I was recently stopped by local police with nothing better to do on a weekday morning than to park in a median outside a Wal*Mart and videotape people pulling away from a Stop Sign. I was quite annoyed with the stop, and made my displeasure known. I’m certain my belligerent attitude ensured that I got the maximum penalty for failing to hold Stop Signs in high regard. But I made sure to give the officer a piece of my mind, telling him that I know there’s no real crime in our town, but that doesn’t give him the right to harass people, waste their time and take their money. I told him in no uncertain terms that I would see him in court and there was no way in hell I’d be paying $232.50.
I arrived in court today and watched several people before me plead guilty or no contest and ask for reduced fines, which the judge was freely granting. Feeling slightly intimidated that the officer’s videotape may show me doing what some call a California Stop at the intersection in question, I hedged my bets and decided to offer the court a No Contest plea in exchange for a reduced fine. Much to my surprise, the officer indicated that he could not support that for this particular case! Clearly my remarks to him on the day in question regarding his crime-fighting had left a mark.
We proceeded to watch the video and I immediately saw an improvement in my chances of success as my car could barely be made out and the distance was such that the evidence was compelling of exactly nothing at all. I took the opportunity as we watched to offer my explanation of events to the judge. Interestingly, and to confirm my suspicion that my attitude was really the officer’s concern, and not my treating the Stop Sign as more of a Yield sign, he kept the video rolling to the actual stop and I could hear myself begin to argue with the officer. The judge looked up and said, “shut that off please.” And just like that, my character was spared the attempted assassination the officer was aiming for.
As the judge read the Statute, I should have rolled the dice, plead Not Guilty, and asked for a Jury Trial. There’s no way a jury of my peers would find the police’s evidence compelling of a crime. Instead, I took the opportunity to end it right then and there, reiterated my willingness to compromise and the judge took me up on it. I saved a little money, beat the officer at his little game, and exited with my head held high. I treated myself to some Rage Against the Machine and reveled in the victory.
As time has passed, I can’t help but replay the moment in my mind and wonder if I should have risked the trial. I clearly won a minor victory; not a complete one. The officer wanted the maximum penalty and he didn’t get it. But I also didn’t get the complete exoneration I might have gotten had I pressed on. In the end, I think it’s a satisfactory conclusion as in all fairness, I did not come to a complete stop because it was pointless to do so with a clear road before me. Perhaps a No Contest with a reduced fine is the appropriate punishment for the crime. I will hang on to my small victory over The Man, who over-zealously played his hand and lost to reason and compromise.
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