"You're too clean, son."
May. 23rd, 2006 11:03 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lemasquegrisSo I went to Palo Alto Traffic court today. I was afraid I was going to be late, since I (as I always do) underestimated traffic on Page Mill @ 8:52 AM. My court appearance was for 9am. So I called , to see if I could grovel for forgiveness in order to avoid an FTA. By the time a clerk answered, I told him I was just parking my car and walking to the courthouse and he said "Don't sweat it, they're barely getting started."
O..K..
So, I get up there, go into the courthouse, and the bailiff was going over some ground rules, things certain people have to fill out, what to do if you need a translator (which amused me since it was in English), and so on. Around..oh.. 9:18, the judge showed. Then went over his list of items to make known. 9:28 is when the 1st case was heard I would say.
As I was waiting, I looked around. Few people dressed up, biz casual, most people were in jeans and shirts, and the judge didn't give anyone better or worse attention regardless. Which in a way, made me happy. I just wish I knew so I didn't have to wear the black clothes os Rico Suave Doom today. I also noticed a lot of violations stemmed back 2, 3, 4, even 7 years! Wow. And it seemed like, at least in this court with this judge, that if you show up, express a willingness to do right, he'll take dismiss charges and knock down the fines for you, just to clear your record up in order to drive. I suppose giving people a vehicular break will allow them to get back on their feet, go work, do good, ad be productive members of society, and so long as not felonies were committed or people hurt, just get people past this hump as quickly as possible.
He finally called my name, read the ticket and asked what I wanted. I told him I wanted to be allowed to go to school even though it's been less than 18 months. He said records show that I could, but I said I've been to school once in that window, then he said there's nothing he could do, so he gave me the lowest charge and a reduced fine. ($160 as opposed to $210) I asked if there was any way, because I didn't want my insurance to go up. He said "Son you record's clean. 1 point won't make a difference. If they raise your rates, you're getting ripped off, find another carrier. You're too clean to be coming in here, son."
"Ok, I'll keep that in mind. Thank you your honor."
Who knows if that will be true. But, at least I paid a smaller fine, and I don't need to go to school. I'll let you know about my insurance as it happens.
Too clean to be in court...kind of a smack in the face to everyone else in there...well, I'd like to thank Gillette Fusion Power blade for making my face "too clean" for court.
O..K..
So, I get up there, go into the courthouse, and the bailiff was going over some ground rules, things certain people have to fill out, what to do if you need a translator (which amused me since it was in English), and so on. Around..oh.. 9:18, the judge showed. Then went over his list of items to make known. 9:28 is when the 1st case was heard I would say.
As I was waiting, I looked around. Few people dressed up, biz casual, most people were in jeans and shirts, and the judge didn't give anyone better or worse attention regardless. Which in a way, made me happy. I just wish I knew so I didn't have to wear the black clothes os Rico Suave Doom today. I also noticed a lot of violations stemmed back 2, 3, 4, even 7 years! Wow. And it seemed like, at least in this court with this judge, that if you show up, express a willingness to do right, he'll take dismiss charges and knock down the fines for you, just to clear your record up in order to drive. I suppose giving people a vehicular break will allow them to get back on their feet, go work, do good, ad be productive members of society, and so long as not felonies were committed or people hurt, just get people past this hump as quickly as possible.
He finally called my name, read the ticket and asked what I wanted. I told him I wanted to be allowed to go to school even though it's been less than 18 months. He said records show that I could, but I said I've been to school once in that window, then he said there's nothing he could do, so he gave me the lowest charge and a reduced fine. ($160 as opposed to $210) I asked if there was any way, because I didn't want my insurance to go up. He said "Son you record's clean. 1 point won't make a difference. If they raise your rates, you're getting ripped off, find another carrier. You're too clean to be coming in here, son."
"Ok, I'll keep that in mind. Thank you your honor."
Who knows if that will be true. But, at least I paid a smaller fine, and I don't need to go to school. I'll let you know about my insurance as it happens.
Too clean to be in court...kind of a smack in the face to everyone else in there...well, I'd like to thank Gillette Fusion Power blade for making my face "too clean" for court.
