Officials with the Georgia State Patrol stated this week they are currently investigating the Jacksonville Police Department following accusations by Telfair County Sheriff Chris Steverson and others that the department has been operating illegal speed traps.
Sheriff Steverson posted the following message to his office’s Facebook page Tuesday:
“The Telfair Co. Sheriff’s Office is contacted almost daily by individuals who feel they may have been improperly or illegally ticketed and, in some cases, arrested by City of Jacksonville policemen. If you or someone you know feel you have been victimized by this or any agency you suspect of operating an illegal “speed trap” or any traffic enforcement scheme intended solely for the purpose of generating revenue, you are urged to immediately notify the Ga. Dept. of Public Safety Office of Professional Standards at (404) 624-7523, the Ga. Peace Officer Standards and Training Council at (770) 732-5939, or you may contact the Telfair County Sheriff at (229) 868-6621 for assistance in forwarding your complaints.
Those ticketed improperly are advised to have their cases transferred out of Jacksonville City Court to the Telfair Co. Superior Court, where your ticket will be closely scrutinized by the District Attorney’s Office for legitimacy. Any tickets deemed to be illegally written may be dismissed. There are many rules regulating the operating of radar for speed detection, including rules prohibiting running radar too close to signs where the speed limit is reduced. It is also illegal to urge motorists on the roadside to pay ridiculously high fines, as well as attempting to trick victims by making them believe their tickets will be dismissed or “not turned in” in exchange for the fine being quickly paid to the ticketing agency.
You may contact Telfair Co. Sheriff Chris Steverson anytime at (his) office (229) 868-6621 or home (912) 381-5591 24/7 . Thanks and please forward to anyone you know who may have experienced an illegal stop or arrest.”
Jacksonville Police Chief Charles Briley has stated to the media the current investigation against his department is the result of a personal vendetta by Sheriff Steverson and maintains neither he or his officers have done anything illegal or unethical.
Law enforcement agencies are not allowed to collect more than 40 percent of their earnings from traffic fines. Records show the Jacksonville Police Department issued 63 tickets during the moth of May and collected $3,405 in fines.