Archive for the ‘Legal’ Category

After many efforts at sending out threatening letters and warrant round-up’s, Dallas County has decided that it’ll be easier to just make it impossible to renew your registration.

So beginning tomorrow, 11 February 09, the Scofflaw Registration Block Program goes into effect. This effort is to try to collect the more than $200 million owed by drivers with unpaid traffic tickets.

Vehicle registration may not be the only thing at stake if you have outstanding fines; if you owe Dallas County money you won’t be able to renew your driver’s license either.

To see if you, or your neighbors, are on the “Wanted” list, check out this festive website that provides a break down of what outstanding citations need to be addressed:

Dallas County Wanted Search Service website.

We make it a point to keep news positive on this site; however, every now and again we need to address a serious note. In this case, the increase in domestic violence.

Due to the recent economic downturns, some relationships that had been strained to begin with are now facing serious challenges that affect the safety and well-being of others. Domestic violence is not just a situation that affects women and children - there many instances where a man is the recepient of abuse and we need to all be aware and accepting of this.

If you or someone you care about is in a situation of domestic violence, please take the necessary steps to get them out of this situation now. If you think things may be escalating, at least do research and have the names and numbers of the agencies that can help, find out the protocol for securing a protective order from the court, etc.

Dallas County: The Family Place is Dallas County’s largest shelter. They can be reached at 214-941-1991 or go to their website at www.familyplace.org.

Tarrant County: Safe Haven can be reached at 877-701-7233 or visit their site at: http://www.safehaventc.org/.

In a fantastic move by the Dallas City Council , a plan has been approved to toughen the city’s smoking ordinance.

We know some people are going to be all fired up about this - no pun intended - but a number of major cities have already enacted this type of legislation. It will be nice for non-smokers to be able to go out and not come home reeking of cigarette smoke.

It bans smoking at bars, taverns and pool halls. It also bars smokers from the vicinity of most business entrances.

Violators would face fines, and bar owners also could be fined for non-enforcement.

The vote was 10-5 in favor of the stronger regulations; Council members Vonciel Jones Hill, Steve Salazar, Tennell Atkins, Sheffie Kadane and Mitchell Rasansky opposed the measure.

The revised ordinance takes effect April 10.

So let’s get this straight, Axl Rose runs off the best part of Guns ‘n Roses (Duff , Matt Sorum & Slash) due to his arrogance; spends 17 years recording Chinese Democracy; drops off the radar for 2 months before the debut of said album so his label is unable to do the necessary publicity thereby costing the #1 spot on the charts…..and yet Axl can bestir himself to get into a tantrum state over Dr Pepper.

If it weren’t for Dr Pepper, the public would have been hard pressed to even know that Chinese Democracy was being released.

Now, te folks at Dallas area-based Dr Pepper are “disappointed” by legal action threatened by a lawyer for the group Guns N’ Roses, after their highly publicized soft-drink giveaway left some fans with a bad taste.

In March, Dr Pepper offered to give everyone in America a free 20 oz bottle of Dr Pepper if the rock group’s long-delayed album “Chinese Democracy” was released in 2008.

When the album came out last week, Dr Pepper was swamped with requests for coupons needed to redeem the free drink.

Frustrated fans, including some who tried for hours to sign up for the coupons via a Dr Pepper Web site, took their anger out on the group. That’s according to a harshly worded letter from Alan Gutman, the Beverly Hills attorney representing the group and front man Axl Rose.

The letter, sent last week to Larry Young, Dr Pepper’s chief executive, insists among other things that the company take out full-page newspaper ads of apology and expand its redemption offer.

It also seeks “appropriate payments to our clients for unauthorized use…of their publicity.”

Mr. Gutman said “the door to a lawsuit remains open as long as Dr Pepper fails to respond appropriately.”

Dr Pepper spokesman Greg Artkop said the company is “disappointed that GNR’s lawyers are turning a fun giveaway into a legal dispute.

“Axl even expressed support for our efforts earlier this year,” said Mr. Artkop.

“When the album release was confirmed, Guns n’ Roses management team approached us and we openly shared our giveaway plans,” he said.

He said the company took “great steps to fulfill our offer, including: extending the window for the giveaway from 24 to 42 hours, adding a toll-free line to handle consumers…[and] setting up an interactive voice recorder to accept coupon requests.

Also, “for those who contacted us in the week after the giveaway about difficulties requesting the coupon, we continued to offer free coupons to address any problems they may have encountered.”

He said the company also has apologized to consumers who contacted them to complain.

Mr. Artkop declined to reveal how many people tried to get the free sodas, but said “we were very excited by the response of Dr Pepper fans and regret that some had trouble registering for the coupon.

“This was one of the largest responses we have ever received for a giveaway,” he said, adding “We wish Guns N’ Roses the best with their album.”

Axl….get a life.

It isn’t a big secret - President Bush will move to the Dallas area when he leaves office which means some big changes here.

President Bush and his wife Laura have been shopping for houses in Preston Hollow and University Park. It will be the first time a president moves here after leaving the White House.

A former Secret Service agent who does dignitary protection says the president likes to run and he and Laura Bush will be dining around town. So at first, security will be tight.

While Bush may be popular in Texas, he is unpopular across the world. Currently when former presidents come to town there are motorcades with armored cars.

In Dallas, the SWAT team provides dignitary protection. They’ll do the same for Bush, blocking off streets, to move the president through his daily routines.

Dallas police was going to downsize its SWAT team but now may have to add more to the SWAT team when the president moves to Dallas.

Law enforcement sources say there is concern because of the unpopularity of the president and Dallas lives with the legacy of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Dallas police will work very closely with the secret service on any terrorist threats.

They’ll be coordinating very closely on any type of movement, threat intelligence alike and they’ll always provide the level of security predicated on the threat.

Residents can expect some disruption when the president and First Lady decided to eat out or shop but eventually people will barely notice they live here.

On 19 November 08, 36-year-old Rogelio Reyes Cannady will be dead if all goes according to play by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Cannady is scheduled to be executed on November 19 for murdering his cellmate in October 1993. Cannady, once a waiter, was in prison in ‘93 serving out a life sentence for stabbing to death a 16-year-old boy and strangling his 13-year-old girlfriend - he left their bodies in a ditch.

Since being given his execution date in August, Cannady has spent every single day posting to a blog, Death Watch Journal and it makes for interesting reading. His entries, which have attracted an international readership, can be found here:
http://deathwatchjournal.wordpress.com/the-death-watch-begins/

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is making it known that any business price gouging for essential services (medical, fuel, lodging, food, etc.) is subject to prosecution by the Texas Attorney General’s office. Average penalties are $20,000; however, if your price gouge against the elderly, expect the penalty to be in the $250,000 range.

The AG successfully prosecuted after Hurricane Rita and his office is currently taking calls of price gouging right now.