Ew. I received my summons for jaywalking in the mail a few weeks ago, and the whole missive reeks of reprimand. I am officially summoned to court on August 13 to face the judge. If I wish to plead guilty I can just send in a response by mail. When I first received the summons, I had a perverse inclination to go and have my day in court and see firsthand what this ridiculous exercise entails.
However, I also heard that this is essentially the modern day equivalent of a day in the stocks. The judge levels you with a long, unbearably patronizing lecture about morality and the benefits of being a moral, upstanding citizen, and you have to show sufficient remorse. No thanks. I would probably end up in more trouble (ticket or another summons for unruly behavior in a court of law, perhaps?) than if I did not show my face.
Plus, I have to go to Koh Samui! The date of my summons is the same day I am supposed to be sunning myself on a beach. The summons did not seem to give any options to change the date (and why should it) so I figured I would just write in with a guilty plea but mitigated by my excuses. Sometimes the little things in life are just not worth fussing over.
The amazing thing throughout all of this is that I still have no idea how much this ticket costs. I asked the cops when they issued the ticket and they ignored me in a completely high handed manner, telling me that I will instead receive a summons in the mail. The summons came and it has absolutely no reference to the ticket price or penalty or fine or anything! Annoying.
However, I also heard that this is essentially the modern day equivalent of a day in the stocks. The judge levels you with a long, unbearably patronizing lecture about morality and the benefits of being a moral, upstanding citizen, and you have to show sufficient remorse. No thanks. I would probably end up in more trouble (ticket or another summons for unruly behavior in a court of law, perhaps?) than if I did not show my face.
Plus, I have to go to Koh Samui! The date of my summons is the same day I am supposed to be sunning myself on a beach. The summons did not seem to give any options to change the date (and why should it) so I figured I would just write in with a guilty plea but mitigated by my excuses. Sometimes the little things in life are just not worth fussing over.
The amazing thing throughout all of this is that I still have no idea how much this ticket costs. I asked the cops when they issued the ticket and they ignored me in a completely high handed manner, telling me that I will instead receive a summons in the mail. The summons came and it has absolutely no reference to the ticket price or penalty or fine or anything! Annoying.
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life in hong kong
This still amazes me. Good thing you are a lawyer!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it the worst?? Unfortunately I'm not sure that my being a lawyer is of any help!!
DeleteI'd hate to plead guilty and then find out the penalty was jail time! But you are wise to skip the court appearance :-)
ReplyDeleteHehe I agree. I received the letter last week and thankfully they only fined me HK$200 (approx. US. $26). Not a great penalty but not so bad in the overall scheme of things I think!
DeleteHi. Can I ask what you worte in the mitigating circumstances in the summons letter, if any?
ReplyDelete