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Author Topic: bad day resolution  (Read 2898 times)

Offline jeffy

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bad day resolution
« on: May 11, 2011, 07:41:37 pm »
Back on April 6, as you may remember, I was given a citation for "driving with an improper tag" which I was told by the officer was a felony misdemeanor.  Turns out it is a 2nd degree misdemeanor and I had my court date yesterday.
My sister-in-law, a judge in N.C., recommended I dress well because she's always impressed by people showing respect, so I wore a coat and tie.  I was the best dressed person at traffic court yesterday, with the possible exception of the translator.  The whole room was filled with people wearing t-shirts and baggy blue-jeans.
They had about 100 people in the courtroom, but the judge announced that they were going to go through 261 cases in the afternoon.  So, starting pretty promptly at 1:45, they did all the cases that required interpreters first.  Mostly driving without a license, but there were a couple leaving the scene of an accident and dui's.  One kid was handcuffed and sent to jail.
After the Spanish iteration of traffic court, my turn came up, I plead guilty and got a chance to explain my situation briefly, showed that I had obtained the proper documentation and I was out of there with court costs.  $265.

It's a whole 'nother world out there.  Takes a real hit to your relative self worth.
Jeff Gladish, Tampa (989.3, 175.1 Apparent Rennarian)
Homebrewing since 1990
AHA member since 1991, now a lifetime member
BJCP judge since 1995

ccarlson

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Re: bad day resolution
« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2011, 07:47:59 pm »
They got some of your money and that's what it was all about. I wonder if they checked the citizenship of those that needed interpreters? I'm guessing not.

Offline MrNate

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Re: bad day resolution
« Reply #2 on: May 11, 2011, 07:59:40 pm »
It's funny, at the local DMV here they have state troopers in a back room. Every person that comes to the counter, they check for proper documentation and outstanding warrants. I've seen someone escorted out in bracelets nearly every time I've been there.

I haven't always been the most law-abiding citizen, but for some reason that just makes me feel like my tax money actually goes somewhere.
“If one's actions are honest, one does not need the predated confidence of others, only their rational perception.”

Offline bluesman

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Re: bad day resolution
« Reply #3 on: May 11, 2011, 08:01:31 pm »
I've been through a similiar situation and it's a stressful one. I'll bet your glad that you're past all of this now. It can really reduce you to a much smaller size human being.

Now you can RDWHAHB.  :)
Ron Price

Offline jeffy

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Re: bad day resolution
« Reply #4 on: May 11, 2011, 08:06:11 pm »
I've been through a similiar situation and it's a stressful one. I'll bet your glad that you're past all of this now. It can really reduce you to a much smaller size human being.

Now you can RDWHAHB.  :)
Yep, I've been stressed for several days, reaching a peak yesterday.  It really wears you out.
I'm having a fresh dry-hopped strong hopfenweisse as we type.
Jeff Gladish, Tampa (989.3, 175.1 Apparent Rennarian)
Homebrewing since 1990
AHA member since 1991, now a lifetime member
BJCP judge since 1995

Offline euge

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Re: bad day resolution
« Reply #5 on: May 11, 2011, 08:08:56 pm »
How in the hell can there be a felony misdemeanor? Unless I'm mistaken that cop must be an idiot. Got a speeding ticket on Ft. Sam Houston and the officer told me my court date was in two weeks. It actually was 3 months and at the Federal courthouse. Moron. I expected the book to be thrown at me but after explaining my case to the judge he let me off with $20 fee and nothing on my record. ;D I guess it's better to get a ticket in a Federal jurisdiction... If it had been in the city's traffic courts the ticket probably would have cost me $300 and been reported to my insurance provider.
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

Laws are spider-webs, which catch the little flies, but cannot hold the big ones. -Anacharsis

Offline kgs

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Re: bad day resolution
« Reply #6 on: May 11, 2011, 08:41:59 pm »
I've been through a similiar situation and it's a stressful one. I'll bet your glad that you're past all of this now. It can really reduce you to a much smaller size human being.

Now you can RDWHAHB.  :)
Yep, I've been stressed for several days, reaching a peak yesterday.  It really wears you out.
I'm having a fresh dry-hopped strong hopfenweisse as we type.

I really appreciate how during a stressful situation you were aware of the people around you and what was happening to them. Enjoy your homebrew and thank you for sharing your observations.
K.G. Schneider
AHA Member

narvin

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Re: bad day resolution
« Reply #7 on: May 11, 2011, 10:00:10 pm »
I've only been in front of the judge for speeding tickets, but they don't seem to even care.  Plead guilty, "Is your record clean?", "Yes Sir", probation before judgement, points suspended, fine + court costs.  It's like they're reading from a script.

However, my friend had his license suspended for not paying an out of state ticket (damn Ohio) and only found out after he was pulled over, arrested, and had to spend a night in central booking in the city.  I think he also ended up with nothing more than a fine, but he had to hire a lawyer who also made some money off of him.

