Outlaw Motorist: Everything's Bigger in Texas

Glenn Swanson
by Glenn Swanson
outlaw motorist everythings bigger in texas

According to Harlingen Texas police (via the Valley Morning Star), it was a “routine” traffic stop– until they ran the usual license check. They discovered that Valerie Ortiz Sanchez had 76 outstanding traffic warrants and more than $15k in unpaid fines, stretching back some nine years. When Sanchez was brought before Municipal Court Judge Valerie Garcia, the judge needed nearly 20 minutes to read the list of charges (including drunk driving). The judge then dismissed some of the outdated, outstanding warrants, “reducing” total fines and fees owed to $15,696. Moments after paying the fines and leaving the Harlingen city jail, Sanchez was arrested by police from San Benito. Officials there say Sanchez has at least 10 outstanding warrants and owes $2,718 in fines and court fees dating back to 2007. “Basically, driving is a privilege not a right and it can be revoked,” proclaimed Harlingen police spokesman David Osborne. Basically, but not specifically.

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  • Ricky Spanish Ricky Spanish on Jan 17, 2008

    if it can be revoked, why does she still have a license?

  • Ihatetrees Ihatetrees on Jan 17, 2008
    if it can be revoked, why does she still have a license? She paid the [s]bribe[/s] fine. Now she's a safe driver... Until she kills someone... Then she'll go to jail for a couple months and pay more fines and be a safe driver again... And no one will care.

  • Jerome10 Jerome10 on Jan 17, 2008

    He was probably driving a GM car, and it broke down, which is when he required police assistance and got caught. God GM sucks.

  • Quasimondo Quasimondo on Jan 18, 2008

    I swear, it must be an automotive variation on Godwin's Law, except it goes like this: "As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comment involving GM, Ford, or Chrysler quality and reliability approaches one." Maybe I should call it Lutz's Law.

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