Judge Middleton’s "Merry-Go-Round": 10 Years Without a License Ends Today!

Añadido: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]Good morning. Are you Elizabeth Carolyn Boyd? Yes, sir.

[00:00:07]File number here is 2 3 19080T Miss [clears throat] Boyd, you got charged on September 9th of 2023 for driving without a valid license.

[00:00:32]Um >> [clears throat] >> You showed up for your arraignment in October of '23 and you wanted to get a license. So, I adjourned it till December of '23 and you didn't show up.

[00:00:47]So, I did a show cause and set it again for December 19th and you didn't show up.

[00:00:58]Um Then you got arrested on the bench warrant on March 23rd.

[00:01:07]Uh you came into the counter and posted the bond. I recalled the warrant and that would maybe been Judge Patterson and set the matter for today.

[00:01:21]So, let's take a look at your current driving record.

[00:01:34]>> [snorts] >> The original ticket was 4th and State Street in Three Rivers at about 11:30 at night on September 9th of 2023.

[00:01:48]You didn't have your tail lights on.

[00:01:51]>> [clears throat] >> So, let's take a look.

[00:01:55]I bet they didn't run a new driving record.

[00:01:58]Uh Jenny or Shana, could you run a new driving record for Elizabeth Boyd?

[00:02:07]We'll see what her status of her license is.

[00:02:10]>> Um I have my permit and I have my driving test today actually, right after court, so. All right.

[00:02:16]>> [clears throat] >> Well, that's good. Only took you 3 years to do it, but sounds like you're on the verge of uh getting your valid license.

[00:02:44]>> [snorts] >> Uh Mr. George, what if we just adjourn this to see if she actually gets over the hump? That's fine with me, Your Honor. All right. W- Where did you go for 3 [clears throat] years? 2 and 1/2?

[00:02:56]>> I moved to Niles.

[00:02:58]Yeah, and um I forgot about court and stuff and I didn't get the mail, so that's completely my fault.

[00:03:06]>> [snorts] >> All right, where are you going to do your driver test?

[00:03:10]>> On Drivers.

[00:03:23]Well, let's reset that for 1 week.

[00:03:31]April 7th. Will you be here then, Mr. George?

[00:03:41]To allow defendant to pass driver test.

[00:03:47]>> [clears throat] >> If this hits your record, you won't be able to get your license for at least 180 days.

[00:04:01]If you pass the test, for what it's worth, I do have $400 worth of bond in here, Mr. George, so there's more than enough money to pay any fines and costs.

[00:04:14]If you pass the test, Mr. George could give you some consideration and allow a charge that would let you keep your driving, get your driver's license.

[00:04:30]Now, last address we had was Clear Lake Road.

[00:04:34]Uh is that still valid?

[00:04:36]>> Yes.

[00:04:40]>> [snorts] >> All right, I want you to ace your driver test and come in here next Tuesday.

[00:04:48]Yes, sir.

[00:04:57]Bring license.

[00:05:14]I don't think you have any unpaid tickets.

[00:05:18]Uh >> [clears throat] >> run new driving record.

[00:05:28]All right, let's see if you can get a license, Mr. George could help you by reducing the charge, which would allow you to keep your license, which is really what we're looking for in the first place.

[00:05:40]Thank you.

[00:05:42]All right, good luck on your driver test.

[00:06:00]>> Abby Pitcher >> [snorts] [snorts] >> I'm not dropped at this, but our friend September Knowles has failed to appear this morning.

[00:06:24]Um That poor girl is uh a cork floating in a very big ocean.

[00:06:41]Good morning. Are you Abby Nicole Pitcher?

[00:06:44]I am. Are you from Gwinn?

[00:06:47]No, um I just moved back down here after I turned 18. So, I haven't been able to choose a new >> So, you live at Corey Lake Road. Yes.

[00:06:55]All right, that's a lot closer than Gwinn.

[00:06:59]All right, you got a ticket in Three Rivers. Yep. For driving without a valid license and no license plates. Let's take a look at your ticket.

[00:07:11]>> [clears throat] >> There used to be a Air Force base in Gwinn long, long time ago.

