NEWMAN POLICE SPEND HOURS FOR ABOUT $75. You remember my outrage a few months back when a Newman police officer pulled over retired farmer and civic leader Gary Mall for a seat belt violation.

He denied it, pointing out that his sophisticated truck would ding in a shrieking sound all the way from home (six miles) if he wasn’t wearing the belt. The officer didn’t back down; and when Mall decided not to sign the ticket, he was handcuffed and an animal control officer was called to take care of his dog. Mall eventually signed the ticket, and the officers left, after spending a great deal of resources on an issue that I don’t believe should have happened.

I believe Mall. After all, Mall was former director of the West Side Hospital, a volunteer fireman, member of the Stanislaus County Grand Jury, and a recent long time member of the Memorial Hospital Foundation in Modesto and a former director of the West Stanislaus Fire District. He has paid his dues to our community, and he and his wife Cyndi had continued to donate to many causes. If Mall has his way, his community giving is about over. But, folks, here is the rest of the story….

Mall was so upset at the attitude of our local police and the embarrassment that he decided to go to court to protest the fine. This was before the fine arrived in his mail for $974. At that rate, local officers could pull over a car a day and pay off the city deficit quickly. Mall lost in court after appealing to a rent-a-judge, but the fine was reduced to $75 plus fees for a total $151. When I talked with Mall he said he wasn’t protesting the amount of the fine but the officer’s judgment. (I guess it is probably difficult for a judge to rule in favor of the driver over traffic enforcement, but in this case, she was wrong). Mall carried into court two letters, signed by realtor Doug Stephens and farmer Jim Jasper who both wrote that they had ridden with Mall many times and that he ALWAYS wore a seatbelt. That didn’t move the judge to dismiss the fine, but she certainly lowered it. (Mall also showed the judge a copy of my column, and now you know how much weight that it had!)

And guess what. Our officer drove to court determined to ensure his ticket to Mall stuck. Did he really have to drive and spend up to three hours, and who knows how much time and money, for a $75 fine? I don’t think our city even receives the total citation.

Mall spent countless hours of worry and effort to present his case in court. I have no doubt that Mall (who can certainly afford the fine) would have never spent up to 10 hours back and forth to Modesto, standing in lines and telling his story, if he didn’t think he was innocent. Why can’t our city leaders weigh these kinds of incidents and figure out that they are better off leaving them alone. I know that our law enforcement leaders talked with Mall before the court date. What was the point of showing up in court?

I know one thing for sure, and that is when Mall’s friends come to town, they won’t think about our historic, quaint community when they pass the “Welcome to Newman” sign. You think Mall feels welcome in Newman?

AMBULANCE SERVICE. We would all be smart to start looking into the kind of service we get from our West Side Community Ambulance District. Editor Dean Harris pointed out that many believe that West Side’s standing as a sub-contractor for privately-owned Riggs Ambulance Service, which holds the contract for countywide emergency medical services throughout Merced County, is leaving the local taxpayers holding the bag. I suggest we start asking questions. The local men and women who serve us locally are outstanding, but is Riggs letting them do their jobs? In addition, I despise the idea that taxpayers who are picked up by the ambulance can’t choose which hospital they want to be delivered to…..that must change!