It's Who You Know

I have had my day in court.  Sort of.  Let me start from the beginning.  

Christy took a vacation day off of work to go with me to court so I wouldn't be alone.  

Almost 3 months ago, I got my very first speeding ticket.  I driving to church on a Wednesday night to teach the special needs class at Awana.  Only about 2 miles from my house, but in another state, I got pulled on a rural road.  The Deputy told me I was going 52 in a 35mph zone.  Even though the road is so close to my house, I usually don't take it.  With the road being so rural, I would have guessed that the speed limit is 45mph but, either way, I was speeding.  

The Deputy showed no mercy to me even though I was as sugary-sweet as possible.  I told him I was sorry and that I was on my way to church.  He told me that the ticket gave me 4 points on my license, a rather large fine, and court costs.  He also said that if I came to court and plead not guilty he would reduce the points to 2 and lower the ticket fee.  I sincerely asked him how I could plead guilty if I was clearly speeding.  He snapped back, "Just come to court".  

Later that night, I posted on Facebook asking for a traffic attorney recommendation in Lancaster County, South Carolina.  I immediately got a private message from someone at my church that I barely knew.  He told me not to pay the ticket and that he would speak to the Deputy.  He later told me that my ticket would be taken care of.  I never received anything in the mail or heard anything else so I decided I would be going to court.  

If you have read this blog for long, you probably know that I struggle with Social Anxiety Disorder.  I have an irrational fear of things that most people would not think twice about.  The thought of having to go to court and speak to someone about a ticket sent me into a tailspin.  Last Friday, I asked on Facebook if anyone had ever been to traffic court in Lancaster County because I wanted to know what to expect.  In my mind I pictured a court room with a judge behind a bench and many people staring at me while I struggled with explaining why I was pleading not guilty...when I was clearly guilty.  

Soon after my post, I received another private message.  This time from a former church member whose son is also a Deputy in Lancaster County.  When this Deputy was a teenager, I used to work with him in our puppet ministry.  She talked to her son and he talked to my Deputy.  I decided that the Deputy that wrote my ticket was probably hating me by then.  People were contacting him to get me out of my ticket and I had never even asked them to.  He must wonder who the heck I am!!  

Well, one Xanax and a precautionary Immodium later, my friend Christy drove me to "Court".  Magistrate Court was not in the Courthouse and was nothing like I had expected.  With my legs and hands shaking uncontrollably, I approached the lady at the ticket booth and told her that I was there for my 1:30 court date.  She took my ticket and said I would be getting 4 points on my license and the ticket fee would be $130.  She then asked, "How are you going to plead?"  I answered, "He told me to plead not guilty".  She said, "He told you to plead not guilty?"  Then she handed my ticket to another lady who looked it up, handed it back to me and said, "Your ticket has been dismissed."  

I am humbled and unbelievably grateful to everyone who helped me out with my ticket.  I can't tell you how much it means to me that people cared enough to do that for me.  I never asked for it nor did I deserve it.  I have learned my lesson though.  I am very aware of speed limits now and follow them very closely.  

Here's some random pictures from my past week.  

My sweet Laura at church. 

My mom feeding Fuzzy or Fuzzball - whichever cat this is - a McDonald's cheeseburger. 

Fuzzy or Fuzzball on Mom's car. 

We have no idea whose cat this is but, it sure has taken up with my Mom.  These pictures are from tonight. 

In other news, I ate my very last Newman's candy bar this week.  I hope that when the weather cools down enough (probably not until January), I'll be able to order some for delivery.  

I saw this yesterday.  I can't wait for an app like this...