20250729 Albany Municipal Court
Judge: [00:00:00] The evidence. Alright. Okay. So not surprisingly, right, the fact is there was school that day, which I know everyone is very upset about and I know that,
Defendant: and this is my question, how are we as citizens of North Albany...
Judge: mm-hmm.
Defendant: Supposed to know beyond reasonable doubt that their school session.
Logan M. Isaac: And that's not even the basis for which it's supposed be.
Judge: So sir, you're gonna be held in contempt. You're gonna go to jail. It's not your turn to talk.
Logan M. Isaac: My rights have already been infringed as a member of this city.
Judge: Okay? Why do you leave the courtroom and then when?
Logan M. Isaac: Because I'm next at 11 o'clock.
Judge: Okay. But if you're gonna speak in the middle of this citizen's trial, then you need to leave. Okay? Or you're gonna be held in contempt.
Logan M. Isaac: If the court cannot operate within the confines of the law. It's not a court of law.
Judge: Okay? This is your last warning. Okay?
Logan M. Isaac: I simply responded to your comment.
Judge: Okay. So no more talking while it's her turn for our trial. Okay. Alright. I know you probably heard me talk about like the lineage too.
[00:01:00] Mm-hmm. And I know there's been some inquiry with the city council and the, um, those individuals who are charged with signs, which is not me, and, um, to maybe make a change. I don't know if there will be one. Um, but the fact is that this is what we are left with and it's actually lawful, even though everyone is very upset about it.
Um, the school days from seven to five, and there was school that day for, for one of those schools. Um, and so again, it's the court's job to determine whether a violation occurred. There's no mental state element, right? There's no intentionally going through recklessly. There's no culpable mental state, which is why I see that you did not, I believe you, that you didn't know there was school. But that's actually not an element of a traffic violation.
Defendant: But how am I supposed, does that make sense? How am I supposed to know?
Judge: Mm-hmm. Well, sure.
Defendant: There's in from the school district says there's no school. [00:02:00] I drive by the signage in front of the other school says there's no school. The middle school has signs in Spanish. I don't read Spanish.
Judge: Mm-hmm.
Defendant: So there was nothing for me driving through. That proved to me that there was school in session.
Judge: Okay.
Defendant: Without driving through the school parking lot.
Judge: Yeah, yeah.
Defendant: Write them up!
Judge: Yeah.
Defendant: Which is off the road.
Judge: Yeah.
Defendant: And like I drive by Oak Grove, I can see that school is in session before I ever get the school zone.
Judge: Right. So I think what it comes down to, right, is what I was talking about before. Like when, when there's a question. Like, you've gotta slow down. That's what the Department of Transportation says. And I know I sound like a broken record, and it's like, we don't make, you know, I'm not, no, I'm not making you happy or making you feel any better about it. But, um, that is the law. And the fact is, there was school that day, and I get what you're saying. I understand what you're saying. Right. But again, there's no culpable mental state in a traffic violation. Was [00:03:00] there a violation? And there was, right. I'm not saying anything about mental state.
Defendant: Yeah. It's, it's fine.
Judge: Well, you're saying that you didn't know right. That you didn't know there was school, but knowingly, like the fact that you did or didn't know is actually not an element of the, like some people will drive down the, and they dunno. So they think they're, but they're not. So it's kind of the same idea, right? You're, you know,
Defendant: you're the law.
Judge: You don't know it, you're not intentionally doing it, you just don't, you don't know that you're doing it. You just, yeah. But the fact that there's a violation is occurring.
Defendant: Yeah, that's good. Okay.
Judge: You can appeal a decision to ate, right. You have 30 days to do that. We can give you a form, if you want, if you wanna have another trial. Um, I Do you want this?
Defendant: No, I, okay.
Judge: Because I'll get it back to you. I take copy first. Sure. If you wanna take copy. I.
Defendant: Yeah. Yeah. Okay.[00:04:00]
Judge: Um, okay, so I'm gonna register fine. Um, you can pay that in full today.
And you must be Logan Isaac. It is your turn now. Okay. We can begin your trial. I know you address court and have some questions for the officer. Do you have any questions at the outset of how the procedure works for bench trial?
Logan M. Isaac: I assume it's the court's responsibility to inform a party.
Defendant: Yes. Okay. So I wasn't sure if you were [00:05:00] in the courtroom when I explained it before, but I'll do it again.
Logan M. Isaac: I showed up 15 minutes early to my 11 o'clock time slot.
