Quote:
Originally Posted by TiltonBB
You hit the nail on the head. I could not have said it better.
I have spent many mornings in that court and watched the lazy deadbeats get coddled. They get a kiss on the cheek and a pat on the bum and get told to try harder. The judges know most of the defendants by first name but it doesn't change things. There are many "frequent flyers" in Laconia District Court.
Maybe if they revoked driver's licenses for unpaid court judgments it would have some impact. Maybe if they told the defendants you have three months to start making payments on this judgment or you will spend some time in jail it would make a difference. Five days in jail and another 60 days to pay. No action? 30 days in jail and another 60 days to pay. At some point it would make a difference.
Laconia has a good police department but in my opinion, a lot of Laconia's problems stem from a weak court system.
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I'll agree that the laws frequently seem to favor the tenants, and judges don't want to force people out into the street. However, fines and jail just make it more difficult to get a job and make any payments. People who lose their driver's license just drive anyway. If you can get an MVR as part of the application, it frequently lists "Driving after Suspension. When you ask, "I got stopped for ignoring a light or stop sign."
My experience was with the Manchester Housing office and courts in Merrimack and Milford, mostly for evictions where I had no problems. In one instance, I even collected back rent in monthly payments. Usually, you just have to figure that as lost money.