Will my website DQ me?

[JustinTyme]

Hello to all. Got a serious question that has gotten mixed answers. Hopefully some BI out there or someone else can help.

I own a website where i sell a book that offers readers some suggestions and legal strategies they can use to defend themselves against a speeding ticket in court.

The book is by no means a 100% foolproof method against speeding tickets, but there are some good strategies one could follow to increase their chances at getting their ticket dismissed.

I wrote the book with one goal in mind (to make money) and did not intend it to be anything against law enforcement or police officers in general. Afterall, I want to be a cop myself.

At the time, I was strapped for cash and after doing a little research, I found the market for such a book to be huge and went ahead and focused on writing my book and building my website.

It has done well for me so far.

Would a BI look at my website and decide to DQ me?

I really don't see it any different than a lawyer who spent much of his career defending clients in traffic court and then deciding to go into law enforcement.

If need be, I would discontinue selling my book if it would jeopordize my chances at becoming a cop.

Any ideas.... thanks.

[miked6]

Hello to all. Got a serious question that has gotten mixed answers. Hopefully some BI out there or someone else can help.

I own a website where i sell a book that offers readers some suggestions and legal strategies they can use to defend themselves against a speeding ticket in court.

The book is by no means a 100% foolproof method against speeding tickets, but there are some good strategies one could follow to increase their chances at getting their ticket dismissed.

I wrote the book with one goal in mind (to make money) and did not intend it to be anything against law enforcement or police officers in general. Afterall, I want to be a cop myself.

At the time, I was strapped for cash and after doing a little research, I found the market for such a book to be huge and went ahead and focused on writing my book and building my website.

It has done well for me so far.

Would a BI look at my website and decide to DQ me?

I really don't see it any different than a lawyer who spent much of his career defending clients in traffic court and then deciding to go into law enforcement.

If need be, I would discontinue selling my book if it would jeopordize my chances at becoming a cop.

Any ideas.... thanks.

I would say your gonna have issues.

[igneous]

How easy is it to trace your site back to you? I know there are things you could do to separate yourself from it.

[rugermk2]

So you think that "I was strapped for cash" will be a good excuse to justify your actions? Good luck with that. A BI has had plenty of experience on the street seeing through BS in about a nanosecond. Your story won't fly.

A better bet would be to leave off the financial duress excuse and admit that you really just wanted to help people "get back at the man" and beat their rap in court. Save everyone, including yourself, some time and don't even bother applying....

Interesting simile at the end comparing your situation with that of a defense attorney becoming a cop. Never EVER heard of that happening. Not saying that it hasn't, but.... Defense attorney to prosecutor and vice versa, yes. But defense attorney to cop, NO!

[Enikad]

If its part of a buisness, incooperate yourself from it. So that its a seperate asset. Thats the only thing that came to mind.

Hope you're not trying to be a motorcop then, traffic might be an issue for you.

[PhilipCal]

Website

Justin, the answer to your question will largely depend on the agency(s) you apply to. I do see another potential issue though, and that might be with the Ohio Bar Association. You could be walking the proverbial fine line between offering general advice, and practicing law w/o a license. That's not a definitive statement, merely a thought. If I were doing your BI, you can be certain I'd have a question or two for you concerning your website.

[Duo]

"Sir, I'm writing you a citation for 50 in a 30 sign here....press harder....OK....if you're interested I can sell you my book that will help you fight this in court."


I look at it as a conflict of interest. It would be like Jesse Jackson applying for a job as the head of white people affairs (threw that out, I couldn't think of anything else :P).

[cblackthorne]

You will have a problem.

If I was conducting a BI on a potential applicant and discovered a book of this nature, I would consider it an indicator of their personality and decide I would not want to work with them (i.e. they would not pass the BI).

First, you have to think of the kind of person that would write such a book. It gives the impression you want to "beat the law." That is not the right mental attitude for a police officer.

