SusanLCD
08-03-2012, 12:00 AM
Some weeks ago, I posted a message about getting a ticket for "running a stop sign." The ticket has the comment "Crossdresser" written on it and many of you responded with feedback and opinions. Thank you very much for that support.
A few have asked me about the result. And, it may be helpful to others. So, here's how it played out. (It's lengthy, so, I won't be offended if you choose to spend your time elsewhere.)
In late June, I went to the courthouse and plead "not guilty." This cost nothing beyond 2 hours of my time. Any other plea (no contest or guilty) results in paying the court costs ($112) and fine ($160?). A "not guilty" plea got me a court date of 7/24 for my case. I realized that, if my case went to trial, I would be found guilty because it would be my word against the officer's. But, being unemployed, I wanted to preserve as much of my funds as possible for as long as possible.
In early July, I visited the same court to observe the processing of similar cases. I saw that most people were represented by attorneys; some were not. For those that had attorneys, the attorney met with the Prosecutor and made whatever arrangements had been agreed with their clients. Those without a lawyer sat with the Prosecutor and made the best bargain they could for themselves. It seemed to me that a lawyer was inexpensive insurance (about $45 for this type of case). I mentally selected one that appeared to be working energetically for his clients. (Hired him, later.)
On that day, all of the cases were either dismissed or a plea bargain was reached with the Prosecutor. (Dismissed means "not guilty" and no costs. Plea bargain means being found guilty and paying the costs and fine. Then, defensive driving or deferred adjudication are options to keep it off the driving record.) I saw no one "going to trial."
When my day in court came, I showed up (en drab, by the way) at the appointed time and sat among the other 25 or so defendants. I looked for (but, never saw) my attorney. The court convened and roll was called for the docket. Then, paperwork processing ensued among Prosecutor, attorneys, bailiff, judge, et al for about 45 minutes. During that time, various people shuffled in and out of the courtroom, but, none of that involved me. Just lots of people doing their jobs.
Then, after about an hour, the judge began calling names of the defendants, one by one. Each filed to the front of the court and spoke with the bailiff. My name was early in the roster and when it was called, the bailiff asked me if I was represented by an attorney. I said yes, although I hadn't seen him, yet, that morning. The bailiff told me that my case was dismissed and I was free to go.
I wasted no time leaving....... I have no idea what happened with the remainder of the defendants. I'm confident many were dismissed, much like me.
I feel confident that my attorney must have already reviewed my case (and, probably, many others) with the prosecutor, earlier. There was no discussion of the "crossdresser" notation on the ticket. In fact, I was not a party to any discussion in the courtroom, at all. The only conversation I had with anyone was the one I had on the phone with my attorney's office assistant when I hired him. And, that lasted about 10 minutes, including the time it took to provide a credit card number for the attorney's fee.
A "glass half-full" person will say "$45 well spent." A "half-empty" person will say "this is just an excuse for the city to collect fees from those who can't afford it." Those who've read my other posts will know that I tend to be a half-full person.
I saw no evidence that anyone (police officer; court clerk; prosecutor; attorney; etc.) cared that I was a crossdresser. On the day of the ticket, the officer treated me as well as I believe would have been the case for anyone else. And, no one else in the system even mentioned it, despite it being prominently readable on the ticket.
Maybe there truly ARE bigger concerns in the world.
A few have asked me about the result. And, it may be helpful to others. So, here's how it played out. (It's lengthy, so, I won't be offended if you choose to spend your time elsewhere.)
In late June, I went to the courthouse and plead "not guilty." This cost nothing beyond 2 hours of my time. Any other plea (no contest or guilty) results in paying the court costs ($112) and fine ($160?). A "not guilty" plea got me a court date of 7/24 for my case. I realized that, if my case went to trial, I would be found guilty because it would be my word against the officer's. But, being unemployed, I wanted to preserve as much of my funds as possible for as long as possible.
In early July, I visited the same court to observe the processing of similar cases. I saw that most people were represented by attorneys; some were not. For those that had attorneys, the attorney met with the Prosecutor and made whatever arrangements had been agreed with their clients. Those without a lawyer sat with the Prosecutor and made the best bargain they could for themselves. It seemed to me that a lawyer was inexpensive insurance (about $45 for this type of case). I mentally selected one that appeared to be working energetically for his clients. (Hired him, later.)
On that day, all of the cases were either dismissed or a plea bargain was reached with the Prosecutor. (Dismissed means "not guilty" and no costs. Plea bargain means being found guilty and paying the costs and fine. Then, defensive driving or deferred adjudication are options to keep it off the driving record.) I saw no one "going to trial."
When my day in court came, I showed up (en drab, by the way) at the appointed time and sat among the other 25 or so defendants. I looked for (but, never saw) my attorney. The court convened and roll was called for the docket. Then, paperwork processing ensued among Prosecutor, attorneys, bailiff, judge, et al for about 45 minutes. During that time, various people shuffled in and out of the courtroom, but, none of that involved me. Just lots of people doing their jobs.
Then, after about an hour, the judge began calling names of the defendants, one by one. Each filed to the front of the court and spoke with the bailiff. My name was early in the roster and when it was called, the bailiff asked me if I was represented by an attorney. I said yes, although I hadn't seen him, yet, that morning. The bailiff told me that my case was dismissed and I was free to go.
I wasted no time leaving....... I have no idea what happened with the remainder of the defendants. I'm confident many were dismissed, much like me.
I feel confident that my attorney must have already reviewed my case (and, probably, many others) with the prosecutor, earlier. There was no discussion of the "crossdresser" notation on the ticket. In fact, I was not a party to any discussion in the courtroom, at all. The only conversation I had with anyone was the one I had on the phone with my attorney's office assistant when I hired him. And, that lasted about 10 minutes, including the time it took to provide a credit card number for the attorney's fee.
A "glass half-full" person will say "$45 well spent." A "half-empty" person will say "this is just an excuse for the city to collect fees from those who can't afford it." Those who've read my other posts will know that I tend to be a half-full person.
I saw no evidence that anyone (police officer; court clerk; prosecutor; attorney; etc.) cared that I was a crossdresser. On the day of the ticket, the officer treated me as well as I believe would have been the case for anyone else. And, no one else in the system even mentioned it, despite it being prominently readable on the ticket.
Maybe there truly ARE bigger concerns in the world.