In August of 2012 my 19 year old son was the victim of a rogue cop and a kangaroo court in Jefferson County. My son was on his way home to Jasper from his girl friend’s home in Adamsville, AL. @ around 12:30 a.m. A Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy last name Merkelson was sitting on the side of the 4 lane divided highway with no lights on. My son passed the deputy’s position and immediately saw headlights come-on and begin coming-up behind him. At the time his 2001 Ford Ranger pick-up truck had a defective front suspension (as verified by an A.S.E. mechanic and technical college instructor)which would cause violent vibration at any speed above 73-74 m.p,h. This model of truck is factory limited to 89 m.p.h. (3.0 L-V-6 eng. and 5 speed manual transmission). The deputy claimed my son was traveling 95m.p.h! The deputy according to my son covered approximately 1 1/2 miles in less than 3 minutes with no “blue lights” on @ 12:30 a.m.! We spent over $1300.00 on an attorney for Judge Sheldon Watkins to tell us if we went to trial WE WOULD LOSE! Sounds like my son was guilty until proven innocent. Of course Jefferson County,AL. is currently in bankruptcy and laying-off employees as well as being extremely short on funds. I guess they’re trying to generate revenue any way they can. My son had plead guilty to something HE DID NOT DO to get Traffic School to keep his license clear. BEWARE in Jefferson County. They need money and will stoop to any level to get it.