Judge: Okay. Yeah. Perfect. So I, I didn't keep track of the times I've said it, but I said it maybe three times this morning, so I wasn't sure. I didn't wanna have to.
Logan M. Isaac: I wasn't here.
Judge: Okay. So how a bench trial works is, um, the lieutenant here, he is a representative of the city near the plaintiff in the case.
And so anytime, and you're the defendant. Anytime there's a trial, the plaintiff always presents evidence first. And so we'll hear from Lieutenant Libra regarding why the citation was issued. And then after hearing from the plaintiff, you will have an opportunity if you would like to, to ask him questions.
You don't have to. If you'd like to ask him questions, you'll have that opportunity and then you call the cross-examination. Um, and so then after you've asked questions, if you have any, you'll have your own opportunity to present your own testimony and evidence to the court. And then after you present any.
Testimony and evidence, then the officer can ask you questions if he has any of you. So basically you each have a turn to present [00:06:00] testimony and evidence, and then you would each have an opportunity to ask each other questions about that testimony and evidence. Um, and then the, uh, plaintiff can present rebuttal evidence to the court.
If there's any rebuttal evidence, you would again, have an opportunity to ask questions about it. And then, um, the case rests. The burden of proof in a, uh, violation proceeding is by a preponderance of the evidence and what that means. The city needs to prove more likely than not that a violation occurred.
So that's something different than beyond a reasonable doubt, which is a burden of proof and a crime. And this is not a crime, this is a violation. So the burden of proof is a lesser burden. Um, any questions about the burden of proof?
Logan M. Isaac: Is there anything below prep procedure?
Judge: Yeah,
Logan M. Isaac: I'm sorry.
Judge: Or the procedure in general?
Logan M. Isaac: First question, is there anything below preponderance of the evidence?
Judge: No.
Logan M. Isaac: So it's the lowest possible evidentiary standard.
Judge: It is, it's preponderance of the evidence above that would be clear and convincing evidence. And then the most, um, the, the most serious would be for a crime. And that [00:07:00] would be, um, beyond a reason for that.
Logan M. Isaac: Uh, and all other basic rules of procedure apply.
Judge: Uh, well not civil procedure. This is because in a violation proceeding mm-hmm. Um, it would be the, uh. Procedure.
Logan M. Isaac: Um, I'd like to disqualify you for prejudice. Is that within my rights?
Judge: So you can make a motion that would've been, that needed to be like a pretrial motion. Right? So we could have a hearing on it, but we can talk through it if you have a question.
Logan M. Isaac: Uh, I don't have any evidence that anything was done wrong. All I have is a piece of paper telling me to appear as an innocent civilian. I failed to see what, what happened.
Judge: Okay. So it would be, it is on the city's burden to show that something happened, right?
Logan M. Isaac: Yeah. And it doesn't have any information Here. I have a citation number and a violation speed limit. The posted speed limit is something like 40.
What's the charge, [00:08:00] I guess, or, yeah, maybe I should just let the thing begin. Are you denying my motion for disqualification?
Judge: Yes, you have a, well, the thing, it's not timely, but also, um, you have a,
Logan M. Isaac: This is a bench trial. So what was I supposed to do ahead of time? Is it, was I supposed to disqualify you ahead of time for prejudice?
Judge: Well, there would've needed to be made like a pretrial motion, right? To request a recusal. Is that what you're asking for?
Logan M. Isaac: I guess so. But is it unreasonable to ask for a. Disqualification for, for prejudice when I appear because I have no other
Judge: well, at the time of trial. Right. Okay.
Logan M. Isaac: We're here now. Sure. So
Judge: it's, it's not necessarily a timely request and you haven't provided also any basis that I'm, I'm willing to, well, there's
Logan M. Isaac: no basis for the, I I'm still waiting to hear what I did, so maybe we should begin with Alright, so we go trial.
Judge: Sure. Yep. Okay. Go ahead you. Yep. Will you both raise your right hand for me Under perjury, do you swear affirm that the testimony you're about to give is the truth? The whole truth and nothing but the truth. I do.
Logan M. Isaac: Yes.
Judge: Okay. All right. Go ahead.
APD LT: I'm Lieutenant Kyle [00:09:00] Libra. I've been employed as a police officer for the Almond Police Department for over 11 years.
Prior to my employment at a PDI was reserve police officer for Lebanon Police Department for winter. I'm currently assigned as a patrol lieutenant in the operations division. Part of my duties is to review red light speed events captured at the intersection of North Albany Road and West Thornton Lake Drive, Northwest Albany in Benton County.
