
After over thirty years of driving I got a ticket just before I had surgery ( needed to get the final prep for surgery and the wife could not get off to take me ). Not really a big deal but I thought if I explained the reason I was not really paying attention ( due to the pain of my chest ) I would at least get maybe a reduction in the cost.
Well the Judge scolded me for being older and setting a bad example. not listening to me at all he told me that I would have to pay the full price and then pay $99 foor defensive driving. I told Him that I wanted to do the thing that lets you go on probation for 6 months cause I don't have another $99 for the driving course.
After lecturing loudly me for ten minutes ( in front of everyone ) about what a bad example I was he ended by saying "You will be on probation for 6 months, you can not get a ticket anywhere else in the world."
I thought a minute and reply " I appreciate the information and I promise to be really careful when driving at high speed across the Atlantic so I will not hit a F##$$%%ing whale"

I got to pay for it so I got my word in.
Guess I need to get out more
Neal