this post was submitted on 31 May 2024
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[–] [email protected] 143 points 5 months ago (5 children)

I had to look up the first guy

On May 15, 2024, Harris joined a Zoom call court hearing from his phone while he was behind the wheel. Since June 2023, Michigan's "hands-free" state law makes it "illegal to manually use a cell phone or other mobile electronic devices while operating a vehicle on Michigan roads."

Presiding Judge J. Cedric Simpson straightforwardly asked the defendant, "Mr. Harris are you driving?" To which Harris replied, "Actually, I am pulling into my doctor's office," adding, "so just give me one second, I'm parking right now."

Nearly a minute later, Harris informs the court that he is stationary.

After looking through the paperwork, which includes Harris' record, Simpson says, "Okay, so maybe I don't understand something, this is for driving while license suspended?"

"That is correct, your honor," the defendant's lawyer, Washtenaw County Assistant Public Defender Natalie Pate confirmed.

"And he was just driving. And he didn't have a license," Simpson said. He appears to smile and hold back a laugh.

Moments later, Simpson shook his head in disbelief, saying, "I don't even know why he would do that. So, defendant's bond is revoked in this matter." He added that Harris must turn himself in to Michigan's Washtenaw County Jail that evening.

C'mon, man, it would've been better to be late by a few minutes than to show yourself driving with a suspended license to the goddamn judge.

[–] [email protected] 103 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Watching his lawyer and the judge trying so hard not to laugh is the funniest goddamn thing.

Also these two:

[–] [email protected] 65 points 5 months ago (1 children)

My favorite part is right after the judge says "and he was just driving, and he didn't have a license," when you can see the realization that he just incriminated himself (further) wash over Harris' face. 🫤 😮 😬 "...oh."

[–] [email protected] 23 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Actually, I’m thinking that face is the “what? It’s not a big deal” expression people have when they think they’re entitled and they just found out they’re not.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 5 months ago

Maybe. Either way, it's comedy gold!

[–] [email protected] 12 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Is there a video? Preferably with Benny Hill theme song?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Lmao the judge dropping pen 🤣

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

My favorite part is the “oh my god”

[–] [email protected] 17 points 5 months ago

Maybe the guy just might be way too used to driving everywhere without thinking, almost like a muscle memory at this point.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Apparently his license had been restored in 2022, but due to a clerical error it was still listed as suspended. That's part of the reason for the hearing.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

Incase anyone reading hasn't heard yet: the dude never had a license. He had a "suspended license" but getting that doesn't actually mean you ever had a real license. He's also renewed his ID every year. He's just never gotten his license for no good reason.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (3 children)

Supposedly he was driving his wife to get some urgent care. I dunno what the facts are here, but yeah. Not the best look.

Think I heard about it here: https://www.wxyz.com/news/hear-from-the-man-caught-driving-during-virtual-court-hearing-for-suspended-license

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Is there a source for that? I checked a few of the more recent articles and didn't see anything.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 5 months ago (1 children)

https://www.wxyz.com/news/hear-from-the-man-caught-driving-during-virtual-court-hearing-for-suspended-license

7 News Detroit asked Harris what was he thinking when he made his appearance in court via video where he was seen driving.

"What was I thinking? I was thinking about about getting my wife medical help. That's what I was thinking," Harris said. "I wasn't thinking about the fact that I got a suspended license. I don't care about all that."

... Harris told us that he never should have been charged with driving on a suspended license last fall, and he blames the mix-up on Saginaw Friend of the Court.

"They were supposed to have been lifted it two years ago, but they didn't," Harris said.

Secretary of State records show Harris' license was first suspended in 2010 for unpaid child support in Saginaw County.

Then in 2022, court records show that a judge rescinded that suspension, allowing Harris to drive again. But it appears that information never got to the Secretary of State where even as of Thursday afternoon, Harris' license is still listed as suspended — the same records police and the judge were going by.

..."Always double-check behind these workers because they will say that they will do something and they don't do it," Harris said.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 months ago

Wow... thanks for more context! So a state agency error results in the judge and prosecutor not having the correct information, but how does the defense attorney not look that up? Maybe overworked, but I would hope for more... And Harris should've spoken up himself that the suspension was lifted on this date by this agency! He could've also just said- I'm driving legally right now. That would have allowed the lawyers to look into it more.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago
[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Nothing in your link gives a sob story about a sick wife.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago

Never said that.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 months ago (4 children)

on the other hand how is one supposed to live without being able to drive in the us?

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It's pretty damn hard, no doubt. But that doesn't mean everyone should be able to drive by default and we should just do away with driver's licenses (or whatever you may be suggesting)

Also, it's pretty stupidly easy to get a license here, and easier yet to keep it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

if i'm suggesting anything it would be public transit.

if some guy is prohibited from driving but has no alternative to go to the doctor, he will just risk it and drive anyway. makong the punishment ineffective and possibly turning it into a snowball for the driver.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Even if he "had" to cheat and drive, he could've chosen to be like a minute later and call from anywhere except a driver's seat of a moving vehicle.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

yeah he could not have been dumb

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

You know what's funny? You calling him dumb, when it was probably someone exactly like you, with your subpar reading and comprehension skills, that made the clerical error showing his license was still suspended when it had actually been restored.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)
  1. It very much is possible, and this coming from someone who walks with a cane.

  2. That doesn't excuse driving with a suspended license, unless you're at the level of "Abolish driving licenses" Libertarian Party style; licenses are a basic safety precaution and suspending one is supposed to reinforce the seriousness of the offense of unsafe and illegal driving.

  3. You can drive in the US without livestreaming it to your judge (shocking, I know).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (4 children)

Live in a 15-min city?

Push for more public transportation?

Millions do it all the time.

[–] explodicle 1 points 5 months ago

Push for more public transportation?

The solution to your immediate personal problem is to work towards a cause I support.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Rare in the US

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago

that was sort of my suggestion

[–] [email protected] -1 points 5 months ago

"Just move to another country"