Imperial Valley Press

Half Hundred Overtime Parkers May Park Overtime in Jail Here Ere Long
Nearly half a hundred warrants were piled at the El Centro police department Saturday, awaiting the signature of Police Judge Lee Nuffer before they could be served upon erring motorists.
The 43 warrants represented the only unfinished traffic violation cases up to Sept. 1 since the current drive began early in May.
Up until Saturday 1307 tickets had been issued since May 3 for traffic violations within El Centro.
Ninety per cent were for overtime parking. The balance was made up with boulevard stop violations, speeding, reckless and drunken driving.
Forty-three pages in the police department log book are taken up with the names of out of town car owners as well as prominent and lesser known El Centrans. A number of the city's leading citizens have paid their $1 for overtime parking with more or less alacrity.
Of the 1307 tickets issued, 766 $1 fines were paid. One hundred and seventy-seven parking tickets were dismissed as warning or for one cause or another and 165 parking cases on the books are still uncompleted. The balance of the tickets issued are for other violations.
Dismissals range from "at recommendation of the arresting officer"
"I have left the cases entirely up to the arresting officers," Police Chief Ernie Cox explained. "There has been no pressure or favoritism."
Most successful basis for dismissal was that of "battery dead" or "car broken down". Other drivers, however, had explained that they were at a doctor's office or engaged in important business. Two State of California cars received dismissals as well as one Irrigation district, a Nev-Cal machine and a telephone company car.
Chief Cox explained that public service employees while working were given special dispensation because of the nature of their business.
Judge Nuffer himself was among those "on the books" as well as a
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Hundreds of Overtime Parkers May Park in Jail
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California Highway patrolman, a ship officer and several well known businessmen.
43 warrants were for motorists (90 per cent of whom were out-of-towners) who have ignored warnings.
When signed, they will be served, Chief Cox said. Among those on the list are several El Centrans who have a number of violations against them.
To date the books show 85 tickets issued for El Centrans and 57 out of town folk. Eighty cases for El Centrans are still uncompleted as are 85 out-of-towners. Many of these are recent tickets, however. They have not yet had an opportunity to go through the regular machinery of collection. Several names, well known and little known, on the recent books several Officers explained that a number of some wait until they have a goodly collection before sending a check.
The businessman comes in every now and then with a handful of parking tickets and pays them off all at once!" an officer recalled.