(VIDEO) No True Bill -- No Indictment on 5 Counts Against Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson for Killing Michael Brown

St. Louis, MO -- November 24, 2104

Voters In St. Charles County Put Brakes On Red Light Cameras

St. Charles County Missouri, November 5, 2014

"Missouri's Legislature is Overwhelmingly Republican and so is St. Charles County. ~73% of St. Charles County voters banned traffic cameras -- so should the state legislature," says former red-light camera judge.

By an overwhelming percentage, voters in St. Charles County approved a countywide ban on the use of Red Light Cameras.  Final unofficial returns showed that 69,456 people voted YES to ban the use of the cameras at intersections and only 26,218 voted against the ban.  Nearly 73% of the electorate voted for the ban.

The St. Charles County Council placed the referendum, sponsored by County Councilman Joe Brazil, on the November ballot earlier this year, with the help pf a grassroots effort by St. Charles County Attorney Michael Carter.  Carter, a former municipal judge who dealt with Red Light Camera cases, has been an outspoken opponent of Red Light Cameras which he feels violate a person's legal rights, have proven to cause more accidents, and are simply a cash cow for local municipalities.

 

Michael Carter personally mailed tens of thousands of St. Charles County residents to notify them when the County Council was taking up Brazil's bill and urged them to attend the meeting and to contact their County Council members.  Carter also became a spokesperson for the grassroots movement, appearing frequently on talk shows and in the press.

Carter was overjoyed at the result, "We were certain that once this issue got in the hands of voters they would send the politicians defending Red Light Cameras a strong message.  Tuesday the voters of St. Charles County not only voted to ban the use of Red Light Cameras in our county, but sent a strong message to elected officials that a statewide ban is needed."

The City of St. Peters was the only community in St. Charles County still using Red Light Cameras.  Following the issue being placed on the ballot, the city suspended their use pending the resolution of legal issues.  Carter said his personal crusade wouldn't end until there was a statewide ban. 

Meanwhile, the largest of the Red Light Camera firms nationally, is facing charges of corruption in Chicago involving bribery of elected officials.  "For the Red Light Camera industry and their friends in various municipalities and the legislature, this was never about safety.  It was all about the money to made," Carter insists.

Bryan Spencer Right Choice For Voters In 63rd State Representative District (editorial corner)

Editorial Corner (Attorney Mike Carter)

Wentzville native Bryan Spencer is running for re-election to a second term in the Missouri General Assembly.  This Freshman Republican legislator has been a good fit for the voters of this district.  

Rep Bryan Spencer

Pro-Life, pro-family, and a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, Representative Spencer has also been at the forefront of protecting our Constitutional and legal rights.  

His strong opposition to the abuse of Red Light Cameras has been a breath of fresh air in a General Assembly where lobbyists and campaign money for such special interests usually speak louder than the people our legislators are supposed to represent.  

Bryan Spencer really does listen to the people and that's not just a campaign slogan.  Spencer can be found going door-to-door talking and listening to the people he represents most weekends, even when it isn't an election year.

Representative Spencer also has a sound plan for increasing the economic prosperity of the State of Missouri and our region in particular.  He believes that entrepreneurship is the lifeblood ofour economy and that businesses need to be free to operatewithout undue governmental regulation or tax burden.

The 63rd District covers parts of St. Charles and Warren Counties.  Prior to being elected State Representative, Bryan Spencer was a teacher in the Francis Howell School District for 22 years. 

Representative Spencer has received numerous awards over the course of his career that speak to his qualifications.  The most recent are: Freshman Legislator of the Year in Education 2013 & 2014, Defender of Prosperity AFP 2013, and the Freedom Meter Award Concern Women of America 2014.  

Other awards include: 2011 Francis Howell School District- Hall of Fame, 2011 Francis Howell North High School- SEAM Award, and 2008 Outstanding Young Educator of the Year (Bridgeton/Maryland Heights Junior Chamber of Commerce).  

Spencer is also active in the community as a member of the Wentzville Church of Christ, Saint Charles County Central Committee- O’Fallon Township, Jaycees (St. Peters, Wentzville/Lake St. Louis, Mission Inn, and Bridgeton/Maryland Heights), Masonic Lodge- Polar Star Rose Hill #79, and the Lewis and Clark Pachyderms. Rep. Spencer has served as past president of the Jaycees (Wentzville/Lake St. Louis and St Peters), and the Lewis and Clark Pachyderms.

We can recommend State Representative Bryan Spencer for re-election without hesitation.  He has earned a vote of confidence and another two years term.

Seeing Red? Vote YES To Ban Red Light Cameras -- EDITORIAL CORNER BY ATTORNEY MICHAEL CARTER

October 30, 2014 - St. Charles MO

Seeing Red? Vote YES To Ban Red Light Cameras

EDITORIAL CORNER  BY ATTORNEY MICHAEL CARTER

As an attorney and a former municipal red-light camera judge,  I know how unfair the use and abuse of Red Light Cameras has been.  That’s why I helped lead an effort to have St. Charles County Council place the issue of Red Light Cameras on the ballot this Tuesday November 4th.

