Part II: Face the Judge
So, I didn't have my driver's license in my possession as of April 26, but everything was fine because I still had my passport and my driving privileges. I remember slightly worrying about what would happen at my court date on June 2, but not enough to deeply concern me.
In fact, I was so *not* concerned that I (unintentionally) missed the first court date.
Why? Because I was on a spontaneous road trip/tour up and down the east coast with Shane and some of his musician friends from U of I during my birthday week.
You'd think landscape photos wouldn't be that interesting, but here are some nice ones from the road that otherwise would have fallen by the wayside...
The emerald city.
Multitasking.
Pennsylvania welcomes you...with a speed reduction?
Tell me you can see the warped smiley face here. =D
On one of the most life-changing, impulsive "vacation" experiences of all time (as in I bought a plane ticket and flew out eight hours later), the drama and excitement and happenstance was so intense that all cares or worries back home in the Land of Lincoln were the furthest thing from my mind. Work? Who needs it. Take some time off. School? Summer break, bitches!
I'm all about experiences. Not saying that people should neglect responsibilities, but we should remember to loosen up and live...life is too short to get too caught up in the banality of the day-to-day and forget how important meaningful experiences are. I'm glad I went.
We ended up staying out there an extra day and were driving back to Illinois on the morning of my scheduled court appearance. Oops?
The week after our return when I realized what I'd done, I frantically called the Clerk of the Circuit Court, worried that I had a warrant out for my arrest or something worse.
They easily gave me a continuance to July, and I was fine. Again, no worries. Things generally work out for the best in my life, I've found, even when I fuck up.
Finally, that fateful day rolled around. Face the judge! I knew I was in trouble, especially since it was my second offense. I just didn't know how much it would cost me. I had purchased insurance on May 9, so I basically did all I could do and went to court with the mindset that I would just accept whatever was dished to me, even if it was a couple thousand bucks. I'd figure it out as always--why freak out about something you can't change?
As I sat in the courtroom waiting for the session to begin, I wrote the following in my moleskine. Note the little map:
"1:22 p.m. Wed. July 9. The Day.
CL-05 looks just like all the other CLs I've ever been in. Boring! I'd HATE to work for the government. Should I be writing this in a courtroom? While sitting on the same bench as a cop? I'm such a deviant. I just don't like rules. Esp. Amrca's rules. I should only abide by universal laws (but not Murphy's law) because I'm a citizen of the world. That's what my ID/passport address should say:
Charlotte Mutesha
0248 The World
Universe, Intergalactic
To Infinity and Beyond
We just did the "all rise" thing.
The judge smiled & seems friendly.
...Maybe he'll...be nice?
Stupid cops talking about Summerfest.
Continued...1:48 p.m.
Um. I win!
Well, I love $625, BUT not until December, and I can still drive.
And the cashier lady just told me I could always just go buy another license at the Sec. of State if I wanted to. So funny.
That was honestly the most painless thing I've ever done.
Wow.
Thank GOD."
When I'd approached the bench, I told the judge I did not have insurance on the date of my citation. The public "prosecutor," a scrawny dude who couldn't have been more than 27 and acted so self-important, butted in, "Sir, since this is a second offense and the penalty is going to be so high, we move to dismiss the one-way ticket in response to her guilty plea."
Oh, how kind of you. Who the hell is the "we" you speak of?
So I was psyching myself out, thinking I'd have a fine of around $1500, but the judge simply told me to keep my insurance and come back in December to pay the $625 fine and all would be cleared. Easy enough!
I couldn't believe that had all been so simple. And to think, I'd even worn a blazer! Psh.
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