How do I find out why my driver's license is suspended in Kansas?

The story doesn't change much.  A person gets pulled over for speeding, the officer asks for your license and your proof of insurance and says, "Wait right here."  The officer returns to your vehicle a short time later with some surprising news.  Your license has been suspended and now your not only having to deal with a speeding ticket but now you are getting charged with a Driving While Suspended.

The questions most people have include:  What kind of punishment am I looking at?  How much is this going to cost?... and the most common, WHY IS MY LICENSE SUSPENDED?

Well the answers to the first two questions have already been addressed in this blog here.
http://blog.kcticketguy.com/2011/10/driving-on-suspended-license-why-is-my.html

But if you are wanting to find out why your license is suspended watch this video.



The Kansas Department of Revenue has made it pretty easy to find out what is going on with your license.  You go to this website:

https://www.kdor.org/DLStatus/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fdlstatus%2fsecure%2fdefault.aspx

or Click this link  Kansas Driver's License Check

The site is pretty user freindly.  Just fill out the form and hit submit.  The KDR database will search and pull up the status of your license.  If you are suspended it will tell you the court in which has suspended your license as well as the phone number and give you a reason for the suspension.  Now you will at least know why it is suspended, so when you call an attorney to fix the problem you will have some grasp of the costs involved and work that will need to be done.

Oldest Federal Judge Dies at 104 in Kansas.

"As a Federal Judge I am appointed for life or good behavior, which ever I loose first."  Judge Wesley Brown quipped in an interview with the associated press.  But its a joke that had some truth.  Judge Brown untill recently was the oldest Federal Judge in the nation, untill his death at 104 years old.

I'ts pretty impressive to stay in any position that long.  Judge Brown had been sitting on the bench since appointed by President Kennedy.  Untill recently he was still hearing cases both criminal and civil.  here is the AP article.

WICHITA, Kan. — U.S. District Judge Wesley Brown, the nation’s oldest sitting federal judge, has died at age 104.  Brown died Monday night at the Wichita assisted living center where he lived, his law clerk, Nanette Turner Kalcik, said Tuesday. 

During his long tenure, the senior judge in Wichita repeatedly tried to explain why he had not yet fully retired from the federal bench.  “As a federal judge, I was appointed for life or good behavior, whichever I lose first,” Brown quipped in a 2011 interview with The Associated Press. How did he plan to leave the post? “Feet first,” Brown said.

Brown was appointed as a federal district judge in 1962 by then-President John F. Kennedy.  In 1979, Brown officially took senior status, a type of semiretirement that allows federal judges to work with a full or reduced case level. But he continued to carry a full workload for decades later.  “I do it to be a public service,” Brown said in the AP interview. “You got to have a reason to live. As long as you perform a public service, you have a reason to live.”  His long tenure on the federal bench rivals that of Joseph Woodrough, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit, who had been the longest practicing judge in the federal judiciary when he died in 1977 at age 104.

In recent years, Brown’s stooped frame nearly disappeared behind the federal bench during hearings. His gait was slower, but his mind remained sharp as he presided over a tightly run courtroom even after turning 104 last June.  It was not until March 2011 that Brown removed himself from the draw for assignment of new criminal cases. Several of his existing cases were reassigned to other judges as he continued to preside over fewer of his remaining criminal and civil cases. By the time he died he was no longer presiding over hearings.

Kansas City Man gets 164 years in Prision!

Just came out on an FBI press release that Abasi Baker of Kansas City, MO was convicted on multiple charges originating from a series of armed robberies on the Kansas side of the metro.  Considering the man's history and the nature of the crimes a Federal Judge all but threw the book at him.  The most notable quote came from the U.S. Attorney stating,  “This should send a clear message to convicted felons with guns,” said United States Attorney Barry Grissom. “Gun crimes mean hard time.”

164 years of "Hard Time" might be an understatement. 


Here is the Press Release:

KANSAS CITY, KS—A Kansas City, Missouri man has been sentenced to 164 years for a string of armed robberies, United States Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Abasi S Baker, 32, Kansas City, Missouri, was convicted in a jury trial in September on 21 counts including seven counts of robbery, seven counts of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, and seven counts of brandishing a firearm during a robbery.

“This should send a clear message to convicted felons with guns,” said United States Attorney Barry Grissom. “Gun crimes mean hard time.”

During trial, prosecutors presented evidence Baker committed seven robberies including:

January 6: Payday Loans, 7636 State Ave ., Kansas City, Kansas.

January 10: Radio Shack, 7612 State Ave ., Kansas City, Kansas.

January 12: Payday Loans, 10327 Metcalf Ave ., Overland Park, Kansas.

January 16: Dollar Store, 8144 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas.

February 16: Check Into Cash, 11044 Quivira, Overland Park, Kansas.

February 22: Check Into Cash, 15241 W 135th, Olathe, Kansas.

March 3: Radio Shack, 6945 W 75th, Overland Park, Kansas.

Co-defendant Mark R Davis is set for a jury trial March 5.

