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We try to anticipate questions you might have
about our Police Department and provide the answers here.
If you need additional information, please visit our contacts
page. |
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1. |
What should I do if I am stopped
by a Police Officer? |
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If you are
stopped by a Police Officer, we simply ask for your cooperation,
candor and courtesy in bringing resolution to the contact. Please realize that our
Officers are trained to approach situations in a particular manner
to ensure the publics as well as their own safety. The procedures utilized may
seem abnormal to the general public. Truthfulness is
essential. Knowingly
providing false information to Law Enforcement personnel may lead to
prosecution. While a
person who believes that providing information may incriminate them
can refuse to provide information under the protection of the
5th amendment, witnesses to crime are not offered this
protection. |
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2. |
What happens if I am issued a
citation? |
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If you are
issued a citation, an Officer believes that you have committed a
violation or misdemeanor offense. The issuance of the citation does
not mean in fact that you are guilty of the offense. When the
citation is issued you will be asked to sign the citation. Your
signature is not an admission of guilt. It is merely a promise to
appear in court on the court date the Officer provides to you. The
court date provided is merely a plea date. The purpose of the plea
date is to provide the citizen an opportunity to declare their guilt
or innocence. Trials are not conducted on this date.
If you
choose, you may pay the fine prior to the court date and are
generally not required to attend court once the fine is paid;
however, in some misdemeanor cases your attendance is required in
court whether you pay the fine or not. You may contact the District
Court Clerk, 870-777-2525, or the City Bond and Fine Clerk,
870-777-3434 ext 2, to determine if your appearance is compulsory.
If you choose not to pay the fine prior to the court date, you must
appear in court on the court date. You will have the opportunity to
appear before a judge and plead guilty or not guilty to the charge.
If you plead not guilty, a trial date will be set. You will have the
opportunity to retain a lawyer or you may choose to represent
yourself in the case matter. An attorney may be appointed to
represent you in certain cases.
If you have any questions
regarding court procedures or if special needs arise, you should
contact the District Court Clerk at 870-777-2525.
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Who do I call if special
circumstances prevent me from attending court at my appointed
time? |
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In this
event, you must contact the City Attorney's Office at 870-777-8621
and request to reschedule you court date. This must be requested and
approved prior to the scheduled court
date. |
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4. |
How do I pay my
fine? |
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You may pay
your fines for citations issued by the City of Hope at the Hope
Police Department Bond and Fine window Monday - Friday
(excluding holidays) between the hours of 8AM-11AM and 12Noon -
5PM. The Hope Police Department is located in the Hempstead County
Law Enforcement Center at 400 S. Washington Hope, Arkansas,
telephone 870-777-3434, ext 2. Payment may be made in cash, check,
or money order.
The Hope Police Department will receive
payment via mail. You must ensure that your name, date of birth, and
social security number are placed on your payment for the clerk to
credit the proper account. If you pay by mail and would like a
receipt returned to you evidencing the payment, you must enclose a
self addressed stamped envelope for the return receipt.
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What if I do not have the
money to pay a fine? |
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If you are
unable to pay your fine in full, you will need to appear in the
District Court on the court date provided to you on your citation.
When appearing before the judge, you may plead guilty and establish
a payment plan as agreed to by the court. There is a $5 per month
fee for being on a payment
plan. |
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6. |
Where is the District
Court located? |
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The District Court is located on the
3rd floor of the Hempstead County Court House at 400 S.
Washington Street, Hope, Arkansas, telephone 870-777-2525. Due to a shortage of
courtroom space, this court may meet in either of the two existing
courtrooms located on that floor. Please make sure you are in
the proper courtroom when you appear. Do not hesitate to ask court
personnel if you are in the right
location.
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What happens if I fail to pay my
fine or attend my court date? |
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In this event, a warrant would be
issued for your arrest.
If found guilty of Failure to Appear additional fines and fees would
be imposed by the
Court. |
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8. |
What
happens if I am allowed to enter a payment plan and I fail to make
the agreed upon payments? |
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If you fail
to make the Court ordered payments, a warrant would be issued for
your arrest. If found guilty of Failure to Comply with the judge's
order, additio0nal fines and fees would be imposed by the
Court. |
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9. |
How do I keep
citations off my driving record? |
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In some cases
it is possible to keep driving offenses off of one's driving record
through taking a Defensive Driving class. There is a fee for the
class. For more information concerning this program contact the
District Court Clerk's Office at
870-777-2525. |
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10. |
How do I
know if my driver's license is suspended and how do I go about
getting a suspended license reinstated? |
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For answers
to these questions you may contact Driver Control of the Arkansas
State Police at
870-773-7826. |
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11. |
What happens
when an Officer removes my license plate from my vehicle after being
issued a citation for driving without liability
insurance? |
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Arkansas law
provides that it is unlawful for any person to operate a motor
vehicle within this state unless the person is covered by a
certificate of self-insurance or an automobile liability insurance
policy. If you are found to be in non-compliance, your license plate
may be impounded and a temporary 10-day license sticker will replace
it. Your license plate will be forwarded to the Revenue Department.
