Silly Law Makers, Tricks are For Kids

Alright, so we all know there are a few laws that just don't seem to fit... You know like actually stopping for a red light... It's really more of a caution to speed up, am I right? (Disclaimer: Please stop at red lights. I've seen you...sometimes you don't!)

But there is a new law that took effect on the first that has many, including myself, wondering just how it's going to work out. No, I'm not talking about the no cell phones in school zones, that one makes sense (although, I'm bound to break it because driving is when I'm getting most of my business done). Instead, I'm talking about the law that was initially authored by Rep. Abel Herrero, that says any offender of family violence may be ordered, by a judge, to wear a GPS tracking monitor and restricted from certain areas where the victim may be. This new law also says that the victim may request a monitor to find out where the offender is, at all times.

Now I'm not bashing this idea, I love it actually. It provides an accountability that ideally should help out many victims, and even offenders. No, I'm bashing the law makers for creating this idea, with no instruction for how, or even, who is supposed to carry it out.

Here, in Abilene, I asked around about this law. The Justice of the Peace office, said it was a matter for the District Attorney. The District Attorney, said it was a matter for the JP's Office. Meanwhile, the Probation office said it wasn't theirs to watch, and the few bondsmen I asked (who interact the most with an offender) had no idea what I was even talking about.

Please, don't get me wrong, this is not me mixing it up with the local law authorities. They were extremely helpful in my search for the answers. The issue with all of this goes way up the hierarchy to the folks who didn't instruct these people on how to carry it out!

So here's my understanding after my wild hunt: All of these bodies, except the bondsmen, knew of the law. So they were informed, and up to date. That's a plus. And, all of them were aware that there was a problem with the way this set up. With all that said, here is the Tim Johnston Abridged Version of the Operation Protocol.

The JP will order the GPS, which can be written into the bond. The offender will have to pay, somehow, for the GPS unit and for the monitor for the victim, if the victim wants it. As of now, very few are equipped to meet these demands, but the Corrections Office (aka Probations) is geared up with GPS tracking anklets, but the monitors for the victims are not available, yet. The bondsmen will be given instruction at the next meeting, and then everyone should be versed in how this will go.

Confused? You should be! So is everyone else, at this point. Desperate for answers? Just hold on, because all eyes will be on the first city/county that attempts to carry this out.

And that is why this new law presents such an issue...not because of what it wants to do, but because it didn't explain how to do it!

As it stands, I probably just wrote about something that goes way beyond my pay-grade...And I will do my best to blog about a more witty topic next time.