The Peace Officers (or "wannabe" cops) are famous for giving everyone a ticket about anything and it is like they need to meet their daily quota or something as they can be all over this neighborhood looking for anyone to make a false move! Every day I see their car out here cruising around! I usually know where they are hiding if they have their radar guns loaded, but on this day (June 1st) they must have been looking for license plate stickers that expired by May 31st , as they maneuvered their car to be behind mine when I was turning a corner. Within two seconds, they lit up their siren so loud that the whole neighborhood could hear, with lights flashing. I was being chased by a cop car at a speed of 10 km per hour! I pulled aside, with neighbors looking on (rather embarrassing). But the Peace Officers like to "demonstrate their authority."
I knew I was in trouble as I just remembered my expired registration but I had not received the form in the mail yet. My strategy was to act surprised and then apologize sincerely with a promise to fix. This always worked in the past with the RCMP, who are actually quite reasonable for anything not right, such as a headlight being out. Maybe I was just lucky before since I did not have to deal with a Peace Officer.
I was pleasantly surprised to see a male coming to my truck as they are more forgiving, based on what happened to my wife earlier on another incident. But looking in my rear view mirror I could see that famous "Lady Wannabe" in the cop car who nails everybody in this neighborhood with everything, as if it is her God given right. (Well, actually it is). I am sure it was her that barked out to her buddy driver to "Get that guy! His license expired 16 hours ago! Let's get him really good!" I am sure she felt a lot better to have made her catch of the day!
So the officer came over to my truck, as you are never supposed to get out of your own vehicle (so I was told). He asked standard questions, and then made his announcement about registry expiration. I acted surprised, then sincerely apologized, but that I had not received the form and would deal with it right away. He handed me the slip of paper and said that he must fine me for...310 dollars.
“310 dollars? For a failed registration?"
I was completely shocked with the amount.
“Yup."
“Can't you give a guy a warning or something?"
“Nope. We have no choice, but if you appear in court on August 6th, they will probably reduce the charge by half."
“But I never received the form in the mail that I need to go to registry with!"
“The form does not get sent out in the mail anymore."
“Huh?"
“Nope. Just show up at Registry with your driver's license and pink card and they will take care of the rest!"
I did not look for his smile.
“Since when?"
“The decision to stop mailing the forms was made a few months ago. You should have heard about it by now."
“But how was I to know, as I was out of country and this violation is not even 24 hours old yet?"
The Peace Officer closed the argument explaining, “It is up to each person to be aware of any changes made in the process and that proper advertising of the change had taken place.”
He left without giving me a chance for further argument, since he could not hear me, as he was like a robot doing his job, with no humanitarian concerns.
What a pain this has become! What am I guilty of? Nothing! To ding me $310 is so, so unfair! I chose right then and there to plead not guilty on the day of court stating it was just an "administrative error" on my part, and since when was an administrative error a fine? Surely the justice system will be lenient with me. If they make their own mistake, do they charge themselves $310? If the fine had been $30, I probably would not have bothered...but the amount was $310! Notice I keep repeating this number! I worked hard over the next two months, searching within myself to formulate my strategy and response, so much so that if they offered to reduce the amount by half, I was going for broke and continue to press to avoid paying anything, and accept the risk that they could retract their offer, become tough and tell me to pay the whole fine, or else!
So, on the day I was to appear in court, the ticket said come anytime between 9 AM and 1 PM. I came determined! I thought I would show up earlier than 9 AM as there could be a little lineup. Well I ended up getting there 15 minutes early and about 30th in line with another 30 piling up behind me very quickly. Some tough looking dudes around me were joking, as if we were all buddies with common behavior issues. I generally kept to myself and my only comment to them kiddingly (sort of) was that I never knew there was so many criminals in this world! I noticed that some mothers standing in line brought their little children with them for the experience of witnessing first hand our justice system, and they even let them mull around the tough looking dudes. They obviously do not have a clue about anything and thus they are here! But then, what does that make me?
I found out that the first step in the process was that we had to talk to the clerk behind the glass cage, once we worked our way to the front of the line, but it took 35 minutes to get there. She asked me what I wanted to do. I did not know how to respond and so she asked me if I wanted to talk to the crown prosecutor, I said yes. She responded, “Very well then. Just wait in the foyer for your name to be called.”
So I got out of the line I was in, moved a few feet over into the crowd, and stood around like everyone else for something to happen. And I stood and stood and stood with others for an insane amount of time, with everyone's body heat causing everyone to sweat, with little air to breathe. It seemed like we were waiting for an eternity.
I saw the odd person open a door to an actual court room with a few people inside, but then no name was called. I then started to think that maybe I was supposed to go into the court room, but why was everyone standing around? I must have looked a bit perplexed and anxious and so someone in the foyer explained to me that if you have a grey form, this is a more serious offense and you need to go inside for court proceedings. But if you have a yellow form, this is not as serious, and you just have to wait...until your name is called. Good grief, I thought. If $310 was not that serious, then what was the charge for a serious offense? I know, I know, I need to keep up with the times. The person who explained to me the process must have had previous experience!
I then saw this office where a person was going in, closing the door, then coming back out and calling for the next person on the list. The sign on the door read in small letters: crown prosecutor. Well, great! I was so looking forward to going to court to plead my innocence and comment on the ridiculous fine, but instead was going into just an office to complain? I also noticed that each person going in was taking anywhere from two to fifteen minutes, but once out, they had to stand in the original line for a second time and wait their turn to get to the front again so that they could actually pay for their ticket, or else!