North Albany Road is a public highway within the city limits of Albany. On April 23rd, 2025, I was on duty and reviewing events captured by the red light speed cameras at the previously mentioned intersection. I reviewed an event that occurred on April 18th, 2025 at approximately 10 24 in the morning.
Logan M. Isaac: Say, can you say the date again? I'm sorry.
APD LT: In the video I reviewed, I observed a gray 2021 Honda CRV bearing Oregon license plates. Nora Yellow David Charles, traveling at Northbound North Alway Road. That section of road is a designated school zone and is clearly posted. Signs that indicate the speed limit through that area is 20 miles per hour from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM on school days.
April 18th, 2025 was [00:10:00] a school day and North Albany Middle School was in session. In the video I observed the Honda appeared to be traveling faster than the posted 20 mile per hour speed limit. I reviewed the radar reading of the Honda and it read 32 miles an hour. I ran the license plate through DMV and noted Logan Isaac was the registered owner.
I reviewed the DMV photo of Mr. Isaac and believed he was the operator of the Honda. I observed in the video and still photos captured during the event. Based on my review of the event, I authorized a citation be issued to Mr. Isaac for violation of the posted speed limit 32 miles per hour in a 12 mile per hour.
Judge: Anything further?
APD LT: No, your Honor.
Judge: No. Uh, Mr. Isaac, do you have any questions for Libra?
Logan M. Isaac: Where's, uh, I don't see any evidence other than testimony.
Judge: Yeah. Do you, is that a question?
Logan M. Isaac: It's a statement because I have no evidence of the allegation.
Judge: Lieutenant br, would you like to play the video in the still picture?
APD LT: Absolutely.
Logan M. Isaac: Oh, you have? Great. Would you provide it to me?
APD LT: It'll be played right here,
Logan M. Isaac: [00:11:00] so you won't provide it to me. It'll just make it appear. Okay, . This is a court of law.
Judge: And you can narrate it if you want. Lieutenant Leeburg, just so Mr. Isaac is aware that the
APD LT: Sure. So, uh, the same section is in the school zone and it's 20 miles per hour. Uh, we, we are watching six seconds. Before the violation, we will watch six seconds after the fire.
Logan M. Isaac: I'm sorry, that doesn't add up. I don't see a speed limit sign. There's a green light. What is it that I, you allege I've done wrong?
APD LT: Speed limit sign is prior to this intersection.
Logan M. Isaac: So the video doesn't really help us does it? It shows me going through a green light. It's rather uneventful. There's another one [00:12:00] probably going the same speed. So where's the evidence of a crime violation?
Judge: Okay, so we. Make sure we have an opportunity to review all of the.
Logan M. Isaac: Yeah, again, I don't see what I saw that saw that.
APD LT: So top there is, uh, the posted speed limit, which shows 20 miles per hour.
Logan M. Isaac: Where is that?
APD LT: Radar?
Logan M. Isaac: You're gonna have to direct my attention to it.
APD LT: Uh, it is shows to be 32 miles per hour, uh, on North Almond Road. At West the Lake.
Logan M. Isaac: I don't see a speed limit sign. A preponderance of evidence in ' innocent until proven guilty' requires some attempt at your disposal, lieutenant.
APD LT: View of the driver and the,
Logan M. Isaac: oh, no, that looks like my car. Yeah.
Judge: I just,
Logan M. Isaac: where's the speed limit sign?
Judge: See everything that we've got?
Logan M. Isaac: No, I've seen everything that you've shown me, and there still is no evidence.
Judge: To view on this, though
Logan M. Isaac: I've asked, I've, I've asked for [00:13:00] evidence of a speeding violation and I still don't see it.
Judge: Okay. Alright. Any other que Well, I guess you can answer that question. Is this a question for.
Logan M. Isaac: I've asked.
Judge: Okay.
Logan M. Isaac: Where's the speed limit sign? I don't believe you that it's 20 miles an hour.
APD LT: It's videos.
Logan M. Isaac: Where, let me see.
APD LT: It's, it's posted. It's not in that video.
Logan M. Isaac: How am I supposed to believe you? I don't see it on the video that you just showed me, but you're still claiming that it's a 20 mile per hour zone. Do you live nearby? Because I do.
APD LT: Yeah. Do you live at two? One. Or.
Logan M. Isaac: Do you need to air out my personal address? Have I rebutted that it's true information? Are you avoiding my question?
