My Day in Court

Yesterday I spent part of my morning at the County Courthouse. Up until a month and a half ago, I had failed to switch my license to a Virginia one and was told by the policeman who caught me that I could get the fine dropped if I simply showed up to court and showed the judge my new VA license. Seemed simple and harmless enough.

I'm sure it is the influence that "Law & Order" exerts in my life (and each of yours... admit it!), or the heartfelt desire to please you as the reader with some blogworthy material, but I was disappointed that it really was that seamless and undramatic. Quite the letdown.

Honestly, I don't view myself as a demanding or particular person, but where was the wife-beater male chauvinist who went on a misogynistic tirade at the judge because she was a woman? Where was the Russian mafia drug dealer headbutting the bailiff? Why wasn't I handcuffed in a metal chair next to some lowlife who reaked of urine and gasoline, asking "what're you in for...murder?" Why wasn't Jack McCoy -- or Sam Waterston...in character or out, that guy is intimidating, legally speaking -- and his oddly attractive assistant prosecuting me for trampling the rights of the People by violating the law? If I'm going to be in court, I expect something more.

I got nothing. Me saying "your Honor" three times, showing my new license, and a waived fine. The most intimidated I felt was when I walked towards the bench and wasn't sure if I had zipped up my fly or not. I know. Lame, right?

Notable end to my otherwise bland outing to the courthouse, however. The parking garage had me take a ticket upon entering and then pay in cash at an automated machine afterward before I left. The parking fee was $1. All I had was a $20 bill. What does the machine do? It spits 19 $1 bills back at me.

I don't know what to do with it. It's embarrassing to carry around or have in my car. Ugh.