There has been much misinformation circulated about the issue of low speed vehicles in the City of Holtville. Here are the facts: a few residents have been cited by the Holtville Police Department for driving low speed vehicles on city streets without proper licensing or registration. These residents protested, as their low speed vehicles had been licensed and registered by the Department of Motor Vehicles. An Imperial County Traffic Court Judge recently dismissed one of the citations issued by the Holtville Police Department precisely because the low speed vehicle had been issued a valid license and registration by the Department of Motor Vehicles, and there was no proof that driving a licensed, registered low speed vehicle on city streets was illegal.
The City of Holtville has been advised that the California Highway Patrol and the Department of Motor Vehicles are reviewing whether such low speed vehicles can be properly licensed, registered and lawfully driven on California’s streets and highways. For that reason the city manager, at the request of the City Council and upon advice of the city attorney, had previously directed the Police Department, through its police chief not to issue citations to low speed vehicles for being illegal if they are properly licensed and registered, unless and until the city is provided with different legal authority and direction from the State of California.
The Police Department has never been directed by anyone not to enforce all other rules of the road as it pertains to low speed vehicles. For the Police Department to continue ticketing properly licensed vehicles based upon a personal belief that the DMV is wrong or the judge is wrong or city staff is wrong is a waste of taxpayer money and a gross mismanagement of staff time. Holtville, like most cities has serious law enforcement issues and there is a sense within the community that the Police Department should concentrate on those serious law enforcement problems. While there is no desire to step on the toes of the Police Department when it comes to enforcing crime, the Police Department, like every other department and employee within the city, report to the city manager and are accountable to the City Council and the citizens of Holtville. Our direction continues to be a desire that taxpayer money and staff time not be spent on a losing issue that flies in the face of common sense.
The city has also been taken to task by local media for not disclosing the reasons behind the termination of an employee. While former employees are free to talk about their job status, the city of Holtville places a high value on the right of privacy afforded current and former employees. For that reason, we maintain a policy of not publicly commenting on personnel issues and litigation matters. If and when the matter otherwise becomes part of the public record, we will comment as appropriate. Maintaining the integrity of an individual’s right of privacy is at least as important as the media’s opinion of what the public has a right to know.
" is pat galliher related to that guy who smashes water melons with a mallet? "
golf carts for everyone wrote on Jan 5, 2008 8:57 PM:
" okay here's the solution; OUTLAW ALL CARS ON HOLTVILLE STREETS EXCEPT GOLF CARTS. Golf carts for everyone. "
Holtville1 wrote on Jan 4, 2008 1:45 AM:
" Maybe if the HPD would tackle some more serious crimes (or any serious crime) residents would be more respectful and supportive. Has anyone else noticed a big increase in vandalism lately? "
Mr. Math wrote on Jan 3, 2008 11:29 PM:
" Golf Carts - Police Protection = Higher Crime Rate. Do the math people. "
ANTI GOLF CARTS wrote on Jan 3, 2008 11:25 PM:
" you holtville folks sure love your golf carts so much that you're willing to give up your police department for them. wow that moonshine must have caused more brain damage than you thought. keep drinking that stuff and keep up the good work mr city government offical. oh mr city manger dont drink the anitfreeze, you might lose more than your common sense. "
Holtville1 wrote on Jan 3, 2008 10:08 AM:
" Why does spcinvsvcs get "Thank you" and "Well said" when I successfully refuted his/her point about the licensing/registrations? Do people just not pay attention on here? "
pinay wrote on Jan 2, 2008 11:54 PM:
" i guess we'll have to see which one of these gets ran in to for the laws to change. especially when there's children in it. "
pinay wrote on Jan 2, 2008 11:46 PM:
" WELL SAID SPCINVSVCS!! "
socrates619 wrote on Jan 2, 2008 5:11 PM:
" The Holtville Police morale is at an all time low. Battles are being fought between officers and the city manager. PD hang in there and contact your union rep. The city cannot arbitrarily contract police services with first meeting and negotiating with the PD and their union reps. HPD contact Rialto PD for additional advice. "
Indigo wrote on Jan 2, 2008 9:13 AM:
" For such a small town Holtville seems to have way too many problems. Rapid turnover in politics and at the schools leaves mainly unskilled / inexperienced people in charge. "
clxboy wrote on Jan 2, 2008 6:18 AM:
" Holt1...Nope, they are doing something about it but, when was the last time you heard holtville had a detective? Simple patrol procedures are not enough to investigate a murder. There is a lot more to it than just ask around. "
holtville1 wrote on Jan 1, 2008 2:42 PM:
" clxboy, Does that mean the HPD can't try and turn up some leads? "assigned to an outside agency to investigate" sounds like an easy way to throw your hands up and say it's not our job anymore. "
clxboy wrote on Dec 31, 2007 5:01 PM:
" spcinvsvcs...thank you! You get the point! For phillyfanatic; If you dont know about the case dont talk about it. The case was assigned to an outside agency to investigate! "
holtville1 wrote on Dec 31, 2007 11:16 AM:
" Relax, The posts here on the Press boards load in a strange way. You have to read them from the bottom up, rather than the top down. If you will scroll down and read the first post, I think you will obviously agree that patgalliher isn't trying to hide that he was cited. There have been several times on here where people posted something that made them look silly by not reading all the posts first. Is there a way to change the order they are in, or at least put a notice at the bottom of every article or maybe right next to "Comments" letting newcomers know to read them from the bottom up? "
who wrote the letter? wrote on Dec 30, 2007 5:23 PM:
" I've met Colleen Ludwig and I can honestly say I don't believe this letter was written by her. She is a well spoken woman, but this doesn't sound like her language or verbage at all.