Attorney Michael E. Carter

Red light cameras have been proven to increase accidents and are a money grab by the municipalities that use them -- resulting in an indirect tax.  They violate our rights to privacy, are not accurate, and deny those who receive tickets proper due process. 

A major national red light camera firm (the very one that the City of St. Peters contracted with) has also been charged with bribing elected public officials resulting in indictments, witnesses turning state and more. Missouri and especially St. Charles County is no place for Traffic Ticket Cameras.

This Tuesday we can say no to RED LIGHT CAMERAS by voting YES to ban them in St. Charles County.  If you have any questions about the Red Light Camera issues call me at 636-916-4040.

Eight Plaintiffs Charging Sexual Harassment In $5 Million Law Suit Against St. Charles County Election Authority Director Rich Chrismer; Trial After Election?

St. Charles, MO -- October 30, 2014

Kate Runyan

The trial date for a $5 million lawsuit by employees charging sexual harassment and discrimination against St. Charles County Election Authority Director Rich Chrismer is scheduled for December 1st.  Chrismer is also on the ballot November 4th running for re-election and will be facing the court of public opinion prior to his trial date.

Rich Chrismer

The sexual harassment suit was filed back on October 5, 2011, by Mary Railean Benefield, who had been a St. Charles County employee for 22 years and who had worked in Chrismer's office.  Her suit claimed Chrismer stalked and groped her and flirted with other women in the Election Authority office.  Since then, seven others have joined the lawsuit, including four employees of the Election Authority, as well.

Normally a Republican candidate for county-wide office would have no trouble winning re-election in a heavily Republican County like St. Charles.  But Chrismer drew strong opposition in the Republican Primary and won with less than 51% of the vote against former St. Charles Mayor Patti York and a third candidate.  Now Chrismer faces Democratic opponent Kate Runyan this Tuesday.

KMOV, News Channel Four, also uncovered in July of this year, that County Audits show Chrismer was overcharging political subdivisions for the costs of elections.  A former assistant director of the office claimed Chrismer did so by more than $500,000.

Ferguson Protests Linked to Massive Decrease in St Louis Metro TrafficTickets

ST. CHARLES, MO, August 27, 2014 – Among the difficulties faced by law enforcement following the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson has been a lack of man and woman power focusing attention in other metro-area jurisdictions.

According to public records from nearly 50 St. Louis metropolitan municipal and county courts, the past two weeks have seen a roughly 50 percent reduction in the amount of traffic and criminal citations written throughout the St Louis metropolitan area.

Following the shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the subsequent protests, riots and looting; police have been on edge and very busy. Officers throughout the metro area have been called to Ferguson in order to assist with policing efforts.

Michael Carter, attorney and owner of Carter Law Offices based in St. Charles Missouri, said he had to cancel scheduled depositions during the Ferguson ongoings because officers were unable to pull off Ferguson duty.

"We had absolutely no problem rescheduling depositions for future dates given what these police officers were attending to; but, I do remember wondering just how many officers were being pulled out of their home jurisdictions. So, we gathered the only data we could -- the number of written citations," said Carter.

Speeding tickets were not the only citations that were down dramatically. Public records show fewer minor in possession tickets (MIP), DWIs, DUIs, assaults, driving while suspended, driving while revoked, and drug possession tickets.

Carter said that he'd "like to think that these types of crimes simply went down across the region. I guess it's possible that since most all of St. Louis has been riveted to their TVs, people just haven't been out and about causing trouble, but it's doubtful."

Carter's law firm has a criminal law subsidiary by the name of Traffic Law Counselors ran primarily through the websites 45BUCKS.com (indicating a starting price point for tickets) and DidYouBlow.com (referencing one aspect of a DWI arrest).

“Our traffic law subsidiary handles thousands of cases each year and on a typical weekday our phone rings about every three minutes for some type of traffic or criminal question or citation” Carter added. “But since the Ferguson unrest, we are only getting calls about every 10-15 minutes or so."

There has been much concern for the loss of business revenue closer to the Ferguson area. St. Louis County's government has just announced the allocation of millions of dollars to assist some struggling businesses near and in Ferguson. However, Carter says his firm is doing just fine despite the down tick in traffic tickets.

"By the way," says Carter, "It's commonly understood in criminal justice academic circles that it's good to have many policing jurisdictions throughout a metropolitan area because communities want to and should be familiar with their local law enforcement personnel. Being familiar with and knowing your local police officers is the starting point of gaining and maintaining confidence in law enforcement. "

Carter Law Offices is a real estate and criminal defense firm with locations in St. Louis and St. Charles, Missouri. Contact Felicia Dixon 314-895-4040  Carterlegal.com

Wentzville Wabash Days Sees A Lot of Splish Splash

August 25,2014

This past weekend in Wentzville during the annual Wabash Days saw several citizens, current & former city officials, state representatives and the Mayor get ALL WET!!! If you didn't get to see it in person; check out these fresh UNEDITED pics:

Alderman Hays

Mayor Guccione

Mayor Guccione

Carter Gets It

Judge Carter

Fair Goer Magasano

Representative Spencer

Alderman Hussey

Alderman Hussey




Fair Goer Nick Carter