Grissom commended the following agencies and individuals for their work on the case: The FBI and the FBI Violent Crimes/Fugitive Task Force; the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office; the United States Attorney, Western District of Missouri; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Kansas City, Mo ., Police Department; the Kansas City, Kansas ., Police Department; he Overland Park Police Department; the Olathe Police Department; the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office; the St. Joseph, Mo ., Police Department; the Lee’s Summit, Mo ., Police Department; the Mission, Kansas ., Police Department; and assistant United States Attorney Terra Morehead, who prosecuted the case

Kansas Police caught stealing from homes when serving warrants.

Looks like some dirty Kansas City Kansas police officers finally got caught with there hand in the cookie jar.  How disgusting is it for the public to see these men charged with enforcing the state's laws to use that position to gain access to people's homes and steal from them.  It makes citizens now question what else these officers have done.  If they will steal from a home, would they falsify evidence?  Would they frame people for crimes they didn't commit?  Where do these jerks draw the line between right and wrong?

Here is the story on KCTV5

3 KCK officers plead guilty as part of FBI sting operation

KANSAS CITY, KS (KCTV) -

A third member of the KCK SWAT Team pleaded guilty as part of a sting operation to catch officers stealing during raids. Wednesday morning, Jeffrey Bell pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy against civil rights.  Two other members of the KCK SWAT Team pleaded guilty to similar charges Tuesday.

Dustin Sillings and Darryl Forrest each pleaded guilty to one count of violation of civil rights during hearings in U.S. District Court. The remaining charges against them were dropped in exchange for their guilty pleas. In his plea, Bell admitted that on Jan. 4, 2011, he, Sillings and Forrest stole several items from a KCK home while they believed they were serving a search warrant.

The three officers were indicted by a federal grand jury this summer. They were arrested in January as part of an FBI sting operation of the Selective Crime Occurrence Reduction and Enforcement (SCORE) tactical unit to determine if officers were stealing cash or property from the homes in which they were serving warrants.  A complaint from a homeowner set in motion events that led to the FBI sting operation designed to catch unscrupulous officers, authorities said. Property was stolen from homes during the execution of search warrants from January 2010 through January 2011, according to court documents.  The three officers pleaded not guilty this summer. The KCK Police Department is waiting for the criminal process to end before moving to take disciplinary action against the officers.

Kathryn Hoefer Vratil, the presiding judge for the federal courts in Kansas, was incredulous in asking Forrest about his actions. She wanted to know how a veteran police officer could throw his whole career and life away for a camcorder and cash.  Forrest mumbled that he was influenced by others, calling himself "a follower." Forrest joined the KCK Police Department eight years ago.

The officers are alleged to have stolen property while executing several search warrants at residences located in Wyandotte County, according to court documents. As many as five raids may have been involved, according to court documents.  Investigators placed $2,500 cash, electronic games, a music player, drugs and a handgun inside a home that had surveillance cameras and bugs inside.

Sillings was accused of stealing $340 planted by the FBI in the January raid, according to court documents. He is also accused of stealing at least six PlayStation video games from January 2010 through January 2011 during the execution of five separate search warrants.  According to testimony in court Tuesday, Sillings was recorded as saying during one of the raids, "It's a shame the house didn't have more swag."

Forrest was accused of stealing a Nintendo game, a Nintendo game case and an Apple iPod Touch belonging to the FBI during the sting raid, according to court documents. In addition, Forrest is accused of stealing $300 during the sting raid. He also allegedly stole a camcorder from a woman during a July 8, 2010, search. The camcorder was found in Forrest's patrol car.  Forrest and Sillings now face 18 to 33 months in prison. They could have faced up to 10 years in prison if convicted of all the charges. In exchange for a reduced prison sentence, they must cooperate with prosecutors.

Bell is alleged to have taken at least three PlayStation PS3s during execution of three separate search warrants from January 2010 through January 2011, according to court documents. During the sting raid, Bell allegedly stole a Nintendo game player, a Nintendo game and other electronics.  Lawsuits are pending by other officers who were detained but ultimately not charged. One of the officers was recently accused of firing bullets into a car.   Bell is set for sentencing June 5. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Forrest and Sillings are also set for sentencing June 5.

Unified Government Mayor Joe Reardon issued a response to the trials involving the KCK officer.

"As mayor, I expect the utmost integrity and professionalism from our police officers and a commitment to ensure the highest ethical standards are provided to our citizens.

I support Chief Rick Armstrong's earlier decision to pursue this criminal investigation and his unwavering efforts to ensure that the integrity of this police department will not be compromised by a few individuals. There are many men and women in blue that are committed to serving our community each and every day with respect and honor; they've earned our trust. As mayor, I appreciate the hard work of these officers and hope the community will also continue to support their efforts," he said.

To read previous coverage, click here and here and here and here and here.

Cop gives lady speeding ticket then hits on her...She Sues Cop!

Now we have all heard about low cut shirts and talking your way out of a speeding ticket, but this story takes the cake. Times must be really tough out there for a single man.    This police officer steps so far over the line that he's now getting sued.  Read the recent article from ABC News.

