Police Blog Series #3 – Courtroom

May 25, 2010

As I was sitting in the courtroom, I watched a long line of people waiting to speak with the prosecutor. The variety of individuals that attend always amazes me. We were all here for the same reason, to give evidence; most of these people had been charged with a traffic offence. An officer sitting beside me whispered in my ear, “People set trials hoping the officers won’t show up.” I waited patiently for the prosecutor to tell me if I would have any trials going forward, but usually people would plea to lower charges with deals of reduced fines or no points.

I couldn’t help reminisce when I was here several years ago, waiting in line for my chance to speak with the prosecutor. It was my first year in university and I had just bought a “new” sports car; the rust only showed on the bumpers, but it was brand new to me. I had been caught speeding 90km/h in a posted 50 km/h zone. The officer that pulled me over was professional but stern; however, I don’t remember saying much because of how nervous I was. A friend recommended that I set a trial date because, “sometimes the cop doesn’t show up.”

I remember being extremely nervous as I waited in line, like there was a knot in my stomach. When my turn came up, the prosecutor offered to reduce the ticket to reflect 65 km/h in a posted 50 km/h zone. It was some $50.00 fine and no points, I was ecstatic. I had never been so happy to pay a ticket in my life, considering the original ticket was hundreds of dollars.

As I walked out of the courtroom I saw the same stern officer who had given me a ticket, he walked up to me and shook my hand. He cracked a warm smile and told me he liked my car, which made me smile.

A young man tapped me on my shoulder which made me snap out of my thoughts. I turned and recognized the young man from an accident which I investigated and ended up charging him for being at fault. I could tell he was very nervous, but he thanked me for retrieving a baseball cap of his that had fallen into the ditch at the time of the accident, and that I was a “cool cop”. He told me the prosecutor had cut him a deal to reduce his charge. I cracked a smile and told him I liked his car, which made him smile.