In
Chennai as in many other cities – two things happen at signal –as it is to fall
Red, motorists including transport buses would drive mad crossing the signal in
a jiffy – and those waiting at the signal would try to outsmart all others the
moment,it is to turn green ! ~ jumping signal is an offence – but people
practise with gay abandon. Signals are
respected only when there is a Police cop around ! ~ sometimes they would stand
a few meters away, allowing people to commit an offence and catch them
unaware.. .. … here is an interesting fact report on this elegant Officer !
Globally,
at a red light (solid or flashing) or a stop sign, motorists must come to a
complete stop prior to the nearest of reaching a marked limit line- and good
citizens would do that in a disciplined manner, allowing other road users to drive
their way – and allowing everyone to be safe.
In USA and many other European countriesState laws permits the use of
automated cameras at intersections to catch red light violators. However, the
state imposes certain requirements on jurisdictions that use red light cameras.
This
morning an interesting video was received on WA – a US war veteran, disabled
and under medication for depression and other ailments, stands before the jury
for signal jumping .. .. .. what follows is something which makes you feel so
moved – it is the way the Judge treat the Veteran with honour. It starts with the Judge apologising for
making him wait – to the Q – the war veteran who participated in Iraqi answers
that he does not remember .. he is shown the video where he drives past the red
signal – he responds that perhaps in that area he was going for Veteran
administration and in anxiety jumped the signal, for which he apologises.
Throughout, the Judge showers respect for all the armed service personnel,
talks so caringly to the gentleman, appreciating his distinguished services,
again and again addresses him with utmost respect – and in the end says, that
though it was an offence, the least, he could do to a person who served for the
Nation – is to quash the proceedings. A
high quality exchange – the way the War veteran conducts himself in the
proceedings, the way the Judge treats and him and in the end how the Judge
apologies, appreciates and strikes-off the note.. .. .. one could witness such
things only in movies, if the hero were to play a Judge, one thought !
Providence
is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island and is
one of the oldest cities in the United States.It was founded in 1636 by Roger
Williams, who named the area in honour
of "God's merciful Providence" . The city is situated at the mouth of
the Providence River. It was one of the
cities to industrialize and became noted for its textile manufacturing and
subsequent machine tool, jewellery, and silverware industries. Frank Caprio
who is 82 now, is the chief municipal judge in Providence, Rhode Island
and the former Chairman of the Rhode Island Board of Governors. His judicial
work is televised on Caught in Providence.
This
perhaps not just another court show
coming to TV even after a slew of them have dive-bombed over the years, but
reported to be much different. Judge Frank Caprioseemingly is not the
hard-handed judge that others have shown themselves to be over the years,
though he is fair and judicious in his dealings with people. He follows the law
and yet shows a level of compassion that is not typically found in other court
shows. Caprio is a multi-faceted
personality. He was a Civics
teacher, who has been re-appointed to
his position six times now. Earlier he had his own law firm - Caprio&Caprio
and served as the Chairman of Rhode
Island Board of Governors for Higher Education.He has a Doctor of Laws from
Suffolk University Law School that he was given in 1991 and another degree that
he received from Providence University in 2008. He’s been a commencement
speaker at the University of Rhode Island as well several times in the past
decade.
Over
the years with his brilliant judgements laced with compassion, he has endeared
himself to people winning hearts and clicks with a mix of compassion,
humour and a rotating cast of poor souls ticketed in the city of Providence. He became an unlikely viral video sensation, with footage
showing his kindhearted compassion that drew hundreds of million of views on Facebook
alone.
"I
think I should take into consideration whether somebody is sick and whether
their mother died and whether they have kids who are starving," said Judge
Caprio, according to the Associated Press. "I don't wear a badge under my
robe. I wear a heart under my robe."The 80-year-old judge invited children
to join him on the bench to help pass judgment on their parents and mades high
school kids promise to attend college in return for dropping tickets. He works
out payment plans for people who are struggling. Occasionally he loses
patience, especially when he thinks a person is trying to deceive him with
flattery. He even gets laughs when he turns down pleas for a break.
One
of the most popular videos features a woman who had racked up tickets and fines
of $400. She broke down as she described trying to pick up the pieces after her
son was stabbed to death the year before."I'm just really having a tough
time, your honor," she said to Caprio through tears, as the judge listened
attentively."I don't think anyone in their lifetime would ever want to
experience that," he told her, as he dismissed the tickets."It's the
worst feeling in the world. I feel so empty and lost," she replied. The
case has been viewed nearly 170 million times on Facebook and given subtitles
in nine languages.
“The
smallest thing can change someone’s life,” Caprio recently told Stars and
Stripes in a telephone interview from his home in Rhode Island. “[My father’s]
mantra was help people when you can. We were taught in life that it’s not
enough to climb the ladder of success.” You have to lead down the ladder “so
others can follow in your footsteps.” Caprio
— a first-generation American whose father immigrated from Italy at age 12 , is a veteran himself. He joined the Army
Reserve in 1954 at the recommendation of his brother, who was also a soldier. Caprio, who served as a combat engineer, said
the lessons he learned in basic training laid the groundwork for the judge he
was to become.
Interesting
! ~ and the first thing we need to learn, is the way – we treat those who
safeguard us at the borders – the great Indian soldiers – Jai Jawan.. ..
With
regards – S. Sampathkumar
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