[00:07:29]Part of Anatomy of a Murder was set in Gwinn.

[00:07:38]But you don't even know what I'm talking about, but it's about 60-70 year old movie.

[00:07:44]Anyway, you got a ticket for speeding.

[00:07:48]Uh no license ever applied and improper plate.

[00:07:54]The s- 62 and a 25.

[00:08:01]Yee.

[00:08:02]Fourth and Pleasant Street. That's not a good place to go 62 miles an hour.

[00:08:10]Uh they cited you for 30.

[00:08:12]That speeding ticket looks like it may have been defaulted.

[00:08:16]Anyway, no license ever applied is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.

[00:08:30]The other charge, improper plate, is 90 days and or $100.

[00:08:36]Yeah, you just don't have a license.

[00:08:41]Used to be blonde.

[00:08:43]Yeah.

[00:08:45]Uh >> [snorts] >> You had a real ID, which is why they've got your picture.

[00:08:52]Uh Mr. George, would you dismiss the plate charge? Yes.

[00:08:57]All right.

[00:08:58]Uh the principal charge is driving without a license ever acquired.

[00:09:02]Prosecutor would agree to dismiss that charge, which would save you $100 if you plead to driving without ever having a license. But, how about the [clears throat] speeding ticket? Based on the speed that she was going, we had that before. You're sure [clears throat] you got it? I guess it's not a default. The fine for the speeding would be $90.

[00:09:24]Um anyway, that's the charge. The city attorney would dismiss the no plate charge.

[00:09:31]The charge of speeding 30 in a 25 would stand.

[00:09:36]And that would cost $90 and if you pleaded not having a valid license ever, you would get a $200 fine.

[00:09:46]>> [gasps and sighs] >> So, are you willing to plead to that charge if the prosecutor dismisses the charge of no plate and admit to the speeding charge?

[00:09:56]Or do you wish to plead not guilty?

[00:09:57]>> Not guilty.

[00:09:58]All right.

[00:10:01]I'll set it for not guilty plea.

[00:10:04]>> [clears throat] >> Are you doing anything to get your license? Yes. Tell me about that. Um all I have to do is go up and take the test.

[00:10:12]Um I did the driver's [clears throat] training class.

[00:10:15]I took the test.

[00:10:17]I just got to do the drive.

[00:10:19]Which I wasn't able to since I did just move from Marquette down here so I have to do it here.

[00:10:25]Cuz I had one scheduled in Marquette in Gwinn, but I had to get out of there.

[00:10:31]All right.

[00:10:35]>> [clears throat] >> Um really curious to know how you ended up going 62 mph on Forest Street, but uh I'm sorry, but Don't say anymore about it. Not at this Not yet.

[00:10:47]>> [clears throat] >> What Tell me about why do you have to take a drug screen?

[00:10:58]You said you passed the drug screen. No, the driver's training.

[00:11:02]Um Oh, you said driver's training and I guess I heard drug screen. So, um You Do you have a time to take the test?

[00:11:12]Not yet. I got to call up still cuz last time they were still packed and full so they said give it a month and call back.

[00:11:22]>> [snorts] >> Well, we'll give it a month.

[00:11:26]We'll [clears throat] set it for May 5th.

[00:11:36]>> [snorts] >> Now right now you don't have any baggage on your driving record.

[00:11:43]There's nothing. You just don't have a license.

[00:11:47]If you get this, you won't be able to get a license for 180 days. So you need to wake up from slumber land and between now and May 5th, take your driver test.

[00:11:59]And if you come in here and show Mr. Judge that you've got a license, he may give you some additional consideration regarding this.

[00:12:07]Um Okay? Okay.

[00:12:12]What do you do now that you're back here in Three Rivers?

[00:12:16]Um Um Still working on that. Um right now I'm working to get apartment.

[00:12:27]Um Yeah. All right. Now if you move, we need to get your change of address.

[00:12:36]Who lives on Corey Lake Road?

[00:12:38]Um my boyfriend, his mom, and two brothers. Okay. The other thing is the Secretary of State believes you live in Gwinn because that's the address on your ID.

[00:12:50]>> [clears throat] >> And any mail they send from the Secretary of State goes to the address on your license.

