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.
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