Double-standard exists at courthouse

I was cutting firewood with my family near Priest Lake last summer, 15 miles off any maintained road, when a U.S. Forest Service law officer pulled up beside me. After running my name through a law enforcement database, he informed me I that my driving privileges were suspended for failing to pay a fictitious display ticket I had forgotten about.

I was taken to jail and my firewood was confiscated, and am currently going through court on this. Bonner County Prosecutor Phil Robinson is handling the case against me.

My concern is that Phil was cited last summer for using studded snow tires out of season. It was later discovered, and verified through a videotape, that the car Phil was driving was not his, although the plates on it belonged to his Chevy S10 pickup. Also, the tabs on the plate were expired.

Robinson paid the ticket, but refuses to take responsibility for the expired tabs and fictitious display. We have a letter indicating Robinson will not be prosecuted for those offenses.

A copy of Robinson's ticket indicates the license plate belong to his pickup, not a car.

But he is prosecuting me and wasting taxpayers' money charging me with something he can't be charged with.

How is it that he can prosecute me and avoid prosecution on a fictitious display charge?

If anyone is interested in viewing the videotape, please contact me at 263-5381.

MIKE JOHNSON

Laclede