We returned at 7:45 the next morning to find a parking citation under the windshield wiper blade right over the note! It had been written at 7:15am! And it was for $215!!! ($25 fine and $190 court costs).
The drive down to Pittsboro was fine. The weather was clear and warm and I made lots of phone calls. I knew where to go as I'd tried to talk to the DA and clerk of court before I left the area.
Signs for "traffic court" were everywhere and led me to an auditorium in the basement of the agriculture building. It had over 100 folding chairs, tables along the front holding hundreds of dark manila envelopes with the citations. A crusty looking deputy asked for my name, found my envelope and said "have a seat". It was nearly 1:00, 8 or 9 people were already seated and court was to start at 2:00.
I asked "what happens next?"
The deputy said "just have a seat and the DA's will come and talk to you."
"What time will they be here?"
"I don't know. They're at dinner right now" he said brusquely.
I sat for 2 seconds then realized I needed to walk and stretch. So I paced to and fro at the back of the room as people continued to trickle in steadily. When the talking started there were over 60 folks there!
At one point I did an about face and almost bumped into the deputy. He said "you may want to have a seat before this place fills up."
I explained that I'd driven 4 hours to be there and had another 4 to go when I finished. He picked up his lunch bag and left the building.
At 1:40 I found a seat at the front of the room and a DA began calling names. One at a time a person would approach the DA, they would talk in low tones and the DA would scribble some notes on the envelope and instruct them to leave or go to the court room next door and wait.
The DA called out "Frederick William...I can't read this!"
I smiled and raised my hand and said "that must be me."
He said he'd seen several of these lately and would offer me the same deal: a $25 fine and no court costs if I plead guilty.
"And if I don't plead guilty?"
"You can come to court for a trial."
"The date?"
"May 16"
"So, another 8 hour trip, another $30 for gas for a chance to pay no fine? Not good. I'll take it."
"Go to the court room next door and wait for them to call your name" he said.
Upon entering the court room I immediately found myself standing within a metal detector with the alarm going off and a guard pushing a bowl to my chest saying "back up and empty your pockets in here."
He looked like Sgt. Friday and was the same guard I'd seen in March when I mistakenly tried to enter a court room while looking for the DA's office. That time he had wanded me and emptied my pockets before learning that I was in the wrong place! He had blushed with embarrassment.
This time a flick of recognition crossed his face and he asked "have you spoken to the DA and did he send you here?"
"Yes sir, yes sir" I replied briskly.
The court room was bright and modern looking with oak trim. The people who were called ahead of me in the other room were already there, scattered mostly near the back like Baptists. I headed for the front row so I could hear and see well.
The judge entered a few minutes after 2, preceded by the bailiff who I'd spoken to at the gathering place. The judge announced that we'd go ahead and get started.
"Frederick William...I can't read this!" I raised my hand and said "Racey, sir. R-A-C-E Y"
I was startled that he had called me first since all the other folks were ahead of me. Somehow I'd gone to the front of the line.
He opened a file and said "tell me what happened."
I explained the situation and why I had parked on the traffic island - it was the only place with no "no parking" signs, and it didn't block traffic nor obscure any views. In fact, the park ranger noted on the citation that I had avoided parking near all of the "no parking" signs.
He had some pictures and asked if it was my car in them. I looked and said yes it was, and I had some pictures, too.
I showed them to him and described the location. Then I said that I was a full time traveler and he asked how long I'd being doing it.
"It's been 3 years today, sir"
"How do you get your mail?"
"It goes to my son's house in Fuquay Varina, he throws out the junk and sends me the good stuff."
"Have you ever had something like this happen before?"
"No sir."
"Have you ever stayed at this place before?"
"Yes sir, two years ago on a shake down trip with a new trailer. It was just a couple of days."
"Did you know the officer who cited you or talk to him while you were there?"
"No sir."
I said "by the way I now work as a camp ground host at Lake Powhatan in Pisgah National Forest near Asheville. We instruct our guests that if they arrive after the gate is locked, they may park outside it next to the "no parking" signs and won't be towed or ticketed as long as they display their hang tag."
He seemed to find that interesting and asked "did you have a hang tag?"
"No sir. That's why I left the note on my dash board."
"What kind of RV do you have?" he asked.
"A 37 foot Jayco Eagle."
"What do you pull it with?"
"A GMC 3500."
"Duramax transmission and a diesel?"
"Yes sir. A 6.3 liter."
"You mean a 6.6?"
"Yes sir. That's what I meant." We were both smiling.
"How do you want me to handle this?" he inquired.
"I want you to dismiss it because I don't think I've done anything wrong."
"I can't do that. How about a $5 fine going to our school board and no court costs?"
"Okay. That sounds good to me."
"You acted very responsibly in this matter" , he said.
As I stepped to the side I said to the bailiff, "I'm not sure I have $5!"
The judge heard me and said smiling "do you have $5?"
Checking my money clip I replied, "yes sir I have $8 so I'm good! Thank you!"
In the ante room after paying my fine, the bailiff leaned over and whispered in my ear, "I told the judge you had driven down from Asheville and had to drive back today."
"Thank you so much!" I said.
I left a happy man and thoroughly enjoyed the drive home. Oh yeah!
Just shows that if you're nice, others will be, too. Congratulations on getting off easy.
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