The right to a slow-ass trial
(Ignore the roads since it is almost certain you won't know where they are. But if you want to follow along, here's a link to the maps. I'm starting at the intersection of Ridge Road and Torrence Avenue in Lansing, Illinois. Scroll east to see where I went.)
On June 22, I was driving home from a morning of filling out and picking up applications (the last was for a police dispatcher's job in Park Forest, Illinois) when I decided to take Ridge Road east from Torrence Avenue, a road I hadn't been on in years. As it was noon, and hence lunchtime, there was a lot of traffic, in which were two beverage delivery trucks and an inordinate amount of people not willing to pass the semi-trucks. (I wanted to because I couldn't see as they were in two different lanes.) After about three or four miles, I finally had some opportunity to pass one of the trucks which would at least give me one clear lane. I moved to a car length from the truck to get around another slow driver in a car before I could pass the truck near the intersection with White Oak Avenue. The last time I saw the light for about five seconds, it was green. I followed the truck and noticed that the car next to me stopped. When I finally saw the light again, it was red. I was too near the intersection to make a safe stop before I entered it, so I decided to keep going. I had noticed the cop on northbound White Oak, and I figured he'd pull me over (correctly, I'll admit, as I did run the light), but that I'll be able to talk to him like a reasonable person, he'll understand that the truck's trailer obscured my view and that I'd be free to go. Of course, I forgot that cops' goals are to make more money for their jurisdictions.
I explain to him pretty much what I said above; the light was green when I last saw it, once I saw it was red I didn't feel it was safe to stop, etc. He ran my license through the system and saw I had no points. (I hate paying taxes; why do I want to give them more money to pour down the rathole?) Nonetheless, he came back with a ticket. I explain what I saw to him again; he insisted I "blew the light pretty badly". After pleading my case again (along with the fact I wouldn't be able to pay the fine, as I was then looking for work and the last thing I would do is accumulate more things I can't pay), he asked me what would have happened if someone had been in the intersection. I understood at that point he wasn't going to be reasonable, because, well, if the truck was in the intersection, no one on White Oak could have been in the intersection when I got there, and if there was someone in the intersection when I got there, it would have been clear to me the light on Ridge Road was red, but if I had seen a car in front of me, I would have seen the light, because there wouldn't have been a truck in the way, and I would have known that the goddamn light was red! **clears throat** Sorry. Where was I?
So, anyway, the cop gives me the ticket and a sheet that shows my three options. He tells me two of them, that I can pay the ticket (which is $135) or I can go to an eight-hour defensive driving class (which is $150, but the points don't appear on the license) and that I have thirty days to decide. By this time I'm silently hoping one of the passing cars runs him over. As I thought I was right, I decided to go with the third, cop-unmentioned option: defend myself in court.
Well, thirty days pass by, and I hear nothing. Finally, during the last week of July, I receive a letter from the Town of Munster telling me I have until August 10th to pay or civil charges will be filed(saying that in their experience, many people meant to plead guilty that ended up summoned to court). There's nothing for another month. The first week of September, I finally get a letter stating that my initial hearing will be today, October 5. There are a number of bench trials and then pleas before they get to me. I pled not guilty, and was informed my hearing would be December 7, to inform the cop of the trial date. (If I had to be there or face a suspended license or arrest, why didn't the cop have to be there? They only have hearing dates once a month, and it's not like they have a shortage in the force.)
So because of this asshole cop who claims I could have stopped even though I couldn't see the traffic light, I have to wait at least five and a half months to get it resolved.
If I weren't already cynical about government, I would be now.
On June 22, I was driving home from a morning of filling out and picking up applications (the last was for a police dispatcher's job in Park Forest, Illinois) when I decided to take Ridge Road east from Torrence Avenue, a road I hadn't been on in years. As it was noon, and hence lunchtime, there was a lot of traffic, in which were two beverage delivery trucks and an inordinate amount of people not willing to pass the semi-trucks. (I wanted to because I couldn't see as they were in two different lanes.) After about three or four miles, I finally had some opportunity to pass one of the trucks which would at least give me one clear lane. I moved to a car length from the truck to get around another slow driver in a car before I could pass the truck near the intersection with White Oak Avenue. The last time I saw the light for about five seconds, it was green. I followed the truck and noticed that the car next to me stopped. When I finally saw the light again, it was red. I was too near the intersection to make a safe stop before I entered it, so I decided to keep going. I had noticed the cop on northbound White Oak, and I figured he'd pull me over (correctly, I'll admit, as I did run the light), but that I'll be able to talk to him like a reasonable person, he'll understand that the truck's trailer obscured my view and that I'd be free to go. Of course, I forgot that cops' goals are to make more money for their jurisdictions.
I explain to him pretty much what I said above; the light was green when I last saw it, once I saw it was red I didn't feel it was safe to stop, etc. He ran my license through the system and saw I had no points. (I hate paying taxes; why do I want to give them more money to pour down the rathole?) Nonetheless, he came back with a ticket. I explain what I saw to him again; he insisted I "blew the light pretty badly". After pleading my case again (along with the fact I wouldn't be able to pay the fine, as I was then looking for work and the last thing I would do is accumulate more things I can't pay), he asked me what would have happened if someone had been in the intersection. I understood at that point he wasn't going to be reasonable, because, well, if the truck was in the intersection, no one on White Oak could have been in the intersection when I got there, and if there was someone in the intersection when I got there, it would have been clear to me the light on Ridge Road was red, but if I had seen a car in front of me, I would have seen the light, because there wouldn't have been a truck in the way, and I would have known that the goddamn light was red! **clears throat** Sorry. Where was I?
So, anyway, the cop gives me the ticket and a sheet that shows my three options. He tells me two of them, that I can pay the ticket (which is $135) or I can go to an eight-hour defensive driving class (which is $150, but the points don't appear on the license) and that I have thirty days to decide. By this time I'm silently hoping one of the passing cars runs him over. As I thought I was right, I decided to go with the third, cop-unmentioned option: defend myself in court.
Well, thirty days pass by, and I hear nothing. Finally, during the last week of July, I receive a letter from the Town of Munster telling me I have until August 10th to pay or civil charges will be filed(saying that in their experience, many people meant to plead guilty that ended up summoned to court). There's nothing for another month. The first week of September, I finally get a letter stating that my initial hearing will be today, October 5. There are a number of bench trials and then pleas before they get to me. I pled not guilty, and was informed my hearing would be December 7, to inform the cop of the trial date. (If I had to be there or face a suspended license or arrest, why didn't the cop have to be there? They only have hearing dates once a month, and it's not like they have a shortage in the force.)
So because of this asshole cop who claims I could have stopped even though I couldn't see the traffic light, I have to wait at least five and a half months to get it resolved.
If I weren't already cynical about government, I would be now.