I don't think this letter was written by her. This is clearly a "sign here" document presented for her "approval" by someone else.
Who wrote it? I wonder.
"
Relax wrote on Dec 30, 2007 7:32 AM:
" patgalliher: enough with the anger in your last sentence. The whole Imperial Valley knows you were one of the people cited. If you were such an expert in this matter as you claim due to your case research, we would not need DMV or CHP or attorneys to help with this. Maybe you are the arrogant one. Now Relax!!! "
holtville1 wrote on Dec 30, 2007 3:11 AM:
" Is the Press going to do an article on the person the sheriff picked to fill in as chief? KYMA announced it more than three days ago. "
patgalliher wrote on Dec 30, 2007 12:23 AM:
" I am bemused by all of these expert definitions of what legal LSVs are. If you are as sick of this as I am, read the NHTSA final rules on LSVs. This is the FEDERAL LAW and is also the definition CALIFORNIA uses for its LSV LAW. The NHTSA's final rule;
49 CFR Part 571
[Docket No. NHTSA 98-3949]
RIN 2127-AG58
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
Identifies LSVs as (their words) "speed-modified golf cars" and "neighborhood electric vehicles"
Look it up on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. I gave this information to the City Attorney, the Ex-Police Chief and the Highway Patrol’s PAO Wes Boerner and his Sergeant over a year ago. Not one of them took the time to do the research, because they “knew it all”. If any one of these arrogant “Public Servants” would actually take the time to read the laws they claim they are trying to enforce this would not even be an issue. Because of their imperiousness, law abiding citizens of Holtville have had to waste countless days trying to correct their mistakes. A golf car can legally become a low speed vehicle and in fact was one of the main reasons for the federal government to create that category of motor vehicle. DO SOME RESEARCH BEFORE YOU STATE WHAT YOU "KNOW" ARE FACTS!
"
holtville1 wrote on Dec 29, 2007 10:56 PM:
" spcinvsvcs, I think a key point here is that these vehicles were not registered and licensed by the DMV like quads and other off-road vehicles. They were licensed and registered like cars, with license plates, seat belts, turn signals, etc (when was the last time you saw those on a quad?) That's the reason their owners believe they have the right to drive them on the street. Get it now? "
chris922 wrote on Dec 29, 2007 10:20 PM:
" A city can opt to suspend issuing citations until a matter of law can be cleared. The California Vehicle code does state that "real" low speed vehicles or neighbor electric vehicles can be driven on city streets with certain restrictions, such as the street having a posted speed under 35 mph. The California Highway Patrol knows this as does the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you go to San Diego, especially in the coastal cities, you will see several of these vehicles being driven on city streets. What is important to remember is there is a difference between a golf cart and a low speed vehicle and the if police department is citing golf carts, they are correct in doing so. "
phillyfanatic wrote on Dec 29, 2007 9:05 PM:
" WHY IS HOLTVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT NOT INVESTIGATING THE RECENT MURDER OF JOSUE AYON (RIP)? BUT, NO THEY RATHER WORRY ABOUT GOLF CARTS. SINCE THE YOUNG MAN WAS MEXICAN THE HPD DON'T CARE. IF THE VICTIM WAS A "RANCHEROS" SON, THE HPD WILL EVEN CALL "CSI" FOR HELP. WE NEED SHERIFF PROTECTION. "
spcinvsvcs wrote on Dec 29, 2007 7:33 PM:
" Madam Mayor, a traffic court judge or commissioner can not issue a ruling and it become state law. The police department has the right/obligation to cite and hopefully tow vehicle that shouldn't be on the street. The fact that DMV issues a license and registration to a vehicle does not make it safe or legal for it be driven on streets or roadways. Quads and other off-road vehicles are legally registered and licensed, however, they cannot be driven on streets. Holtville just wants a puppet for department heads and since Myers didn't want to play your backwoods politics, you FIRED him without cause! Hope you can afford the suit. I hope the residents of Holtville hold you accountable for flushing away their tax dollars. "
RThornburg wrote on Dec 29, 2007 2:59 PM:
" We are pleased that the facts re. our vehicle are coming to the forefront. Your letter is a clear explanation of the facts and we appreciate the time and effort you have put forth. Ron and Joan Thornburg "
patgalliher wrote on Dec 29, 2007 10:59 AM:
" Madam Mayor, I have made at least a dozen calls and emails to the City Attorney and I have called the Police Department regarding the tickets that I was issued. I have not received the courtesy of a return call. I took the time off to go to court on the date that was on my ticket and was told the city had not filed the ticket with the court and that I would get something in the mail telling me when to go to court. It has now been about three months and I have not received anything from the court. Does this letter mean the city will not be pursuing the charges against me? I know you don't like all of this aired in public, but since neither the City Attorney nor the acting Chief of Police returned my calls, I hope maybe I can get an answer from you. "
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showtime 100 wrote on Jan 5, 2008 9:00 PM: