Court Opinion

ID: 7822959
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-07 18:00:31.905771+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:30:47.294314
License: Public Domain

John I. Purtle, Justice, dissenting. The license plate on appellant’s vehicle had expired. It had been expired since 1977 according to appellant’s testimony. The officer said the license expired in 1975. In any event the license was expired and appellant knew it. Arkansas Stat. Ann. § 75-225 (Repl. 1979) makes it illegal to display on a vehicle “a number belonging to any other vehicle, or fictitious registration number . . .” It is a violation of another law to display a license tag which has expired. Arkansas Stat. Ann. § 75-226 (Supp. 1983). The numbers displayed on the license plate did not belong to another vehicle nor was it proven that there was a fictitious registration number displayed. The number displayed was originally a legal one. It became illegal only when the appellant failed to properly transfer the tag and to renew and attach the decals. So far as the record is concerned all the license tag needed was a proper transfer and correct year decals. I also take exception to the state continuing the incarceration of a person for failure to pay a fine unless it first be shown that such act is wilful. We had to overrule the trial court before the appellant could even have her case heard on appeal. Perhaps we did her no favor in the long run. After appellant complied with the registration, licensing and inspection laws she was still ordered to jail for not paying her fine. We accepted her appeal as a pauper. Therefore, we are now saying paupers may be jailed for failing to pay a fine. As to the fictitious registration conviction I would reverse and dismiss.