The Cop Working My Case Was Unwilling to Back Off. In Fact, He Was a Real Prick...

Previously, Part 13: I Needed a Lawyer With Flexible Hours and All the Right Credentials...

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Bernie and I stood in the cold, impersonal hallway just outside the conference room where the Magistrate and the cop were discussing my fate. I was getting pretty anxious so I asked Bernie why he wasn't in there advocating for me. He said as soon as we were back in, that's exactly what he was gonna do…

After 10 minutes of pacing, we were called back in. Bernie immediately went into his spiel. It was the reason I hired him…

"Vin is 22 years old, lives on his own, and pays his own bills, which include rent, car, gas, car insurance, food, laundry, and all other necessities. His parents live 1,500 miles away in Florida. Vin has a job that requires him to drive from Sharon to Braintree daily. I've known him and his family for years, and he's a good kid and a hard worker. He was not driving recklessly, and when the elderly woman stepped out from behind an extremely high snow bank without looking, he was alert and stopped quickly and avoided hitting her. He never saw the driver of the black Galaxie display a badge. If he had, he would've immediately pulled over. Vin has no prior record and has never been arrested. I believe the officer's interpretation of the events paints a picture of someone who breaks the law, which is not who Vin is. I ask the court to consider what would happen to Vin if he lost his driver's license. He would lose his job and his ability to support himself. We believe the officer misinterpreted Vin's actions that day, and we urge the Magistrate to dismiss all charges…"

There was a long pause, and after the Magistrate took a deep breath and exhaled, he said, "I'm hearing two completely different stories, both believable, but only one can be true. I've decided to dismiss the charges of driving negligently and failure to stop for a police officer, which carry the steepest fines and would result in loss of license. What will stick are the charges of speeding and passing in a restricted area…

I was young and inexperienced and failed to see the forest through the trees. I immediately objected to passing in a restricted area. "I never passed anybody, and even if I did, there was a broken white line, meaning passing wasn't restricted. And," I continued, "I didn't speed until the black Galaxie got up on my bumper, then pulled up alongside me and pressured me…"

That got the ire of the cop, who yelled out, "Hit him with all the charges and pull his damn license!"

It got heated, and he and I were both standing and about to go at it when Bernie grabbed me, and the Magistrate took control of the angry cop.

Then Bernie whispered in my ear, "Vin… It's called compromise. They dismiss the heavier charges in favor of the lighter ones. You keep your license and your job, and they still get to charge you with something. It's a win-win."

I reset and quieted down. The cop did, too. The Magistrate looked around the quieted room and asked, "So we're all in agreement?"

The three of us shook our heads, indicating that we were.

He continued, "Good. Then we'll head downstairs, and Vin will pay the fine, which comes to $150…"

"Oh," I said. "I don't have that kind of money on me, and it'll take me a couple of weeks to get it. I'll have to send it…"

The Magistrate interrupted, "Vin, either you pay it in full today, right now, or all four charges will stick, and you'll lose your license."

"But, I don't have that kind of money. My take home at Filene's is just $96…"

"Well, it looks like you're going to be charged with all four traffic violations, and you're going to lose your license…"

That's when Bernie intervened. "I got this, Vin. I'll pay it…"

The four of us headed downstairs to the cashier.

Bernie took out his wallet and began counting out $150 cash, the only form of payment the court accepted. 

The Magistrate and the cop watched closely, but all Bernie had on him was $147… I was surprised. He was a big-time lawyer. I looked at him and asked, "You need a couple bucks, Bernie?"

It was kinda an embarrassing moment for him. And after I reached into my wallet and handed him three bucks, everyone, including the angry cop, laughed. Truth is, I only had seven bucks…

On the way home, Bernie and I laughed our asses off. Then I asked him how much I owed him…

When he said three hundred, I immediately replied, "Plus the $147…"

"No," Bernie said, "Three hundred for everything. Just stop in and make weekly payments until you're paid up."

My first experience in court with a lawyer had its moments, but overall, it wasn't as bad as I thought. Bernie and I bonded, had some fun, and he looked pretty damn comfortable riding shotgun in the Cuda…

(Fergie does one-arm cartwheels while holding a mic and without missing a beat)

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To be continued…

*All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental…