Judge orders Alabama driver to apologize or face jail for telling officer, 'Get your ass out of the way'

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

“He was standing there and wouldn’t move,” Burks said. “I had asked him politely at least twice.”

“I said, ‘Sir, step back, get out the way,’” Burks said. “He said, ‘You can go. Go around.’”

Burks said he responded: “Get your ass out of the way so I can take my kids to school. That’s why y’all underpaid because y’all act dumb.”

Burks drove off and apologized to his daughter for the exchange.

The Ozark Police Department did not immediately respond to an inquiry.

Burks appeared in court last month prepared to plead guilty, pay the fine and put the ordeal behind him. But after he paid the fine, which totaled $211.12, including a $20 fine, as well as service and court fees, Ozark Municipal Court Judge Nicholas Bull told him that he must also write an apology to the officer for allegedly having cursed at him, according to a copy of the order shared with NBC News.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/judge-orders-alabama-driver-to-apologize-or-face-jail-for-telling-officer-get-your-ass-out-of-the-way/ar-BB1mkmTW

Burks declined. If he does not submit the letter at his next court appearance June 4, he will have to serve up to 30 days in jail, he and his attorney said.

[Gore1FL]

1. I'd write the letter

I am sorry I lost my temper and to the point where I exercised my First Amendments Rights. It is my hope in the future we can better work together; me not losing my temper, and you doing your job competently.

TTFN

[Irish_Dem]

2. The judge might not like your letter?

I would just keep it brief. I apologize for my behavior. . Then sign it.

[Gore1FL]

3. I would think it would win on a civil rights appeal. NT

[Irish_Dem]

7. Unless the guy is rich, what is the point?

Attorney fees are going to kill him.

ETA I just read that the guy is black with a white cop and white judge.

So yes there is a point.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

5. White cop, white judge, Alabama and ridiculous penalty along with a cop treating a citizen with contempt.

The citizen is black.

Hmmm, I wonder what the issue can be.

His attorney said the decision is judicial overreach and believes racism is at the center of the judge’s order.

“My client is being punished for a protected speech that has got nothing to do with the traffic situation, which to me is just good ol’ boy Alabama,” David Harrison, the attorney, said Monday. “And what I mean by that is that this system is not equal for African Americans and white people.”

“This man is being convicted for something they couldn’t charge him with and win at trial,” Harrison continued. “The crime here is not apologizing and that’s my issue. It’s not constitutionally sound. It’s probably the most unsound decision that I’ve seen in 33 years of practicing law.”

[Irish_Dem]

12. I just realized the citizen was black.

Yep racist judge and cop.
Changes the dynamics totally.

[HAB911]

10. And then write an OP-ED

to the local paper, and go into excruciating detail

[walkingman]

4. Cops.......

[flvegan]

6. "I'm sorry that you were offended by what I said."

How to make an apology a non-apology.

[Solomon]

8. What is everybody talking about?

This shit is clearly unconstitutional. What the fuck. You guys just ready to bend right over.

[arthritisR_US]

9. Apparently

[Irish_Dem]

13. If the citizen was white and this was not racist

it would be ridiculous to go to an appeal court.

Attorney costs would be crazy expensive.

I thought it was a white citizen.

But the fact it is a black citizen and white cop and judge changes the dynamics of course.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. "I'm sorry that you're too dumb to get your ass out of the way of traffic" nt