APD LT: I'm not gonna sit here and argue with you.
Logan M. Isaac: Well, we're in a court of law, so you kind of have to.
APD LT: I don't actually,
Logan M. Isaac: I would prefer you not read my, excuse me.
Judge: Do you have any other questions for
Logan M. Isaac: Yes, yes, I do. Okay.
Judge: Are they relevant?
Logan M. Isaac: Yes, they are relevant.
Judge: Okay.
Logan M. Isaac: I prefer my personal address not be read aloud in court. That seemed like retaliation for your, however.
APD LT: This is court, right?
Logan M. Isaac: Excuse me. Excuse me. It's a court, right? Is that a false statement? [00:14:00] This is a court.
Judge: Okay. Not relevant, do you?
Logan M. Isaac: It is relevant.
Judge: Question regarding the traffic violation.
Logan M. Isaac: He hasn't answered my initial questions.
Judge: Okay. So I think the question was where's the speed sign located? Is that right?
Logan M. Isaac: A crime is alleged to have occurred. There's no evidence of it, and I don't even possess a statement or a summons to that same effect.
Judge: Okay.
Logan M. Isaac: I am innocent until proven guilty. Okay.
Judge: Um, anything further? Lieutenant Libra. Okay. You would you like to present your own evidence and testimony?
Logan M. Isaac: I don't have any evidence. The city has provided no evidence of anything that has occurred in violation of any law or code.
Judge: Any testimony that you would like to present?
Logan M. Isaac: Um, yeah. Even if true, uh, this court is in violation of due process and equal protection clauses of my rights, not only if there is such a sign. It sounds by a number of testimonies that I've heard today that it's imp impermissibly vague. It does not indicate to drivers going up to 40 miles an hour, I believe, or 35, to stop and [00:15:00] figure out which school is in session, which it was not.
That the s the law of our land, which is inescapable, even in a court of record, is very clear that there is a burden upon the city to make a reasonable person aware, reasonably aware, when they're in violation of, of some ordinance, which the city has not done here in this trial. No evidence has been presented at all in which any reasonable person could legitimately claim that a violation has occurred.
Secondly, your honor, you are a member of a class that is made separate from other members. You, in an earlier, uh, uh, I dunno case or something said that you have, or, well, I'll just go off memory. You said you have children at one of those schools. You don't have to answer if that's right or wrong. If you know that school is in session, that doesn't mean that every other innocent until proven guilty person is supposed to know.
That's private knowledge. Private knowledge is not publicly enforceable. If you're hiding behind something; [00:16:00] evidence that is not presented, a sign that is not here, an an abundance of witnesses that are claiming to the same, many of whom, at least two of whom you've in open court, accused of perjury with no evidence.
So I take offense at the fact that I've taken time out of my day to try and meet the city where it's at, and the city has made almost no actual reasonable attempt to allege that a crime has occurred other than to just send me a piece of paper and try and collect my money. We don't have, uh, a system of "bought and paid for" justice.
I also know he is mentioned. Uh, I do have one more question. Uh, jurisdictionally Benton County, that's sheriff's department. How, how does the jurisdiction operate between county and city?
APD LT: North Albany Road and West Thornton Lake Drive are within the city limits of all. It's a city.
Logan M. Isaac: So it's a jurisdiction. So the sheriff would not have jurisdiction until somebody leaves the city limits?
APD LT: Correct.
Logan M. Isaac: Okay. Um, yeah, that being said, I don't, I [00:17:00] cannot justify violating my own federal rights and state rights to to violate the preponderance of the evidence, uh, evidentiary standard to even justify my appearance here any longer.
As no evidence has been presented, I'll be leaving this court because I possess no evidence that any violation has occurred. I am aware that I have another trial on the 31st at 11 o'clock, one of which I was told by your Honor, was dismissed, and yet I'm still supposed to be appearing because it has not been dismissed, which appears retaliatory.
So, um. That being said, I don't know if I should even stay for questions because this has not been a justifiable, uh, taking of my time out of respect. I'll stay and ask if there are any questions, but this is. This is not, this has not shown itself to be a, a legitimate court of law.
Judge: Well, let's talk about, uh, I had viol [00:18:00] you, let's talk about Thursday.
Logan M. Isaac: I'll be here Thursday for that. I will not be paying money to a city when no violation has been proven to be, to occur. If this is a court of law and we are bound by evidentiary standards and procedures.
[Judge (unaudible): “Let’s agree to disagree”]
No, no, no. That's not good enough for a court of law.