[00:12:56]So when you go in to take the driver test, make sure you get a new address. I will.

[00:13:02]Uh cuz and they don't forward Secretary of State mail.

[00:13:05]So if it gets sent to the address on your license, it'll just languish there.

[00:13:12]All right. We're going to see how you can do in a month.

[00:13:29]I had a clerk in here. I could have them do this.

[00:13:44]>> [clears throat] >> They're like Tuesday.

[00:13:49]>> [clears throat] >> In the meantime, Mr. George, I'll give you a chance to get the report on this and see what the deal was.

[00:14:00]>> [snorts] >> Bring proof of license.

[00:14:08]Or permit.

[00:14:11]Cuz you need to do this anyway. You need to get off the driving suspended merry-go-round and get an actual license. Right now, there isn't anything prohibiting you from having a license.

[00:14:21]Now, whoever's [snorts] car you were driving, they could be in trouble for allowing an unlicensed driver to drive their car. So, don't drive a car.

[00:14:30]And uh get your license and maybe we can fix this on May 5th.

[00:14:37]All right, you're good to go.

[00:14:39]Thank you. Have a good day.

[00:14:43]All right, we're working on it. Thank you for working through this.

[00:14:47]>> [snorts] >> We got one free trial that uh Abby has brought us and we have Mr. Savon Jones.

[00:14:58]>> [clears throat] >> This is file number 25 2435 ST. >> [snorts] >> Here's [clears throat] Savon Ramon Jones.

[00:15:49]>> Yes, sir.

[00:15:51]You got a ticket for driving suspended at 1:31 and M60.

[00:15:56]Uh the cops spent a lot of time there.

[00:16:00]>> [clears throat] >> Uh doesn't say anything about why they stopped you. It was at uh 6:53 at night on November 20th. Nothing really untoward about that.

[00:16:14]Uh you didn't show up at your arraignment in December.

[00:16:20]And we issued a bench warrant. You got picked up on a bench warrant.

[00:16:25]Posted a $500 bond.

[00:16:28]I think you did an arraignment. You didn't show up for the arraignment. I believe I did a show cause.

[00:16:35]Or Judge Patterson did.

[00:16:38]Then you were set for March 16th.

[00:16:45]March 10th.

[00:16:48]The power went out.

[00:16:52]And the courthouse was closed. It was a mess.

[00:16:55]So anyway, uh we gave you a new notice and you're here today.

[00:17:02]So let's look at this.

[00:17:04]This happened November 20th. I don't know why you're suspended. Let's take a look at that.

[00:17:13]Your license is expired.

[00:17:16]>> [snorts] >> It's also suspended.

[00:17:27]You got unpaid tickets from back when they used to suspend your license for unpaid tickets.

[00:17:44]Starting in 2016, you got a driving without a license. You failed to appear in court and they issued a FAC citation. That stands for failure to appear in court.

[00:17:59]And then you didn't pay it. So, they did a FCJ suspension, which is failure to comply with judgment. So, that started your trip on the merry-go-round.

[00:18:10]2019, you got another ticket for no cycle endorsement.

[00:18:16]And doesn't look like you paid that.

[00:18:20]You didn't. And then failed to appear in court.

[00:18:26]Boy, I'm glad you're here now. You got a bunch of failed to appears or failed to pay in Kalamazoo, which is part of why your license is suspended.

[00:18:36]Um it's also expired.

[00:18:40]Um Mr. George, any input on this one?

[00:18:43]Yeah, I don't I don't have a I think it's I think it's in my name. Oh, it's a it's not yours. It's a it's in Fabius Township.

[00:18:53]Well, I I don't think it's under state law. Oh, okay.

[00:18:58]>> [clears throat] >> Uh it's under state statute. Anyway, uh I'm not going to put you in jail for this. I've got $500 of bond to pay a fine. But, if you plead to this, it's going to go on your license as a driving suspended charge. Which is going to make it more and more difficult for you to get your license back. Well, your honor, I I got my license now. I just got them in the mail yesterday.

[00:19:20]>> You have your license now?

[00:19:21]>> Yes, sir.

[00:19:23]All right.