Offline tschmidlin

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Re: bad day resolution
« Reply #8 on: May 11, 2011, 10:19:58 pm »
Glad it's worked out Jeff, it must be a real relief.
Tom Schmidlin

Offline MrNate

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Re: bad day resolution
« Reply #9 on: May 11, 2011, 11:05:05 pm »
I've only been in front of the judge for speeding tickets, but they don't seem to even care.  Plead guilty, "Is your record clean?", "Yes Sir", probation before judgement, points suspended, fine + court costs.  It's like they're reading from a script.

However, my friend had his license suspended for not paying an out of state ticket (damn Ohio) and only found out after he was pulled over, arrested, and had to spend a night in central booking in the city.  I think he also ended up with nothing more than a fine, but he had to hire a lawyer who also made some money off of him.

I sat through court one day and saw this. Clean record? On your way. When It was my turn, I got a royal butt chewing. Then PBJ.
“If one's actions are honest, one does not need the predated confidence of others, only their rational perception.”

Offline tschmidlin

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Re: bad day resolution
« Reply #10 on: May 11, 2011, 11:33:11 pm »
I sat through court one day and saw this. Clean record? On your way. When It was my turn, I got a royal butt chewing. Then PBJ.
I think it is awesome that the judge gave you a sandwich after yelling at you.  ;)
Tom Schmidlin

Offline punatic

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Re: bad day resolution
« Reply #11 on: May 12, 2011, 12:10:19 am »
I sat through court one day and saw this. Clean record? On your way. When It was my turn, I got a royal butt chewing. Then PBJ.
I think it is awesome that the judge gave you a sandwich after yelling at you.  ;)

Would that be PB & J?

Don't let it bother you too much Jeff.  The smell wears off pretty quick.

I hate everything to do with the court system.  Bureaucrats treating everyone like they are dips***s.  I had jury duty every year after I registered to vote in 1973.  Never got seated on a jury because when we got to the voir dire part I never hid my contempt for the Orlando Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff Office. 

I do not dislike police.  I have several good friends on the Hawaii County Police Department.  I just dislike the OPD and the OCSO.  Arrogant a-holes.
« Last Edit: May 12, 2011, 12:21:40 am by punatic »
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Offline phillamb168

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Re: bad day resolution
« Reply #12 on: May 12, 2011, 12:52:53 am »
I sat through court one day and saw this. Clean record? On your way. When It was my turn, I got a royal butt chewing. Then PBJ.
I think it is awesome that the judge gave you a sandwich after yelling at you.  ;)

Would that be PB & J?

Don't let it bother you too much Jeff.  The smell wears off pretty quick.

I hate everything to do with the court system.  Bureaucrats treating everyone like they are dips***s.  I had jury duty every year after I registered to vote in 1973.  Never got seated on a jury because when we got to the voir dire part I never hid my contempt for the Orlando Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff Office. 

I do not dislike police.  I have several good friends on the Hawaii County Police Department.  I just dislike the OPD and the OCSO.  Arrogant a-holes.

Having lived in Tampa for several years I can assure you that this phenomenon is not localized to Orlando. I think it's a Florida/Alabama/Mississippi thing.
I'm on twitter: phillamb168
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Offline phillamb168

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Re: bad day resolution
« Reply #13 on: May 12, 2011, 12:54:11 am »
They got some of your money and that's what it was all about. I wonder if they checked the citizenship of those that needed interpreters? I'm guessing not.

 ::)

Because citizenship is a requirement for being in the US? I don't think so. That's towing the 'no racism' line pretty damn close.
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Offline punatic

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Re: bad day resolution
« Reply #14 on: May 12, 2011, 01:43:36 am »
I sat through court one day and saw this. Clean record? On your way. When It was my turn, I got a royal butt chewing. Then PBJ.
I think it is awesome that the judge gave you a sandwich after yelling at you.  ;)

Would that be PB & J?

Don't let it bother you too much Jeff.  The smell wears off pretty quick.

I hate everything to do with the court system.  Bureaucrats treating everyone like they are dips***s.  I had jury duty every year after I registered to vote in 1973.  Never got seated on a jury because when we got to the voir dire part I never hid my contempt for the Orlando Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff Office.  

I do not dislike police.  I have several good friends on the Hawaii County Police Department.  I just dislike the OPD and the OCSO.  Arrogant a-holes.

Having lived in Tampa for several years I can assure you that this phenomenon is not localized to Orlando. I think it's a Florida/Alabama/Mississippi thing.

Never had a problem with the Florida Highway Patrol.  Got more than one ticket from them for speeding, but the troopers were always professional and respectful.  Several times they let me off with warnings.
« Last Edit: May 12, 2011, 01:47:47 am by punatic »
There is only one success: to be able to spend your life in your own way.


AHA Life Member #33907