Cop Issues Speeding Ticket, Asks Driver for a Date and She Sues Him
-Associated Press

A suburban Chicago police officer allegedly turned a $132 speeding ticket into a pick-up opportunity when he later tracked down the female driver and asked her out, saying the least he could do for the money he’d cost her was to treat her to dinner, according to a lawsuit the woman filed in federal court.
Evagelina Paredes filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Chicago, accusing police officer Chris Collins of violating her privacy, according to the Associated Press. She alleges that after she was ticketed on Oct. 22, Collins searched for her address in the motor-vehicle database and left a handwritten note on the windshield of her car, which was parked outside her apartment, asking her out on a date.

In the note, a copy of which was included in the court documents and was obtained by the Associated Press, the 27-year-old police officer tried to woo Paredes with humor and a seemingly heartfelt plea. “It’s Chris … that ugly bald Stickney cop who gave you that ticket. … I know this may seem crazy and you’re probably right, but truth is I have not stopped thinking about you since. I don’t expect a girl as attractive as you to … even go for a guy like me, but I’m taking a shot anyways.”  “I did cost you $132 — least I can do is buy you dinner,” the note reportedly read.

The scenario is not that far off from the “meet-cutes” of Hollywood romantic comedies. In the 2011 hit “Bridesmaids,” Kirsten Wiig’s character starts a relationship with the traffic cop who let her out of a ticket for a broken taillight.  Arguably, it’s a lot less “cute” when it happens in real-life.

Paredes claims that the note caused her to “suffer great fear and anxiety.” In the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified payment in damages, according to the Associated Press, Paredes alleges that Collins used his position as a police officer to “manipulate” her into going out with him. Collins declined to comment to the Associated Press.

Chiefs Quarterback Sues for lost millions!

If this is true it just goes to show you that you need to evaluate your lawyer before you hire them.  Not every attorney will give you accurate and trustworthy advice.  I suggest that prospective clients review what others are saying about our firm online.  On Google and on Avvo.com

Recent Article on ESPN Chicago

CHICAGO -- Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Kyle Orton and some 20 other NFL players are suing a Chicago law firm for more than $10 million, claiming they received bad financial advice on investing in energy concerns.

The 14-page lawsuit filed this week in Cook County Circuit Court claims that the alleged negligence of Chuhak & Tecson cost Orton and the other players millions of dollars related to energy investments. The firm did not return several messages left Friday seeking comment.  The lawsuit only lists two individuals by name as plaintiffs -- Orton, now 29, a former quarterback for the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos, and Atlanta lawyer Edward Rappaport. Plaintiffs' attorney Daniel Konicek told The Associated Press the others he represents in the suit are all NFL players he declined to identify.

"I think this says a lot about the vulnerabilities of NFL players -- that they rely on the expertise of others," he said. "They relied on people who were supposed to have their best interests in mind."  In 2005, the law firm encouraged then-rookie Orton and others to set up partnerships that, in turn, would invest in producers and sellers of gas generated at landfills, the lawsuit says. The plaintiffs didn't find out until 2010 that they didn't qualify for tax breaks that Chuhak & Tecson allegedly assured them they would benefit from.  Instead, the investors "suffered millions of dollars in damages, including loss of investment, adverse tax consequences, penalties, expenses and professional fees," the lawsuit claims.

The suit itself doesn't provide an exact figure for how much the parties are seeking in damages, but Konicek said that, combined, it will be more than $10 million.  "This is a lesson to make sure you're dealing with the right people," said Konicek. "These guys thought they were."

Josh Selby playing in a whole different type of Court.

Well we wished him the best.  He bailed on us went to the NBA but we still hoped the best for him.  He made a mistake.   Josh Selby is now facing a marijuana possession charge in Prince George County District Court in Maryland.  It appears that during the lockout Selby got in a little trouble, read below to see what he would be facing on a similar charge in Kansas.


Josh Selby faces Marijuana charge after incident at the University of Maryland.
By: Scott Schroder

Memphis Grizzlies guard Josh Selby faces marijuana charges after being caught during the NBA lockout with the substance at the University of Maryland.

     

Jan 7, 2012 - Josh Selby saw his draft stock plummet last year as NBA teams took note of several off-court issues they thought might be too distracting to deal with once he made the jump to playing professional basketball. The Memphis Grizzlies took a chance on him in the second round, where they were able to get good value based on his talent, but Selby's off-court issues apparently popped up during the NBA lockout.

Selby has been summoned to court on Jan. 25 for an incident that happened at the University of Maryland on Oct. 5, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal (via Pro Basketball Talk). Selby didn't have any sort of comment about the incident, apparently:

"I have no comment about it," Selby said. "It is what it is."

Maryland makes a distinction between marijuana and all other illegal drugs. Possessing or using marijuana is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Griz general manager Chris Wallace said he is aware of the charge but the team will withhold judgment.  It was a rough 24 hours for Selby back then. On Oct. 6, just after midnight, Selby also received a ticket for a moving violation described as "failure to obey properly placed traffic control device instructions."

Selby has appeared in four games for the Grizzlies this season, playing 59 minutes and scoring 18 points.

I do not know what punishment he is facing in Maryland.  If he had been charged in Kansas for a similar crime he would be looking at a class A nonperson misdemeanor, up to a year in jail and a fine.