Sans Legal Assistance, Author Opts to Pay Fine

To The Editor:
While motoring briskly upon the deserted asphalt of a Jersey highway, my relaxed mood took leave when a police officer navigating a marked cruiser appeared suddenly in mirror view signaling me to roadside where following a preparatory delay, he handed me his employer’s official disapproval of my driving speed.
Three days later, letters penned by strangers began arriving containing expressions of concern for my legal predicament. All sought to discourage me from admitting guilt and accepting punishment, suggesting I instead combat the charges with tactical aid available — through hired assistance. As an extra inducement to pursue this end, one communication contained these words — many courts are actually eager to assist you when they see you take the matter seriously enough to hire an attorney.
Though none of the writings offered specifics on rates or charges, all listed their flexible plans for payment of debt. The mention of dollars however, appeared once, its writer led me to believe, no matter how high his charges may rise, when all was said and done, when all the expenses and fees are tallied, as a courtesy, he will chop off $100 from its total.
At the hour of my appointed hearing, due to my case’s position on the calling list, I sat listening to those preceding my own, two of which were given my special attention. They being identical in citation to mine. In the first of these, a man alone stood before the judge, and when asked why on the night in question he was speeding, replied he was not aware at the time that he was doing so.
When the other case was called, two men arose and approached the bench. As before, the judge asked the accused why had he exceeded the speed limit. The person receiving this inquiry, instead of replying, turned his gaze to the man in the suit beside him who commenced a speech in which he proclaimed his client to be a family man, a person devoted to wife and children, who loves his country, obeys it laws, works hard, gives to charity, helps his neighbors, loves animals and who on the evening of his infraction, was controlling the accelerator of his car with an afflicted right foot resulting from a tight shoe pressing against a painful corn.
RAY LEWIS
Corbin City
(ED. NOTE: In conclusion, the writer just paid his fine.)