GALLAWAY, TN – Drivers in Gallaway, Tennessee, say the police department is handing out tickets indiscriminately and they want it stopped.
Gallaway drivers say they’re being bombarded with tickets for all sorts of reasons; one of the most popular reasons --failure to stop at stop signs. They say they’re getting hit with tickets repeatedly.
“He just stopped me for no reason,” said Lisa Gilchrist. “He’s just harassing people.”
That’s what Gilchrist believes to be true of the Gallaway Police Department and especially Officer Brian Hubbard.
Gilchrist said, “There are several people in Gallaway having problems with him writing tickets for no proper cause.”
However, Gallaway Police Chief Keith Hogwood disagrees.
“It’s not in Officer Hubbard’s character,” the Chief told abc24.com. “It’s really not in his nature to target someone.”
But one driver, who wished to remain anonymous while using the street name “Veeza”, said she received two tickets for not stopping at the intersection of Senator Street and Old Brownsville, claiming the officer could not even see her from his vantage point in the parking lot of a nearby nursing home.
“Everybody is complaining,” said Veeza. “I got two tickets but I’m not the only one that got two.”
When Veeza complained to the officer, she says this is how he responded.
“He said don’t tell it to me, tell it to the judge. And I said, 'well okay, I will.' ”
But, on Tuesday August 16, 2011, she told it to the police chief.
Chief Hogwood said, “I can’t answer to the fact that he wrote her twice other than in his mind I’m sure he felt she didn’t stop at the sign.”
Other Gallaway drivers had similar complaints.
A woman with the street name "Worm" told abc24.com, “I have two tickets myself saying I ran the stop sign and it is by the same officer.”
Worm is more than upset. She says, “I’m mad. I got to pay $347 for these tickets.”
“They’re just making money,” said Gilchrist, “bringing money into the city.”
Chief Hogwood denies that allegation. But, a look at the city website shows that in July $15,285 in ticket revenue was generated. In June, 129 tickets generated $17,367.
Is that a lot for a town of 800? You decide.
“I told them that I would look into it,” said Hogwood. “I’m definitely going to look into it. I would not tolerate it if they are doing that; any officer.”
The intersection of Senator Street and Old Brownsville, seems to be a favorite spot for “failure to stop” tickets. But, if you’ve been watching ongoing reports on abc24.com and abc24 News, you would have noticed the condition of Senator Street- torn up and full of potholes- makes it virtually impossible to go fast and almost insures drivers will stop at the sign.
Chief Hogwood told abc24.com he worked with Officer Hubbard in Oakland and never received a complaint against him.