You have 10 days to prove that you possessed an insurance policy, a
certificate of self-insurance, or a $65,000 cash deposit with the
Department of Revenue covering this vehicle. Proof may be taken to
any Revenue Office along with your copy of the Notice of
Non-compliance to obtain your license plate. If the vehicle was not
insured on the date the notice was issued, the registration will be
suspended until proof is obtained and a $20 reinstatement fee is
paid to any local Revenue
Department. |
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12. |
How do I
obtain an Accident Report / Incident Report? |
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Incident
reports that are not part of ongoing investigations are available
for public inspection. Certain information protected by privacy laws
will be redacted prior to review. Copies of incident reports, open
to the public, may be obtained for $10.00 per report.
If you
desire to obtain a report open to the public you may do so via a
mail in request. When making a request via mail, be sure to enclose
$10.00, a self-addressed stamped envelope or 800 fax number, and
provide all necessary information to locate the report you desire
(i.e. date, time, location, names, etc.). Also, provide a contact
phone number so we may call if we have difficulty locating the
report you desire.
Eligible reports may be reviewed or
purchased at the Bond and Fine window located at the Hope Police
Department facility, 400 S Washington, Hope, Arkansas, 71801,
telephone 870-777-3434, facsimile
870-777-2374.
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13. |
How do I
state a grievance about an officer or other Department
staff? |
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The Hope
Police Department strives to provide a courteous service. However,
from time to time it is inevitable that complaints and
misunderstandings arise. If you have a complaint we urge you to
speak with an on duty supervisor regarding your complaint. If the
complaint cannot be resolved at this level you may request and
complete a complaint tracking form. This form may be obtained at the
Hope Police Department Call Center Window. After completing the
form, provide it to the Call Center employee and the complaint will
be forwarded to the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police reviews
every written complaint. You will receive written notice that your
complaint was received and the disposition of your complaint.
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14. |
How do I
withdraw a complaint? |
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If you desire
to withdraw a complaint of which you are the complainant, you may
speak with a detective concerning the matter. However, the State may
choose to prosecute the case matter at the prosecutor’s
discretion. |
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15. |
What do I do
if there is a warrant for my arrest? |
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If you know
there is a warrant for your arrest, the best thing to do is simply
turn yourself in to the Police Department. In many cases warrants
can be served, new court dates set, and you be allowed to return
home pending the court date. In other cases you may be processed
into jail, receive an initial appearance before a judge, a bond will
be set, a court date established, and if you can meet the bond you
will be released pending your
trial. |
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16. |
How do I
commend the actions of an officer or
employee? |
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If you would
like to commend an Officer or Employee for his/her job performance,
please write your comments to the Chief of Police, PO Box 1346,
Hope, Arkansas 71802, or call 870-777-3434. Your comments will be
added to the Employee's personnel
file. |
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17. |
How can I
provide anonymous information to the Police
Department? |
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To provide an
anonymous tip, use our Call Alert Hotline number 870-722-2552. The
Hotline number is an automated answering machine. Please leave a
detailed specific message including names, addresses, license
numbers, dates, times, and the illegal activity
suspected. |
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18. |
What
happens when my car is towed by the Police
Department? |
A.C.A.
27-50-1202 states that
an officer of any law enforcement agency may request a towing and
storage firm which is licensed by the Arkansas Towing and Recovery
Board to engage in non-consent towing of vehicles
to:
- Remove and store unattended or
abandoned vehicles pursuant to this subchapter.
- Remove and store any disabled or
inoperative vehicle for which the owner or person in charge
thereof has waived his or her right to owner preference as defined
in this section.
- Remove and store any vehicle in
which the operator was apprehended by law enforcement
officers.
When a car is towed, the owner is liable to
pay the towing company fees. Disputes regarding fees and
property within vehicles are civil matters between the towing firm
and the owner. In the event you do not know the
name of the company towing your vehicle you may contact the Hope
Police Department Call Center, 870-777-3434 ext 1, to obtain this
information. |
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