What Judge’s Ruling Meant in ‘Trash Rummaging’ Case

There have been several editorials and letters in reaction to my fining Mr. Alfonso Vasquez 10 cents when he pleaded guilty to violating the City of Orange’s “trash rummaging” ordinance. The Times ran an editorial, and one Paul Sins wrote a letter critical of my decision.

Mr. Sins either misread The Times article, or misunderstood it, as his characterization of my attitude toward the arresting officers is completely off target. I believed, and still believe, that the politicians who passed the ordinance against “trash-bin scavenging,” and those special-interest groups who lobbied for the ordinance, were, in effect, punishing the weak and the poor at the expense of the taxpayer, for the benefit of the rich.

The only reasons for such an ordinance are to keep the poor from retrieving valuable items (aluminum cans, etc.) from the trash, items the refuse haulers want for themselves, or to prevent untidy scavengers from making a mess in the trash areas owned by the large markets. Orange City Councilman Fred Barerra pointed to the latter as the reason for his support of this shameful bit of governmental interference with its citizens’ lives.

We ought not dignify such a blatant piece of special-interest legislation by trying to justify the punishment of the Alfonso Vasquezes of this world who violate it.

But, contrary to Sins’ conclusions that I blame the police officer enforcing the ordinance, I instead understand the system. The special-interest groups lobby the politicians who pass bad laws. City officials pass the word, which filters down to the officer on the street, who simply does his job. To fault the police officer would be like blaming a Marine private first class for the United States sending troops to Vietnam.

I would point out, to Sins and The Times, that since the article appeared I have received favorable responses (as well as several hundred dollars of donations for Mr. Vasquez) from caring individuals all over the world, from this county to Alabama, New York and from a doctor who read the story in “The Stars and Stripes” Armed Forces Newspaper somewhere in the South Pacific.

So, thank God, there were many Americans who didn’t miss the point. Rather than criticizing, they gave what they could to help one less fortunate than themselves--including one 77-year-old California lady who sent Mr. Vasquez $5 because she “just wanted to help.”

BOBBY D. YOUNGBLOOD

Santa Ana

Youngblood is a Municipal Court judge in Santa Ana .