Joe Mullins, the District 4 member of the Flagler County Commission, is receiving scrutiny for a letter he wrote to a judge following a speeding ticket earlier this week. Mullins was pulled over on I-95 northbound just before Palm Coast Parkway after being clocked at 92 mph in a posted 70 mph zone.
Mullins’ letter to the judge read as follows:
“To the Honorable Magistrate Judge,
On father’s day, while preparing for family coming into town and running behind in my work schedule rushing between meetings, I was pulled over on I-95 for speeding. I lost track of time and while taking calls and dealing with traffic knowing I was behind schedule, I was not paying attention to my speed nor the limit. 1 am asking for lenience as I am gladly to pay in full the amount owed but would like the assessed points and my record not to be noted if possible. I commit in the future to pay more attention to my speed and be aware of my time so it will not put me in a rush situation. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration in this matter. Should you need anything further, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
Sincerely, Joseph Mullins”
Mullins agrees to pay the $281 fine assessed to him in the letter, but requests that the judge forego adding any points to his driving record. He also conceded to the judge that he had been using his cell phone while driving, and that it contributed to the speeding citation.
Some community members have accused Mullins of seeking special treatment for his ticket. “Speeding tickets can occur at times,” Mullins said in response to the criticism. “The letter is what is recommended process by courts and done by many people that get tickets. You either can do [it] through attorney or represent yourself [and] I choose to handle myself. I paid my fine. I hope it’s my last ticket. But at times we stretch ourselves a little to thin.”
Mullins also affirmed that he learned to appeal tickets in such a way before he was elected to office. It’s not the first time he’s done so; in recent years Mullins petitioned the help of Sheriff Rick Staly to soften the blow of another ticket. Staly responded by firmly rebuffing the request.
John Doe
June 24, 2022 at 9:54 pm
Typical bulls&$@ from this corrupt politician. Always trying to slant the deck in his favor. What an as&hole. Don’t speed and don’t use your phone while driving. Pretty simple for everyone else why is this so difficult for you? We’re all busy so that certainly isn’t a good excuse. Another example of poor representation in a political position locally.
TR
June 24, 2022 at 10:17 pm
This idiot has always cried to a higher authority when he gets caught breaking the law. He needs to have the same punishments like the rest of us if we get caught. Who cares of his position, the laws are the laws and he needs to stop crying when caught. Hey Joe here’s a suggestion, STOP speeding and obey the speed limits. Learn to manage your time and stop driving obstructively. It’s people like you that there are more laws in place that everyone else has to follow because of doing other things besides driving while behind the wheel. Here’s a question for you Joe, what happens when one day your doing something else while driving and you get into an accident and kill an innocent person? What kind of letter you going to write then to try and get out of the punishment? Someone like you with the disrespect for the law does not belong in a county seat. The only seat you belong in is a jail cell seat with no drivers license.
Tom Mcleod
June 25, 2022 at 9:48 am
Isn’t the using off a cellphone while driving a moving infraction ? He readily admits doing so. He should be cited for that as well, be required to participate in driving school and be accessed points against his driver’s license. I’ve NEVER driven 92 miles per hour on a public highway. What makes this non Florida native feel as though he is privileged and should be treated differently ! Imagine if you will the results if someone had changed lanes as he was approaching and he had hit them. There is NO excuse for this behavior, especially for a county official that is a public servant. His behavior is despicable.
Dedicated American
June 25, 2022 at 3:36 pm
Before someone is killed by Mullins we the taxpayers
have to go after Sheriff Staley, The Flagler County Judge,
and the rest of the police for refusing to treat him the
way they would treat us. Money talks and bulls- – – walks.
PT
August 3, 2022 at 11:00 am
Get your facts right, Sheriff Staly refused to help him!
Joey Callo
June 25, 2022 at 9:32 pm
This selfish, entitled creep only cares about himself. Sounds exactly like someone else I know who lost an election and won’t accept the result. Mullins won’t take responsibility for his behavior. VOTE him out! I hope he goes back to Georgia before kills someone on the road in Flagler County.
Vote for Leann Pennington and send Joe Mullins back to GA
June 29, 2022 at 7:38 pm
He’s had tickets in St Johns, Volusia, FLagler snd Seminole and had adjudication with held in all 4 counties!!! Mullins has an open ticket in St. John’s and asked for favor and they said he has to have a hearing to see what his options are and if he’s eligible. Why didn’t the magistrate in Flagler do the same this week? Why was his driving record reviewed and considered? He’s had 3 tickets driving nearly 100 mph in less than 7 months….2 in Seminole and 1 in Flagler. So far adjudication has been withheld in 2 of those 3. The County Judge needs to reverse the magistrates order and make an informed ruling. Call Judge Totten in Flagler or write her at 1769 East Moody Blvd, Bldg 1 Bunnell, FL 32110 and tell her to tell Joe NO!!
If Joe Mullins continues to speed at speeds nearly 100 mph someone is likely to be hurt or killed, and if the court does not make an appropriate ruling the blood will be all over their hands. Joe Mullins asked for adjudication to be withheld to prevent the possibility of his drivers license from being suspended, and his insurance rates from increasing. Joe Mullins was given 90 days to pay the citation in Flagler when he didn’t even request an extension to pay. Recall the magistrate order judge Totten.
TR
July 2, 2022 at 4:35 pm
Well Joe got another ticket for speeding on I-4 by a state trooper. Again sent a letter to the judge for adjudication so he will not get points. This disrespectful moron has no respect for the law and needs to be removed from his seat immediately. Waiting to vote him out of office might be to late and someone will get hurt or killed. God for bid something bad happens and someone does get hurt or killed because Joe caused an accident. The survivor and or family should not only sue Joe (if he survives) but the judges that kept allowing him to drive because they adjudicated no points on his license and didn’t revoke it.
To Joe Mullins
July 13, 2022 at 10:43 pm
Joe Mullins, we accept your letter…your resignation letter immediately.