It is not all bad:
I had a meeting in New York years ago. I decided to take the Metro to Union Station and then ride the rails to New York. The meeting was in Manhattan and it is so much easier to take the train.
A good friend from college also lives in Manhattan and we planned on booming the day after my meeting (Friday night).
The fun begins because I forgot to attach my new license plate sticker to my car before I left on the trip. No excuse offered.
I'm gone three days.
When I get to my car at the Metro, there are
seven tickets under the windshield wiper on my car, all for the same offense: expired tags.
I get the fact that I'm at fault, but SEVEN tickets!?!
The kicker is that three of the tickets are from one county in Maryland, the remaining are from the Maryland State Troopers.
I decide to fight the tickets and show up in county court to work the first of the three tickets written by Charles County's finest. I was still active duty then so I wear the uniform (can't hurt). My name comes up. I stand up and the Judge immediately says, "All charges dismissed, thanks for your service, Captain, sorry we wasted your time."
I thank him but mention there are two other tickets written for the same offense but the court dates
are all different. He laughs, says wait until the end of the session and we'll work it.
He directs me to a separate seating area. I am happy to wait since I just saved over $250.00 clams in ticket fees.
He is really good at his job, keeps the flow going with humor and a fair hand. The docket is cleared in about 30 minutes.
I am the last of the great unwashed in the courtroom. The Judge and I chat a bit, trade war stories (he was an enlisted Marine in Vietnam) and then get to the heart of the matter.
I offer to pay the first ticket since it was my error. He mentions with a smile that he may make me pay for all three tickets because I'm stupid. His clerk arrives and all is well.
"Anything else", he asks.
"I have four other tickets for the same offense, Sir, written by MD Troopers." Heh, I'm on a roll...never question a streak.
He is absolutely nonplussed. He calls his clerk back in.
"Can you fix this?"
The clerk gives me the stare but takes the other tickets from me, asks that I don't go anywhere and polity reminds the Judge that he has a lot better things to do than kibitz with me.
The Judge bolts and the clerk goes though the side door returns ten minutes later.
Every bureaucracy has certain cogs that make the sad machine run. The clerk is one such cog: All seven tickets are expunged or otherwise non-issues.
I fought the law and the clerk won.