[00:19:25]>> [clears throat] >> Hold on to that. We'll see if we can get Josh with that. Would you do anything with it?

[00:19:32]What are the charges? A driving suspended and he now has a valid license. There's no civil infractions or anything on it? Uh 257 326, but there's no no there's nothing else attached to it. No, yeah, that's fine. I would go I'd do it on a loud and another.

[00:19:47]All right. Uh Mr. Robair is feeling generous at the end of his career, but he like the rest of us likes to try to help people get off the driving suspended merry-go-round. You've been on it cuz you had a bunch of unpaid tickets.

[00:20:06]I'm very pleased to see that you have a real life driver's license. This is a legit Uh some of the Mexican ones I can't always tell.

[00:20:17]>> [laughter] >> Well, I um I >> [snorts] >> made a lot of mistakes younger, you know, so um it's time to grow up.

[00:20:27]I do what I have to do.

[00:20:47]I can't get this one to come up.

[00:20:51]Laura?

[00:21:08]Would you have brought a new driving record on that one.

[00:21:12]All right, have a seat for a sec. If it comes back as legit, the prosecutor would reduce the charge to allowing another to violate the motor vehicle code.

[00:21:21]Uh that one carries no points, doesn't get abstracted to your license, and wouldn't affect your ability to keep or maintain your license. I have more than enough money to pay your St. Joe County fine and give you the balance.

[00:21:36]So, have a seat for a minute. We'll confirm that you've got a valid license and Yes.

[00:21:51]Uh if we could have our older self go back and talk to our younger self and say, "Hey, don't do all this dumb stuff cuz it's going to jam me up."

[00:22:02]But it looks like you must have paid off all your unpaid tickets. They wouldn't give you a valid license with all those old suspensions on there, and you got a license.

[00:22:14]So, Mr. Clipfell, would you come forward?

[00:23:12]>> We've also got those two extra bench warrant guys who we'll have to dial up.

[00:23:25]Mr. Fulwyler not sure what to do with him.

[00:23:48]You look like a movie star in your picture.

[00:23:55]I will finish this one and we'll come back to you.

[00:23:58]Uh Mr. Clifton, all of this is file 251398.

[00:24:03]You got charged with no insurance under the insurance code, operating without a valid license, and unregistered vehicle.

[00:24:12]Uh Abigail Stoll has met with you and she's made a very generous plea offer to dismiss everything except allowing another to violate the motor vehicle code.

[00:24:24]That's the one I just mentioned. It carries no points, doesn't get abstracted to your license, and won't affect your ability to keep or maintain your license.

[00:24:35]Uh I do have bond money in here, which looks like it should be enough to pay the fine and cost.

[00:24:42]Are you going to plead to allowing another to violate the motor vehicle code? Anybody threaten you to get you to do this?

[00:24:50]>> It's a pretty sweet offer. Did you get everything straightened out?

[00:24:53]>> I'm working on it. I still got to take the road test, but they keep canceling on me. It's They they cancel like six times the day before.

[00:25:05]And you have insurance now? Yep.

[00:25:18]And you understand by entering this plea, you're giving up all the rights on the advice of rights sheet here.

[00:25:27]All right, where were you going?

[00:25:30]Um probably to work. I can't It's been a year ago. I don't even really remember.

[00:25:35]I was heading [clears throat] to work and got pulled over.

[00:25:40]Where were you working? I was been doing tree service.

[00:25:45]There's a lot of that going on right now.

[00:25:47]>> Yeah.

[00:25:51]Over by Union City. We've been working till pretty much dark every day.

[00:25:54]>> [clears throat] >> They got They did a warrant. You got arrested.

[00:26:05]You pled not guilty.

[00:26:09]Then you didn't show up and you got a bench warrant.

[00:26:15]Called said your road test kept getting canceled.

[00:26:21]All right.

[00:26:24]Did you spend a night in jail before you posted that $500 bond?

[00:26:27]>> No.

[00:26:30]They actually picked me up at work and I just went and bonded out.

[00:26:36]They ticketed in Centreville?

[00:26:38]No, Branch County. Oh, Branch County.

[00:26:41]I'm going to give [snorts] you one day credit one day for that effort.

