Story Archive

Fighting City Hall

“If I got my mail every day, I would have seen them,” says Brian Vincent of Westminster, Mass. “It’s probably my fault.” Vincent says he normally gets mail at a PO Box, and doesn’t bother to check the mailbox at his home very often. But when he did, he found a late notice for his dog’s license, followed by a summons to court to take care of it. Officials say he was issued a notice last January, a reminder in April, a citation during the summer, and then summoned him in December for a hearing. After he didn’t appear for that hearing, the warrant was issued. Police even gave him a courtesy call, advising that he go to court, pay the $25 renewal fee, and a late fee, to take care of the matter, but Vincent apparently ignored that advice, too. Thus, the warrant was issued for Vincent’s arrest. “I don’t think people should be getting arrested for these dog license situations,” Vincent complained. Except that police don’t actually make arrests in such cases: hence the phone call. Still, “I just don’t think the punishment fits the crime,” Vincent whined. “Now I have a record and might need to get a lawyer” — because the warrant may mean he will lose his license to carry a firearm. (RC/Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise) ...Good: someone shouldn’t be allowed to carry when they’ve demonstrated they don’t have a brain.