California prepared to hand out a speeding ticket at the Indy 500-Democrats too fast to catch?:
<<LAFAYETTE, Calif. - A California man is in the doghouse after his poodle was called for jury duty.
The pooch, nine-year-old Barnabas R. Miller, was registered as a Republican in Contra Costa County by his owner, Donald Miller.
Miller said his action was meant to point out problems in the voter registration system.
"If I can register my dog, then anybody can register,'' Miller said. "You're supposed to be a citizen. He doesn't even have a driver's license."
But not everyone sees the situation the same way.
"He should not make his point in this manner,'' said Candy Lopez, the county's assistant registrar.
Now Miller is in real trouble. Shad Balch of the Secretary of State's office said the voter registration form is signed to testify the information is correct - under penalty of perjury.
Balch said a perjury conviction could get Miller, a 78-year-old retired iron worker, four years in jail, although prosecutors aren't sure if they'll press charges.
"I have never heard of it happening before,'' said Brian Baker, a senior deputy district attorney.
However, in 2001 there were at least two instances when dogs were registered by their owners to vote. One was in Texas and the other was in southern Florida.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.>> |
