Imagine my shock, when I opened the mail last week, to find 3 pictures of MY van driving through a red light...Yes, I knew I had done this. NO I did not know there was a camera!
I felt sick all day. $325.
So, off I went to Provincial Offences Court to pay my ticket and hope to get it reduced.
I had 3 choices.
1. Plead guilty and pay the fine (while the woman at the desk was shaking her NO!)
2. Plead guilty and ask for a reduction in the fine.
2. Plead guilty and ask for a reduction in the fine.
3. Plead Not guilty and go to court.
So I chose option #2. Imagine my shock when I was walked into the Judges office immediately.
I was not at all prepared for that!
First question. Why did you run the red light? Ummmm.....because I wasn't paying attention.
Then proceeded to inform me of the danger or driving recklessly.
Chatted for a bit.
Then asked. Why are you here? Ummmm....to get a reduction in the fine?
Pause....
Next and last question. What do you do for a living? I think he knew the answer to this already.
I quickly told him that I was home with the kids. Also added that this was a bad time for a huge ticket as it was all 3 of my girls' birthday, not to mention Christmas.
He looked up at me and said. You seem like a reasonable and responsible person to me. Here's what I'm going to do for you. Long pause. He wrote something on a piece of paper, handed it to me and said "Merry Christmas, now you've got an extra $225 for Christmas.
My fine: $95.
Phew. Easier to swallow.
Apparently this WAS my lucky day, as the judge had been sending people back with a $325 fine for this all day.
