Time to play the game

[David Merrill]

A girlfriend of mine just got a seatbelt ticket today. She was wearing the belt but it was behind her shoulder (lap belt only). The maximum fine is $25 if proven guilty so she has given me free reign to do as I please on her behalf (or coach her).

Would it interest the suitors and the brain trust for me to thoroughly document this and perhaps share ideas about how to best proceed on each leg of the journey? I've been itching to get me feet wet.

Details as stated so far: State Trooper, rural county - probably held in municipal court at the local county court house.

R4C first?

I figure at $25 it's the perfect test subject. At bear minimum I would like to make this cost them far more than what they're trying to extort from my friend.

(If I am in the wrong forum please excuse me)

It is a bad idea to go about this in this manner. For one thing by and large remedy is between your ears. You are proposing to play metaphysician for somebody else. The brain trust is formed by suitors who have published default judgments in place. There may be other courts of competent jurisdiction but being able to show evidence of that goes a long way. Doing teaches a lot and what you are doing will likely fail at best and may get your girlfriend into some trouble.

For example your girlfriend was effectively jailed, called detained. She has been released on a $250 bail bond pending appearance. I should have saved it but I have seen proof of this in one State or another, I forget. The State owns her driver license and the State presumes the privilege of driving is worth about $250 to her.

I met a fellow who challenged jurisdiction at the arraignment. He was spouting some of the typical patriot mythologies and a few days later he got a letter notifying him there was a warrant out on him. He went to discuss it and was handcuffed and placed under arrest but made a call and a friend showed up with a checkbook to write him a $250 bail bond. The magistrate had determined that the driver license in his possession was not worth $250 to him so he had to post the bond in endorsed FRNs (they would not accept cash - check only - Pay to the Order of...).

However, if your girlfriend wants to play around fine. We all want to know how it goes. I suggest that if it becomes a little hairy she pull cash out of her shirt pocket and ask directions to the cashier.