Christina in the Dock
Last night I learned an important lesson I wish to pass on: should any of you receive a ticket in Pembroke Township NY, pay it. They require the officers to show in court and getting off a ticket is next to impossible.
So yes, the trooper who busted me showed. I thought I got off because there were 3 other people there contesting speeding tickets. All the other officers called them out to the hall prior to their trial and negotiated a bit. Mine didn't. I thought he wasn't there, but I was wrong.
Anyhoo, the judge was really nice to everyone except me. When I went up to trial the officer gave his testimony, which consisted largely of his expertise in using a laser. That might have been relevant had I been trying to contest the fact that I was speeding. My testimony consisted of "I was speeding, I shouldn't have been, but I had to get to school on time. I'm at your mercy."
The judge said, "Is that th best you can do?"
I wanted to say, "No, Your Honor. I could easily make up a much better story. But that would be lying under oath, and I've watched enough JAG to understand that's a bad thing." But I just said, "Yes, Your Honor."
The judge said, "Well this is easy. You're guilty as sin, young lady."
I said, "Yes, Your Honor, I am."
The judge looked at me like I was nuts and said, "So why are you here?"
"To be perfectly honest, Your Honor, I was hoping Mr. State Trooper to my right here wouldn't show tonight."
"What made you think that? Our troopers always show in court."
The judge had succeeded in making me feel like a dolt. "I wasn't aware of that, Your Honor."
The judge proceeded to take me to the cleaners about how I could have gotten in an accident and blah blah blah. I mean honestly. I took driver's ed. I have a mother who gave me this same speech.
The ticket was reduced "against Mr. State Trooper's best judgment" from $250 to $200. Better than nothing, I suppose. Now I just have to wait for my next hearing date for that ticket I got on the Mass Pike. And hope I don't get a ticket for not having a parking pass when I start bio at UNH on Monday.
So yes, the trooper who busted me showed. I thought I got off because there were 3 other people there contesting speeding tickets. All the other officers called them out to the hall prior to their trial and negotiated a bit. Mine didn't. I thought he wasn't there, but I was wrong.
Anyhoo, the judge was really nice to everyone except me. When I went up to trial the officer gave his testimony, which consisted largely of his expertise in using a laser. That might have been relevant had I been trying to contest the fact that I was speeding. My testimony consisted of "I was speeding, I shouldn't have been, but I had to get to school on time. I'm at your mercy."
The judge said, "Is that th best you can do?"
I wanted to say, "No, Your Honor. I could easily make up a much better story. But that would be lying under oath, and I've watched enough JAG to understand that's a bad thing." But I just said, "Yes, Your Honor."
The judge said, "Well this is easy. You're guilty as sin, young lady."
I said, "Yes, Your Honor, I am."
The judge looked at me like I was nuts and said, "So why are you here?"
"To be perfectly honest, Your Honor, I was hoping Mr. State Trooper to my right here wouldn't show tonight."
"What made you think that? Our troopers always show in court."
The judge had succeeded in making me feel like a dolt. "I wasn't aware of that, Your Honor."
The judge proceeded to take me to the cleaners about how I could have gotten in an accident and blah blah blah. I mean honestly. I took driver's ed. I have a mother who gave me this same speech.
The ticket was reduced "against Mr. State Trooper's best judgment" from $250 to $200. Better than nothing, I suppose. Now I just have to wait for my next hearing date for that ticket I got on the Mass Pike. And hope I don't get a ticket for not having a parking pass when I start bio at UNH on Monday.