I threw a cigarette butt out at the corner of MLK & Burnside at 5:30 p.m. on the way home one day. I didn't throw a cigarette butt out the window onto the side of a road where dry brush would catch fire and burn down the state and maybe even the country. But the policeman was disinclined to make that distinction and used his PA to tell me to stop my car and pick up the butt. I was disinclined to do this being in the middle of MLK. But we did pull over and he gave me a criminal citation for throwing burning material out of the car ... actually he wrote on the citation that I "through burn mat". So I went to criminal court (it's not a traffic citation, it's a criminal offense) and I sat all day with drunks and druggies and prostitutes and my personal favorite, the felon who got caught carrying a concealed weapon. And I sat there all day while the judge explained where these gems of humankind could get the kind of help they needed ... free housing, free food, any kind of social service they might need. He treated them all as if he would just as soon invite them over to his house for a beer and a little chit chat. Then he got to me. Now I am a real criminal. A 50 year old fat woman who has been employed her entire adult life and doesn't turn tricks, smoke the weed, get drunk in public parks ... and I got lectured. Because I don't know how the potential risks of my actions. Oh my god I am so angry. Because I do know the potential risks of throwing a cigarette butt out of the window of a car at MLK & Burnside and the risks are zilch. It is not a criminal act ... as far as I am concerned this is the distinction between the letter and the spirit of the law. But my choices were to pay $2,500 or do 8 hours of community service. It didn't matter that it was my first offense of ANY KIND. The woman in front of me who the judge knew on sight and who has a chronic problem stealing stuff ...she got 8 hours of community service too. As did all the public drunks and my friend the felon with the firearm ... they make no distinction. And I had one of the larger fines. More than anybody else except the woman whose fine was $6,200 but we didn't get to know what she did because her attorney was a personal friend and had no idea what he was supposed to do so it was held over. I guess I should have hired an attorney but I was so sure it would be dismissed. I am so mad I could spit nails. I get to call today and arrange for my community service which must be completed by June 1 WHEN I HAVE TO GO BACK TO COURT.
