Okay, I'll admit to beating the system, but I wasn't trying to be clever like the reaper.
I was driving my Jeep where I wasn't supposed to, and got caught by a police officer. He took down all of my information and told me that I would be getting a court summons. About a week later, a squad car paid me a visit at home and delivered a summons to state criminal court. Sounded odd, but I had a plan: Plead guilty and pay the fine and not do that again.
I showed up to court early, this was my first time in a court room, and had a seat until my name was called. The clerk handed the judge my file and I was called before the judge. I approached this stand where a bailiff motioned me. The bailiff was standing at my side. Apparently there was some confusion, since the judge called the clerk back and they had a short discussion. After a few moments the judge asked my name and address, and stated that I was being charged with violating state park rule #7. He asked me if aware of the charge. Well, that's what it said on my summons, so I told the judge "yes." The bailiff whispered into my ear, "your honor", and I quickly blurted out "your honor." The judge paused for a moment to think about something, then he asked me how did I plead? I said, "I plead guilty." The bailiff again whispered into my ear, and I again blurted out "your honor." My answer seemed to cause some concern for the judge, but my nervousness was cause for amusement in the gallery. He thought a little bit, and asked me if I knew what park rule #7 was? I told him, "I think so." Again the bailiff, and again I blurted "your honor." A few people in the audience started to chuckle aloud. The judge told me that I couldn't plead guilty if I wasn't positive to what park rule #7 stated. He said that I needed to get some legal counsel and that he would set a date for a jury trial. Of course, I was about to panic. I told the judge that I would prefer to plead guilty. Bailiff again, "your honor" again, laughter again. The judge appeared to become uncomfortable with the situation. He expalined to me again that I couldn't plead guilty to crime without being fully aware of what the crime and what its ensuing penalty entailed. Again, I told him I just wanted to "plead guilty", bailiff, your honor, laughter. The judge now was becoming upset, asked me to recite park rule #7. I said it had something to do with operating vehicle on proper roadways. Bailiff, your honor, laughter. The judge seemingly rising out of his chair asked me what should the penalty for such a crime be? I told him I thought a couple of hundred dollars would be appropiate. Bailiff, your honor, laughter. He sat back down took a deep breadth and regained his composure. He stated obviously that I couldn't plead guilty to a crime the didn't really understand and that I would need counsel and a proper jury trial. My heart dropped again, and I asked the judge, "can't I just plead guilty and pay the fine?" Now before the bailiff could get a your honor into my ear the judge slammed down his gavel and said case dismissed. The bailiff then whispered "thank you your honor" I quickly blurted out a "thank you your honor." The last burst of laughter. The bailiff then told me to get out of there, and I walked out of the court room a confused 19yr old, not really sure what just happened, but I quickly realized the thousand dollars in my pocket, my entire savings, would be going home with me, and not into the Treasury of the State of Massachusetts. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
It took me a while to figure out what happened. If I look back and think what would of happened if I listened to the judge, or thought I was clever enough to fight the charge, I bet I would have been out a whole lot more money than I carried into the court room that day.
BTW, that was the last time I was in a court room. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
