Reader is infuriated with the enforcement photo program

I was photographed and issued a speeding ticket through the enforcement photo program on September 16 of this year. I was driving 34 miles an hour in a 20 mile an hour school zone with lights flashing though, I was 3:31 pm

and on that day schools had been shut down because of a suspect was still at large involving a homicide that occurred the previous evening.

The flashing yellow lights that automatically go on and off in the morning and again in the afternoon were not turned off.

I only knew of the emergency school shut down because I had been talking with a Moses lake homicide detective earlier at my store. I was surprised the lights were flashing and tried to slow down.

I contested the hearing knowing that the judge would excuse this. Because if the lights were not flashing I would have been well within the legal speed limits. I was wrong to assume this.

The judge gave no consideration for the faulty lights.

The reason I am upset is because I watched 4 people tell the judge they were not driving the vehicle in question under oath. One of those people told me before court not to waste my time telling the truth and just state I wasn't the driver. I chose the higher path.

There were however 3 other people who chose to admit to the offense and asked for leniency. They were given none. Their integrity was not rewarded.

The icing on the cake came when I was instructed by the judge to talk to a person responsible for my payment in the court. I attempted to pay, however she handed me a small piece of paper 1/2 by 2 inches that stated "Moses lake intersection safety Enhancement Program Payment Center P.O Box 76886 CLEVELAND OHIO."

That is where I get to send my money and I hope others like me recognize what is going on here. I'm infuriated,

Diane Nichols

Moses Lake