I started to question why was I spending hours standing in line to complain to someone in an office, but only to pay for my ticket later? I reminded myself that the Peace Officer said I should get my fine reduced by half and I was in the queue already. So, I chose to wait it out, hoping my time would come soon. Next time this happens though, I might just pay the fine to avoid the pain that I was going through. I could feel the tension and stress in the dismally lit foyer, as we were all caught up in the same process, completely hopeless to do anything but wait it out, including little kids, well tattooed barbarians, and young ladies in their highest heels... all sinners, I suppose!
Finally, after almost two hours of waiting, it was my turn to go into the office to visit with the Crown Prosecutor (so I thought). The person behind the door ended up being... just the most pretty young lady that I have seen in quite awhile, who must have been like 20 years of age at the most, so sweet and innocent! No way was she a Crown Prosecutor, but simply an employee of the system who had been given the job of dealing with ALL of the minor traffic offenses! This was probably a strategy of her employer thinking others would not be that harsh. But she was the final authority before repeal and had to listen to every argument, and despite being young enough to be my granddaughter, she was going to pass final judgement on me!
She looked a bit tense when I came in, and who would not be since she had to deal with all of those barbarians who were called in before! What a cruel, unthankful job she had! I am sure they gave her an earful and she had to stand her ground! I felt a bit sorry for her. Then I thought, wait a minute, don't forget what you are there for! But I decided I could not be that stern (poor thing), and there was no sense to vent about the waiting time. I still needed to at least tell her the facts and if I felt like it, what I thought of those Peace Officers.
After a quick hello, she told me to sit down, then pulled out my ticket. I had my Habitat for Humanity T-shirt on as part of my strategy for my "good guy" image and I think she noticed. Fortunately I did not say anything right away even though she was expecting me to start talking. This is my normal nature anyways and I lucked into that strategy. I also chose to come across as non offensive because of who she was and her current state. I just melted and let it be with whatever outcome, as I could not be that tense, which also was a very good strategy.
She then said, “So, your ticket is that you failed to register your vehicle.”
My queue to start, saying, “I understand completely that there needs to be a system in place to encourage people to re-register their vehicles on a timely basis.” Did I say that? Actually it was perfect! I could see this actually impressed her since I acknowledged the need and she mentioned later that this was always a tough sell to others. I noticed she started to open a bag so that she could munch on something.
“Sorry, but I just have not had time to get a bite in when arguing with so many people about why..."
“That is okay, I understand.”
Now she knew I was understanding. She started to relax. I now had her where I wanted her (I think). I carried on after another pause:
“For the past 46 years, I relied upon the mail system to remind me that it was time to re-register my vehicle, since they always mail the form out.” This did not seem to faze her that much, seemed almost a little bored over this comment, or maybe she thought I was not flexible for change, but I pressed on:
“This system always worked well for me in the past. But apparently the system changed just recently and I was unaware of it, despite any advertising being done, as I was out of country until recently and I never saw any advertising and..."
“The system was changed effective May 1st, when did you register?"
“June 1st. My registration expired May 31st and so was less than 24 hours."
Now I could tell that I had her attention! This gave me a glimmer of hope.
“Do you have your registration form with you?"
“No, sorry, but I have it in the car. Sorry, I never thought of bringing it with me. Not too bright of me. I can go get it if you want.”
She studied me briefly, or I suppose she sized me up and thought about what I said. Then she nodded her head and said, "I agree, as I also never saw any advertising, and quite frankly, I am quite fed up with the whole system!"
Now she was telling me what she really thought and her employer would not have liked her latest comment! She scrawled across my ticket to state "not valid," signed and slapped it on the table upside down, then announced I was done! Hey wait a minute, I thought, you cannot write me off so quickly as I had more to say! Then my inner voice said: Adrian! She agreed with you! Let it go! Stop and get out! You won!
She repeated that I could go, thinking that I did not believe her. So I said, "Thank you! Bless you! Hopefully other people standing outside will be nice to you!"
It was her turn to smile and thank me, and on that note I left! I am still in a daze and cannot believe this ordeal is over and I still have all of my $310! What a nice person she can be! As I was walking out the court house, I went past all others who were ahead of me and who failed in their attempt to win their case. I knew I was an exception and was feeling quite satisfied with what I had accomplished.
Analyzing our talk, why did I succeed whereas everyone else failed?
My response was perfect, but I confess that I swayed from my well rehearsed plan and went with my instinct.
I "knew my audience", once I became sensitive of her situation.
I did not speak my mind of negative thought.
I treated her as a person, separate from the system in place.
I showed respect although not necessarily my original intention.
I did not attack what she has to defend, since it is her job.
She did not have to show her dark side and bristle up, which was not who she wants to be. I saw her as her true self, if only given a chance.
Setting emotions aside, the fine was still unjustified based on reasonable thought.
I am no hero for my success, as things could easily have gone wrong but I did generally force myself to stay in the "moment." Doing so allowed me to also be myself for who I was intended to be.
The past cannot survive in your presence. It can only survive in your absence. - Eckhardt Tolle: "The Power of Now"
I am so thankful for having this experience to remind me of how we should act and behave since we ourselves have the power to make this world better. It starts with our self, not the system in place.
Now if I ever see that Peace Officer, I will have to refrain from venting and practice diplomacy since who knows what they would come up with for another charge! If only they could actually see what they are putting people through for nothing, then maybe they would try to make this world a better place themselves, instead of wasting everyone's time.