Police target bad checks

mike j.
01/24/2010 12:33 PM

Like anything else, the squeeky wheel gets the grease. Stop signs at Carlos Corner. The word gets out when radar enforcement is used. Certain bars are lax in age checks, etc. My city's mayor has declared it a "Sanctuary City". He has determined his political stake is more important than existing law. A businessman who lets a bad check slide because he hasn't time to prosecute is opening the door for more of the same. A neighborhood who tolerates loud parties or speeding is giving consent. A common argument is "you can't lock them all up", no need too. Word will also get around that laws are enforced. Many years ago, Osakis had a reputation for strict speed inforcement and people heeded the limits. After a kid learns the rules, the parent(s) life gets a lot easier. St. Paul is putting in survelience cameras in trouble spots and the protests about privacy issues are showing up. You get the results you ask for.

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Steve H.
Hoffman, MN     01/24/2010 10:13 AM

I think both bad checks and identity theft crimes are underenforced and underpunished. The identity theft thing is really getting out of hand, and will get worse if they don't start handing out some serious punishments. Let's be realistic about it, the way things stand now, people don't have much to lose by committing those crimes, so hey!, why not give it a try!

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mike j.
01/23/2010 5:45 PM

The reason it has grown to be the problem it is, is because it hasn't been enforced. Like other token rules, if one gets away with it, the word gets out. Prosecution would cost more than the offence and it became a cost of doing business.

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CJ S.
Nelson, MN     01/22/2010 5:04 PM

I wish Chief Wyffels would send this notice to our government.

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sonny j.
Minneapolis, MN     01/22/2010 10:44 AM

Never write a check, use your credit card.

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monte b.
01/22/2010 10:19 AM

i lived in texas for 2 yrs, and down there they take "hot checks" pretty serious.i have seen judges put people in jail for 2yrs for hot checks. and not for the people who do it just to do it. military personell's spouses who blow money foolishly. if a check goes bad for needed items aka food medicine etc, the penalty was just a fine and the amount of the check. write a check to a fast food joint and pay the price. once a month they have amesty day for hot checks. the amount of the check and a $20.00 fee and it's done. then the law takes over and they usually clear up 90% of bad checks. they should treat it here the same.

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