Judges should monitor traffic offense schools
Post-Tribune (IN)
May 11, 2006
We learned a couple weeks ago that the state Commission on Judicial Qualifications was looking into the driving school operated by Lake Superior Court, County Division, Judge Julie Cantrell.
That investigation may have been prompted by fellow County Division Judge Jesse Villalpando, who was targeted for defeat in last week's primary by the judge's father, Robert Cantrell.
Villalpando contends Cantrell has been overcharging those taking part in the driving school. Those who pay the fee and go to the school avoid having traffic tickets appear on their driving records.
The driving school issue raises a number of questions.
We know that some or all of the money Cantrell raises goes back into her budget to offset the cost of operating the court. However, there isn't any oversight as there is with other operations of local and county government. If the driving school is to continue, there should be a more structured operation.
There also is the question of fairness. It would appear that the driving school is nothing more than a way for the judge to raise money. If a person was ticketed for speeding, going to driving school isn't going to stop him or her from doing it again. We all know what a speed-limit sign means. The same with a stop sign. And we know we must use turn signals.
There also is a question of fairness. Is it right for those who pay for Cantrell's school to avoid having points against their licenses, when someone convicted of the same thing in a court without a school can be in jeopardy of losing his or her license?
While judges, unfortunately, are free to do pretty much whatever they please, there ought to be uniformity. We encourage John Pera, chief judge of the Lake Superior Court system, to bring the judges together and make those decisions.
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