Second, since you have no law enforcement or judicial background, it brings up another point: "What makes you qualified to write such a book?" This indicates you consider yourself an expert in a field you have no expertise. There is no room for a trainee with this kind of mind set.

Third, the investigator might consider you as tricking your way into a department, probably as research for your "next" book. This indicates you can't be trusted.

These are just my opinions.

Regards,
CA

[JustinTyme]

thanks so far for the replies. you guys do make alot of sense.

i would like to clear up a few things first. my intentions when writing this book was not to break any laws. i understand that one may not give out legal advice without a license. my book is legal information not legal advice.... and there is a difference.

i also make it clear on my website that only those with speeding tickets of less than 15mph (highway) over the speed limit will benefit from the contents of the book. absolutely NO excessive speeding, school zones, reckless driving, DUI, or driving while suspended tickets.

plus, i also mention that the strategies in my book would only work in states that label speeding tickets as a criminal offense, hence the burden of proof would be "beyond a reasonable doubt". civil offense states need not purchase my book and i also list those states on my site. it's impossible to fight a ticket in these states.

i'm a firm believer that speeding tickets should be written to uphold the law and save lives, not to increase revenue. I don't believe it is wrong for someone to defend themselves against a bogus (under 15mph - highway) speeding ticket. but that's just my opinion.

although i am not a lawyer, i did do extensive research on the subject which would qualify me as an "expert" so to speak.

i always knew that i would have to stop selling the book if I ever became a cop, but judging by the responses so far, i think my best bet would be to just discontinue selling the book NOW, or at the very least sell the rights to someone else. i'm seriously considering that at this point.

i want nothing more than to become a police officer. i should have thought of that before i wrote the book i guess

that was a funny comment duo

oh, and i never thought about what you said either cblackthorne. the part about me wanting to sneak in to research my next book. that was clever.

if there is an actual BI out there i would appreciate a response

[cblackthorne]

if there is an actual BI out there i would appreciate a response

I just gave it to you.

[JustinTyme]

I just gave it to you.

Oh, thanks!

Judging from your response, it looks like you would just throw my app in the garbage. I certainly hope other BI's would at least still consider me.

[gobuffs83]

Actually Justin, I would argue that what your book gives out is precisely legal advice. If it is the one I am currently thinking of, I skimmed it at Barnes & Noble, and the whole time all I could think of was "How has this person not gotten him (or her)self sued." Your book clearly gives out actions that persons may take to mitigate their culpability in criminal matters. That is to say, you give advice on how to defend yourself beginning to end in a criminal situation. This sort of advice is, by its very nature, legal advice and I would advise you to immediately stop selling your book. It really is only a matter of time before someone uses your methods, fails, and then comes to you claiming liability.

[JustinTyme]

Actually Justin, I would argue that what your book gives out is precisely legal advice. If it is the one I am currently thinking of, I skimmed it at Barnes & Noble, and the whole time all I could think of was "How has this person not gotten him (or her)self sued." Your book clearly gives out actions that persons may take to mitigate their culpability in criminal matters. That is to say, you give advice on how to defend yourself beginning to end in a criminal situation. This sort of advice is, by its very nature, legal advice and I would advise you to immediately stop selling your book. It really is only a matter of time before someone uses your methods, fails, and then comes to you claiming liability.

Barnes and Noble!! Yeah I wish. It's not that big where Barnes and Noble would want to sell it. I'm positive you've got the wrong book. My book can only be downloaded (ebook) online. Thanks for the comment though.

[igneous]

Barnes and Noble!! Yeah I wish. It's not that big where Barnes and Noble would want to sell it. I'm positive you've got the wrong book. My book can only be downloaded (ebook) online. Thanks for the comment though.

Is your name all over it? If you google your name will the book be found quickly?

[JustinTyme]

No actually. You would never be able to put me and my book together because I used a pseudonym. But, regardless, I'm sure the BI will still find out through bank transactions.

I would rather not keep the book a secret. I want to come clean and tell the whole truth. Hopefully they'll let it pass, since I've opted to stop selling it.