Case ID: mass-app-div-annual_1988/html/0025-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Dohoney, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Commonwealth vs. Lorraine Stefano
    Western District
    February 8, 1988.
    Present: Lenhoff, McGuane & Dohoney, JJ.
    Police Officer Dennis Hall for the Commonwealth.
    The petitioner appeared pro se.
   Dohoney, J.

This action involves an appeal of a civil motor vehicle infraction from the Westfield Division.

On May 17, 1987, the petitioner was given a civil motor vehicle citation for violation of a red light. She requested a hearing before the Clerk-Magistrate. At the hearing she was found responsible and appealed to a justice. She was found responsible by the Justice on November 12,1987, and claimed an appeal to the Appellate Division.

The principal thrust of petitioner’s argument is that other operators were responsible for the same offense at the same time. It appears that there was very heavy traffic in the City of Westfield at the time of the incident and that traffic was moving slowly. It may be that between one and three cars went through the same red light. The petitioner contends that she was the second of three cars; the officer contends that she was the second of two cars. The petitioner also argues that she was given a citation because of her sex. She alleges that the first vehicle was operated by a male and is uncertain as to the sex of the third operator. The officer contends that the petitioner was given a citation because she was the last vehicle through the red light and was the most “blatant” violator.

The petitioner here raises a valid issue of law in that motor vehicle citations or any other enforcement of the law must not be done in a sexually discriminatory manner. Commonwealth v. An Unnamed Defendant, 22 Mass. App. Ct. 230 (1986). However, the record and even her oral assertions utterly fail to support her allegation. Even if one were to accept her factual allegations, there is ample reason why a police officer would only apprehend the second violator of a red light either because this would be the more egregious violation or because of the difficulty of pursuing two vehicles in heavy traffic.

Thus, while the petitioner has raised a valid issue of law, she has failed to support the same factually.

Consequently, the appeal is dismissed.