By Russ Tarby
Contributing Writer
After voters saved the Liverpool Village Justice Court from the Board of Trustees’ effort to abolish it, Judge Tony LaValle says his court has experienced a noticeable uptick in its caseloads.
“Traffic tickets have dramatically increased,” LaValle informed the trustees at their Aug. 15 meeting.
Trustees had urged the abolition of the court to save money, but LaValle argued repeatedly that if police would write more tickets, revenues would offset court costs.
On June 21, by a tally of 370 to 138, village voters overturned the trustees’ April 14 resolution to abolish the village court.
Other court issues, including the possibility of hiring an associate judge, were discussed at the Aug. 15 village board meeting.
LaValle told the trustees that there was no legal requirement for an associate judge. “It’s not a ‘must’ provision,” he said. “And it would create costs and the budget would go up.”
Many villages across the state have no “acting” judge, LaValle said. If the trustees urged him to add an associate judge, he said, “I have two people willing to do it for free.”
Mayor Gary White agreed that there is no pressing need for an associate judge.
“I’m very comfortable as is,” White said.
New Trustee Bradley Young, the board’s liaison to the court, has been researching anticipated changes to the village courtroom. LaValle convenes the court every Tuesday afternoon at the Village Hall, 310 Sycamore St., and it’s often crowded. Increased seating and modifications to the bench to increase security are being considered.
Grants are available to financially support courtroom improvements, LaValle said.
July police stats
Reporting on behalf of Liverpool Police Chief Don Morris, Trustee Matt Devendorf informed the village board at its Aug. 15 meeting that officers issued 172 citations for violations of the state’s vehicle and traffic laws in July, after making a total of 252 traffic stops.
Five arrests were made for driving while intoxicated and 11 traffic accidents were investigated that month.
Officers conducted 122 residential checks during July and responded to a total of 483 complaints and calls for service.
The LPD arrested 18 individuals last month on a total of 30 criminal charges.
