[StBernard] I ask, "What would a gypsy do?"

[Westley Annis]

Mudpie,

Remember that I am not a lawyer, I don't play one on TV, and this is just my
opinion.

The ticket was probably issued by a member of the local county sheriff's
office.  To me, this means someone in the department thought they could get
a little more revenue by looking for Louisiana residents.

I think you have some options here:

1) Pay the ticket and be done with it.  The Sheriff is probably hoping you
do exactly this.

2) Contest the ticket by yourself.  Hope you get a favorable judge.

3) Contest the ticket with an attorney who is licensed in Mississippi.  This
will be a highly technical case in interpreting the law, so you need someone
who fully understands all aspects of the case.

4) Contact the local District Attorney's office, explain the situation and
ask if they intend on pursuing the case.  Be forewarned that this may force
you to use number 3 above.

5) Go to the media.  If a number of people all received these tickets, the
media should pounce on it.  Contact the local media, New Orleans/Baton Rouge
media, and major national newspapers (New York Times/Washington Post/etc).

Every state, including Louisiana, has a law that says you need to register
your car within that state if you are there for so many days.  The question
will be in the wording of the Mississippi law and its interpretation.

It basically boils down to a case of proving residency.

Since you are asking here what to do, I'm guessing you are not going to
pursue option 1 which means you should include option 5 with any of the
other 3 options.

Westley

PS I don't know if this is something they would handle, but try to find a
number for the ACLU also.  They may want to pick up on it.

-----Original Message-----


OK, I am staying in a FEMA-financed apartment in MS and staying in St. B on
weekends to restore my home because we still haven't gotten a trailer.  I
just got a ticket from the MS police "for improper use of out of state
tags". (They claim if I reside somewhere for more than 30 days, I must
transer all my plates and registration to that state.)  First of all, what
was he doing on private property snooping in my car.  Second, I have never
stayed a consecutive 30 days in MS because I am constantly running back to
Saint Bernard and now preparing to move to Florida where I can be closer.  I
am crushed at how low the police can go, but am also seeing the bigger
picture.  With the 1,000's of MS evacuatees in LA, are they going to be hit
with the same brutality and will there be a feeding frenzy on evacuees of
both states, and to what state do we owe loyalty?  I live in two places but
pay state income taxes to LA, pay 2 separate utility bills and consider
myself a resident of where I own my home, (St. Bernard). Can we not get a
temporary "visa" and be able to live free and die in my own country (last
time I checked, MS is part of the Union) and what happens when we leave for
Florida next month?  And why is my husband, who lost his truck in Katrina
and bought one in MS with MS plates, not getting the same ticket for parking
in our private driveway in Saint Bernard?  I and my other evacuee neighbors
in MS who also received these tickets are reeling at this hit below the belt
and wondering where to turn.  Thanks for any guidance.  Mudpie