about his suspended driver’s license
So the worst trouble I’ve been in was forgetting to pay a ticket, get pulled over later, and informed my license was suspended for that (as well as a warrant).
Doh.
I went to the original place I got my first ticket, paid it, and got a letter to send in to the state (That place was weird. They would not let you into the court house with your phone or computer. Sheriff dude running the metal detector was a dick about it. So I had to leave them in my trunk and hope for the best. They also had this crazy anti drug poster with some weird mascot. I wish I had my phone so I could have taken a pic of it!)
Anyway, so first ticket taken care of, paper work sent in that should re-instate my license.
I can’t remember if I had a 2nd speeding ticket, or if the cop just gave me a warning on that, but I had the ticket for driving while suspend - which on paper - can be a life altering charge. I decided to not fuck around with it and found a local lawyer who specialized in traffic tickets. I think it cost me like $300 bucks for him to handle it. On the day of the court case, he basically per-arranged for me to plea to some non-moving violation and pay a fine. My interaction with the judge was a few "yes"s. I remember her saying something that I felt was a bit condescending to me, something like, “I think this is a good outcome for you.”
Good outcome? Like this whole thing didn’t feel like extortion? I had to pay a guy so that you would let me plea down an offense and just pay a fine so you don’t ruin my life and take away my license? I guess that IS a good outcome considering the alternative. Thank you!
That whole time I was in line to pay the fine I was like, "Man, if I didn’t have access to that $300 (or what ever it was) for the lawyer I would be fucked. I have doubts that judge would have been so generous if I had gone in myself, said I was sorry, and showed that I paid the fine and got re-instated. (Maybe she would have, but did I want to take that chance if I didn’t have to?)
Anyway - TBC, It was my fault for not adulting and not paying the ticket. But the system seems too damn perilous over traffic tickets.
Yeah, that’s ridiculous. I hope it’s reduced when cooler heads review it.