[00:26:45]>> [laughter] >> $125 fine.

[00:27:01]I think I still have a unpaid like $200 so you can so you can put towards that, too.

[00:27:07]Yes, you have a $225 on no insurance. We're going to pay that, too.

[00:27:15]So, that's 250.

[00:27:20]Apply 225 of bond 220 2636.

[00:27:48]It's interesting when people have to pay the fines, they can't come up with any money. When it's time to bond out, they material- miraculously come up with the cash to do it. But, I think there's enough money in here to pay all your fines.

[00:28:02]>> [snorts] >> My math is correct, you're going to get $25 back.

[00:28:21]>> [snorts] >> So, would you take Mr. Clipfell out to the counter? Good luck with your driver test. Don't botch it up by driving before you get a license again. Yes, sir. You got a really sweet deal from Ms. Stoll and you should be grateful for that.

[00:28:36]>> I am. Thank you. All right, you're good to go. I appreciate it.

[00:28:40]Thank you.

[00:28:41]All right, let's go back to Mr. Jones.

[00:29:12]>> Ah, shoot.

[00:29:18]>> [clears throat] >> Oh.

[00:29:50]>> [snorts] >> As of March 31st, you have a valid license.

[00:30:05]Very good.

[00:30:13]Congratulations, Mr. Jones. How long's it been since you've had a valid license? Um a few weeks now. No, but I mean before that, it's been 10 years probably.

[00:30:24]>> that I um I only had a permit, but I paid a lot of all my fines off.

[00:30:29]Yes, you did.

[00:30:31]All right. Well, Mr. Robear has agreed to this charge, which is not going to go on your driving record.

[00:30:44]I'm sorry. they ran out of allowing another It's hard when you get older when you have a lot of mistakes.

[00:30:56]Yes, I was uh and they got me again. I was on my way to work at 5:00 in the morning and they arrested me.

[00:31:04]You don't remember or we all would like to not remember the unpleasant period of driver responsi- bility fees.

[00:31:12]In the driver responsibility fee days, you would have also had $5,000 worth of additional driver responsibilities. I blame Jennifer Granholm for that.

[00:31:22]It was during her administration that we had the worst piece of legislation we've ever had, which is driver responsibility fees.

[00:31:32]Fortunately, they repealed them. Our state senator was very active in that.

[00:31:48]But, I wrote a letter [snorts] to the legislature and the Detroit Free Press and eventually they did away with them. It was just so grossly unfair.

[00:32:03]Anyway, this carries a $125 fine, $75 fine, and $50 state minimum fee for a total of $250.

[00:32:15]Uh I'm going to give you 30 days to pay that. Make that due by April 30th.

[00:32:20]Can you pay it by then?

[00:32:22]Uh yeah, I get paid every Thursday, so I get Okay, I'll give you a couple weeks.

[00:32:40]>> All right, needs a stamp. But, there's the envelope. There's instructions on how to pay online.

[00:32:47]Uh or you can mail in a certified check or money order or bring in green cash.

[00:32:53]Okay.

[00:32:56]Thank you. You're good to go, sir.

[00:32:57]Congratulations on getting your license back.

[00:33:06]Josh, I think that was a worthwhile plea offer.

[00:33:10]Thank you for that.

[00:33:19]>> [snorts] >> Wow, we're lining up our next case.

[00:33:32]Good morning, Deputy Medall. This is Judge Melton Con. Could I see two customers?

[00:33:40]Christopher Wright and Shelby Foreman.

[00:33:48]All right, thanks. Bye.

[00:33:51]All right, well, it'll take them a minute, Deputy Medall.

[00:33:57]>> [snorts] >> All right, Reina Moyer, would you come forward, please?

[00:34:02]>> [snorts] >> Good morning, sir.

[00:34:05]Good morning. This is file number 252614, 2615, and some other stuff.

[00:34:13]Uh the defendant is going to plead to no valid operator's license.

[00:34:22]Charge of no insurance is going to be dismissed.

