she left stranded and is now on trial for hitting. How do you go through all this and NOT know the person's name? You have to be really, really, really detached from the case (i.e. not care).
Not only that but she has a 1 year old baby. I doubt she'll get jail time.
Community service + restitution is my guess. I can't attend tomorrow.
md2 responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
11.9.10 - 5:37 pm
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a year in jail.... yeah it's harsh. but 5 days jail aint no thang.... really it's a deterrence. something for people to think about next time they run someone over. 5 days jail is a public shaming and that's about it...
Roadblock responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
11.9.10 - 5:52 pm
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I'm pretty sure I can make this. Besides I want to go to the CA office and ask if Glenn Gritzner did his Cal Trans (or bought his way out) and whether or not he was booked. I want a photo for my scrapbook.
Roadblock11.9.10 - 5:54 pm
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I'd also add to your list criminal restitution equal to 100% of the victim's losses at the very least.
dudeonabike responding to a
comment by Roadblock
11.10.10 - 11:05 am
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Aight, got all my shit done.... Save for some ibikeshirts orders... See you all at nooooon.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by dudeonabike
11.10.10 - 11:47 am
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Well I was wrong.
90 days weekend jail plus 30 days labor plus more than 20k restitution and potentially 48k in lawyer fees.
Roadblock11.10.10 - 4:11 pm
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if she is smart she will hire a publicist and turn the whole thing into a reality show chronicalling: a once confused, rich girl making right with the up and coming cycling community!
really though, the less than 100k sounds like pocket change to this woman AND... weekend jail is nothing like REAL jail AND... Naomi Campbell (ubermodel) demonstrated to us; beautifully, how community service makes for wonderful photo ops (press coverage). so- technically, this Mahdavi woman seems to have made out in the whole deal?
life before license. please!
katnip responding to a
comment by Roadblock
11.10.10 - 5:08 pm
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From the article
In court Wednesday, prosecutor Michael Schwartz played 911 tapes from the incident.
In one, Everett called in to report that she had "collided" with a bicycle, and told the 911 operator that she kept driving after the accident because of heavy traffic.When she returned to the site of the crash, she went on, Magos was gone. She asked the 911 operator, "Am I going to jail?"
"No, ma'am," responded the operator, who went on to tell Everett that people didn't go to jail for hit-and-runs involving cyclists.
md211.10.10 - 8:56 pm
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The article makes it sound better than it is. Weekend jail is probably chill, it's like keeping Escobar under house arrest.
Where is the license suspension?!? That ought to be mandatory.
jericho1ne responding to a
comment by md2
11.10.10 - 9:11 pm
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That 911 operator should be fired. No jail time for hit and runs? They have no authority to comment on that. Who in the city is in charge of 911.
Foldie responding to a
comment by md2
11.10.10 - 9:32 pm
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the LA Times reporter was thrown out during the part of the 911 call in which the operator admits that she herself had hit and run someone and later turned herself in and that nothing would happen.... I wonder if that was real or perhaps a negotiating tactic that was taught to her to show sympathy to get compliance.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by Foldie
11.10.10 - 11:39 pm
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