The MIP hanging judge

i had two mip's in my younger days and what a waste of a charge. apparently drinking a beer at the age of nineteen makes me a criminal, now 24 i am no longer considered one. yet my record indicates i am. i understand its a law that was broken, but its a little overboard with the fines and community service and certainly the criminal history.

Ed Post is from Grand Haven, and I'm sure he's never attempted a diversion program. If so I dont think there's really any proof they kept up w/ it or checked to see if it really helped anyone. Ottawa is known to have strict sentancing policy. I dont think anyone can afford that mentality anymore.

Thank you Judge Post for drawing the line. If you choose to drink, drink responsibily. I am not opposed to alcohol, just those who think it doesn't have an affect on them. No one is above the law, and Judge Post recognizes this. If we are old enough to drink, are we not then old enough to be held accountable for our actions?!

I went to GVSU and drank underage fully knowing the judge was like this...I made the decision I knew the consequences. I never got caught because I was smart enough to put my alchohol away when police were around. Drink smart is the key if you are going to do it. Most kids are pretty cocky when they drink, they think they can do anything in front of a police officer. They think it won't happen to them. It's not something new at GVSU.

If you're old enough to die for your country, you should be old enough to drink.

I drank from the age of 16. I only did it on our family property and never left home intoxicated. It's been a tradition in our family since 1955.

If you were old enough to work on the farm, you were old enough to drink. My grandfather let my father drink, my father let me and my brothers drink and I'll let my sons drink. IF they work hard and IF they are responsible.

Of course, I'm prejudiced because Bill is my son and I am very proud of what he does in the field of MIP. I recently fought one of these myself representing a minor in Juvenile Court as his Court Appointed Attorney and there isn't any diversion program in Van Buren County Juvenile Court for this either. With drugs there is a program that you can make a mistake and it won't ruin your life, but with alcohol (which is a drug) there is this policy of 0 tolerance. Children make mistakes and there should be an opportunity for them to remain free of the stigma of a misdemeanor conviction.

This is just another case of instead of a Judge utilizing the law, they are re-writing the law for their own use. There are too many of these Judges around and only one thing the general public can do; that is not vote for them the next time they are up for re-election! Wouldn't surprise me if these are the same Judges that break the same law they preside over.

Grow up kids. Take responsibility. Quit whining about your poor choices.

pete811 wrote:

Ed Post is from Grand Haven, and I'm sure he's never attempted a diversion program.

Ed Post is a Circuit Court Judge in Grand Haven, Kenneth Post is a District Court Judge in Hudsonville.

Looks like Judge post is about to pop out of that shirt .Ever try wieght watchers?

Judge Post is completely right in doing this! I go to Grand Valley and if you want you do not want that on your record, then don't underage drink, plain and simple. People under 21 should know the consequences for underage drinking before they do it.

I live in Ottawa County...I know first hand the crime rate out here is out of control. There was a multiple murder in Coopersville and numerous break ins in this county. Too, bad the detectives cannot do there job to solve any crimes. The crime rate in Allendale is out of control.
However, now that there is different blood in the township hall there might not be a huge waste of money for their buddies to have jobs. Especially, considering the 'Rental Inspector', Tammi A. This is a real crime in itself. Why is this county having a job like this when no other county has a rental inspector. I have confidence the new LEADERS-other ones were not, will can her from her idiotic job, which was created under the old watch!!!! Tammi should be charged with a crimal crime, as she even knows her job is a huge waste of money for the Allendale Tax payer money. NOT to mention no one needs to let any tax person in your home. Tammi walking into someone's home for tax purpose is AGAINST the law. I'd like to see her go in front of any judge!!!!!

The choices you make today, will affect you tomorrow.

Freedom wrote:

This is just another case of instead of a Judge utilizing the law, they are re-writing the law for their own use. There are too many of these Judges around and only one thing the general public can do; that is not vote for them the next time they are up for re-election! Wouldn't surprise me if these are the same Judges that break the same law they preside over.

Yes, the judges have guidelines to which they should go by. They were elected to office for that reason. They are not above the law, are they? No wonder why this County is going down the tubes.

Stop wasting our tax dollars using jails and courtrooms to punish people who might never commit another crime if assisted with a few simple innerpersonal skills. Diversion programs for first time misdemeanor infraction offenders an be very effective when combined with counseling with an emphasis on personal principles, making good judgements and decision making. I can't imagine a diversion program running less than a six month duration for any individual (to be paid for pay the offender). How this judge made the determination that these types of programs are ineffective after only two months is pure bull ... This judge and many others, need to have their "judgement" assessed.

I love it when a judge says "Do the crime, do the time. No exceptions."

If you want to be a big boy and drink when you are underage, what's a diversion program going to do? Slap you on the wrist. You will do it again.

Underage drinking is a HUGE problem. It is NOT a victimless crime and yes, it IS A CRIME.

You know full well that the drinking age is 21...has been for decades. Was when I was kid. Guess what? I waited until I was legal. I had nothing to prove but a lot to gain.

So many people excuse it as a "right of passage." They are just trying to defend their own disregard for the law when they were young.

And for those of you who will pull the worn out argument "I can go to war at 18, but I can't drink alcohol." Well, there is a difference between those two activiites...BOOT CAMP. Be stupid in boot camp and you will get your butt kicked. And you WILL grow up a lot when you are in there.

Our college campus' are nothing but sesspools where "adults" are finally free of their parents control and "can do what they want." Yeah, great decisions you make there.

Spend a Friday or Saturday night out in Allendale and you'll see just how "grown up" you children really are.

And this is coming from a person who was young once myself. I can see both sides of the fence clearly.

Kudos to Judge Post for his stand. It is great having you as a judge in my County.

John McNeil wrote:

Of course, I'm prejudiced because Bill is my son and I am very proud of what he does in the field of MIP. I recently fought one of these myself representing a minor in Juvenile Court as his Court Appointed Attorney and there isn't any diversion program in Van Buren County Juvenile Court for this either. With drugs there is a program that you can make a mistake and it won't ruin your life, but with alcohol (which is a drug) there is this policy of 0 tolerance. Children make mistakes and there should be an opportunity for them to remain free of the stigma of a misdemeanor conviction.

there's a big part of the problem, referring to them as 'children' says a lot pal. they're not children. you're drunk, you get caught, you're screwed.
your're drunk, you drive, you're really screwed.
taste a windshield once, pal, and see how you like it!

jinholland wrote:

Grow up kids. Take responsibility. Quit whining about your poor choices.

I agree with you 100%. We have drug court here in Barry County. The program works for some, others keep on doing drugs. They always blame others for their problems. They need to grow-up. "If you do the crime, you have to do the time."

This is a money machine! Thats all they want

Judge Post just doesnt care about it but making large fees for owatta county, and hudsonville.
Erica Bianchini, a defendant in front of Judge Post, said, "It's terrible, it's traumatizing. I feel I don't have any rights." She right you dont have any rights in front of Post, He just doesnt care! I cant wait for his day in court! and he will have one too