It should be to no one?s surprise that the court system (esp. for traffic related, property damage) in the ?States is skewed towards out of court settlements vs. implicating a long winded trial (by jury or otherwise).
So for reference, by ?drunk? I refer to the Escalade driving asshole:
I show up on Monday morning to the CL area of Daley Plaza ? this is where I?d say 95% of traffic violations are dealt with. Most often the ticketing officer doesn?t show, so the violation is thrown out. In my case, the officer was not there either, but because I showed as the complaining witness, the drunks? violations were not thrown out. However, because his tickets violated State law (hit and run, reckless) and not just City, we had to take the case to the 4th floor for the DA to deal with. Not only that, but he doesn?t understand English that well (Hispanic).
Now mind you, I hadn?t seen drunk before ? at least in daylight. He even sat next to me and I didn?t acknowledge his presence. I hurts me so to know that his feelings may have been affected?.
On the 4th floor, we enter a court room; we check in with the clerk and I give my copies of the police report to the DA. The DA then advises me that because a) No one was injured/killed and b) Again, the system prefers out of court or quick settlements, they would approach him with a request that he plead guilty to the hit and run and a $100 fine, plus a 6 month probation (if he gets a ticket in the next 6 months, he?ll get taken in), if he also agrees to drop the reckless. Again, they couldn?t get him on the DUI because he wasn?t ?caught? behind the wheel.
Super.
He agrees to it via a translator, and after about an hour in that room, the case is settled and all is done. He gets the requisite slap on the wrist for being a choad
Now, it sucks on one hand because:
1) I was hoping drunk would be thrown away to the pen for at least year
2) I was hoping drunk would have to pay more than just a $100 fine
3) I was hoping drunk would have to lose his license for at least a year
However, much of the above would have required that I hire a lawyer, have a discovery process put in place involving indictments and testimonial evidence, and have gotten drawn out (and expensive).
Now, it?s OK on the other hand because:
1) I really don?t care about drunk any longer and I hope his next accident involves himself and associated vehicle (again, only by himself) burning into an incomprehensible crisp while enduring excrutiating, writhing pain. Best of luck to him.
2) I have bigger fish to fry. I need to carry on with life.
3) No one was needlessly injured or killed. Unfortunately, drunk was also not needlessly injured, maimed, paralyzed, castrated, or otherwise decapitated. Shame on him.
4) I have a larger reason to drive by his brother?s house and extend my middle finger each day to pay homage to the events of July 18th,2005 ? may those memories live on forever, and ever, amen.
But seriously, I just need to carry on and be done with it. Karma?s a b**** and it?ll all pay out in time.
D