[00:34:26]And you're going to admit to impeding traffic, which is a zero point offense. You're charged now with careless driving, which carries three points and a $110 fine. [snorts] They're going to dismiss that for a plea to the civil infraction of impeding traffic, and you're going to plead to no valid operator's license, which is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $100. It does carry two points, and it is going to driving She finally found her Mr. Right.

[00:35:31]The charge that is being dismissed is an expensive one. No insurance carries a minimum fine of $200, maximum fine of $500, and is punishable by up to a year in jail.

[00:35:44]So, Mr. Dole has agreed to dismiss that charge if you plead to no valid ops and agree to reduce the careless to impeding traffic, which seems like pretty good disposition. Is that acceptable to you?

[00:35:59]Yes, sir.

[00:36:02]Did anybody promise you anything to get you to plead to this?

[00:36:05]>> No, sir. Or threaten you? No, sir. Do you understand you'll be giving up all the rights on the advice of rights, there won't be a trial? Yes, sir.

[00:36:54]>> Were you driving a car on December 17th last year? Let's take a look at your ticket. This isn't in my queue, which is a constant source of irritation.

[00:37:13]Good morning, Daniel. Are you here on Mr. Wright? Yes, sir. Very good. Thank you.

[00:37:19]So, is Keith Actually, John Bush is here also.

[00:37:56]All right, you got this ticket at 4 40 in the evening afternoon on December 17th.

[00:38:03]M60 and Carell Road.

[00:38:07]Uh I don't know what it you were doing that was careless or reckless.

[00:38:11]December 17th was quite snowy.

[00:38:18]Your license shows as suspended.

[00:38:29]Where were you going? Home. I was maybe [clears throat] a quarter mile away from home or less. Where were you coming from? Home. I was dropping my son off at wrestling practice.

[00:38:40]And your license was suspended? Yeah, I didn't I wasn't aware of it. Um I'm taking care of it. I already paid $270 towards it.

[00:38:52]All right. Well, this will show up.

[00:38:54]You've also got some unpaid fines in Indiana, which is jamming you up. Yeah, and I'm I'm trying to get that taken care of. I didn't I didn't realize it.

[00:39:03]Okay. Like I said, all this that I now that I am aware of, I'm taking care of it. You also have some unpaid tickets in Coldwater.

[00:39:13]Did you slide off the road or something?

[00:39:15]>> a seizure.

[00:39:17]I'm sorry. Have you got Do you have to go to go through some medical stuff?

[00:39:22]Yeah.

[00:39:22]>> I'm in the process. I have to see my doctors regularly.

[00:39:26]And I'm on medication.

[00:39:29]I'm sorry, Judge. That was just a really rough day for me.

[00:39:34]I bet it was. As I said, winter started about November 30th.

[00:39:39]It was full-on snowy, I think, December 17th.

[00:39:44]Uh pleaded no ops and pee traffic.

[00:39:51]Well, in competing traffic, there's that.

[00:39:53]>> me and a tree.

[00:39:55]Well, that's not good.

[00:39:57]Nope, I've learned my lesson.

[00:40:00]When you have your life flash before your eyes, sir, you learn your lesson.

[00:40:04]Well, that's a big curve there.

[00:40:17]$100 that's due April 30th, 2026.

[00:40:37]I'm going to stretch the other one out.

[00:40:54]All right, you were suspended for some unpaid tickets in both Michigan and Indiana. Mhm.

[00:41:02]Thank you, sir.

[00:41:05]>> [clears throat] >> And thank you, Abby, for helping with those two pre-trials today.

[00:41:19]I'm going to make the $75 fine $75 crime victims $75 crime victims rights fees. The total is $200. I'm going to give you till May 30th.

[00:41:33]So, the first one's due at the end of April and the second one's due at the end of May. Okay, sir.

[00:41:40]I don't believe I have any bond money in here.

[00:41:43]I don't drive anymore. No. Get it straightened [clears throat] out. Trust me, I will. Like I said, I learned my lesson.

[00:42:13]All right, you're good to go.

[00:42:15]And that does take care of both of your tickets.

[00:42:18]Uh the impeding traffic carries no points. The no ops will go on your driving record and it will carry two points.

[00:42:26]Hopefully you can get squared away. Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

[00:42:30]>> All right, thank you.