| While she helped me, though, the rest sorted out the numbers so that he was after me. It was all handled with good humor, which was nice. Anyway, after asking for an arrest report ('Yes, for me' and 'No, I don't know the case number', and 'Yes for Domestic Violence on Novemeber 5', boy if I was less secure in my self image I could end up feeling like a real louse with all this) and ten dollars later (covers the first five pages) I was on my way. They don't actually give out arrest reports but mail them in up to thirty days. Presumably they are worried the contents may not be up to snuff as people only get copies when further litigation is almost certain to follow. | |
| The next morning, November 23, I drove to downtown Vancouver to pick up the CD with the transcripts of the hearing of October 27, 2004. I parked my car in the free areas a couple of blocks behind the court house and then came in through the back entrance. They have security at all entrances. Here is the metal detector at the back. | |
| When I got through, the woman who monitored the X-rayed bags asked to see my camera so I showed it worked by taking a picture. I have learned that the shoes I wear (Rockport walking shoes) have steel shanks that set off their metal detectors so I just run them through the X-ray machine. The secutiry people are quite thorough, but friendly about it. First thing I went over to District Court's Civil Clerk area to pick up the CD of the hearing of October 27. It cost $20, but it is way cool. It is the sound and picture from the entire afternoon's hearings. I wonder if their are confidentiality concerns (though I guess if I was there I heard it all anyway). After that I started to file my Notice of Appeal and after I put down the $150 dollars ($110 to file the notice of appeal and $40 to have the records sent, they didn't mention that up front, but I saw it on the form and was ready for it), I was told I couldn't file there as the case number was a Superior Court case number. Being a little cynical I wondered if they waited until I had counted out the cash before telling me I couldn't file to see if I really was all set to file the appeal. Several people had commented that no one seems to appeal Restraining Orders.... | |
| So I went upstairs to the Superior Court's Civil Clerk's area (shown here) and tried to file the Notice of Appeal there. They said, 'No, domestic violence matters are handled downstairs and that is where you have to file it'. So downstairs I went with a little laugh (I was happy enough to go back and forth until they settled it between themselves). However, by the time I got downstairs there was a woman from the District Court area who said I needed to go upstairs but that she would go up with me and explain it. She was gone for a bit and came back with Cynthia. Cynthia explained that the Superior Court supervised the implementation of the Domestic Violence Orders by the District Court but that they were done under the Superior Courts heading and that I wouldn't be permitted to appeal (or perhaps they really didn't want me to) an order to the Appelate Division (the court above the Superior Court) under had the signature of a District Court judge (might make the Superior Court look bad). Instead it was suggested that I should make a motion to have the matter revisited by the Superior Court. I was happy enough to do that as I was sure that the Appelate Division would be a much more formal and lengthy process (and I still can go there if I don't agree with the actions of the Superior Court). | |
| So there were several trips to the Vancouver city administration building (shown here) across the street to make copies (at 25 cents a shot, but it was convenient). It was a new Konica copier, so I probably delivered it a few months previously when I worked for Active Moving and was the Konica specialist. The motion forms Cynthia gave me asked for more information that would normally go on a Notice of Appeal, so I wished that I had brought my preliminary draft of appeal brief. What to do? At least I raised all the issues which was the main requirement. My research the weekend before was quite productive and it seems the statutes and case law are quite clear in that before there can be any Restraining Order, there must be allegations of either domestic violence, threats of domestic violence, or stalking (with an implicit threat of harm, not just passing inconvenience). None of Karyn's allegations met those conditions though my Petition did have the required allegations of three cases where she had 'assaulted' me (throwing a beverage is misdemeanor assault). | |
| Once I filed the papers with the Superior Court I was then off to the Sheriff's office, civil section (downstairs in a neighboring building). There I paid $44 to have the two motions ($25 for first motion and $19 for the other, though they each request that the two matters be combined) served on Karyn. That was simple enough, but when I asked if I could take their picture, I was fine by them but that I should get permission in the Administrative section. Seems to be better to just inconspicuosly take the picture and then leave. Oh well. | |
| So then I was off to the Administrative Section where I asked if it would be alright to take the picture. After waiting a few minutes a nice woman came out and asked me what I wanted the pictures for. I gave my usual explanation that I take pictures of most anything that I do for my mom and brother in Texas. That took a lot longer than I expected, but then I was off to work (at last). | |
| As this may become a pretty regular thing for the next few months, I walked a few blocks to the Vancouver City Downtown Transit Center (shown here where some patron seems to have a problem requiring an ambulance) where I caught the Tri-Met bus #6 from Portland. I had noticed this bus when I was walking back from the Portland Police Evidence Storage Building a few weeks ago. It runs very often and goes within a few blocks of where I work. In Clark County general election there was a measure to double the sales tax contribution to C-Tran from .3% to .6% to support better service. However, it seemed outrageous to me as they already get well over half of their revenue from taxes. In New York I had taken commuter buses which managed just fine without any subsidies and had ridership about as good as the buses I take in Portland (and with about the same revenue per bus, though they only made one trip per day while the C-tran commuter buses have a much lower fare and much shorter commute allowing them multiple trips). | |
| Well, the measure failed, but by only 5,000 votes (one of which was mine). However, after losing the measure, instead of just cutting corners and trying to manage, they are planning on drastically reducing service, eliminating virtually all commuter routes come January. My response is that if they are going to so reduce their service, we ought to eliminate the .3% sales tax and just rely on Tri-Met (which is what I will have to do). It seems to me a lot like school boards which decide to cut all the popular extra-curricular activities rather than cutting back on what I view to be excessive administration. They do that in their efforts to get more funding, but I think the response to that sort of wasteful spending is further cut backs in their funding. Anyway, after a bit Tri-Met bus #6 came to a Max (light rail) stop where there was faster transit to Portland. Here is a Max train at Lombard stop where I switched to Max. | |
| This is the interior a Max car. They are a lot quieter and give a smoother ride, so when C-Trans goes away, I suspect I will normally drive to a Max stop and take the Max in. However, on days when need to be in court, I will just take Tri-Met Bus #6 as, while the switch to the Max does save a little time, it breaks up my reading time and I would rather just read a little longer rather the break of switching service. | |
| The Max light rail cars are double cars split in the middle. This is the split section where the floor shifts when the tracks bends. Cool. | |
This page was last updated on July 28, 2006.