In my last post I related how I had received a speeding ticket. So that means at some time I have to pay the ticket as I wasn't going to fight the ticket. There were several options for paying the ticket. I chose to go to the court house and pay the ticket because the court house is near by.
Now I haven't been in our court house for 15 years. The last time was when I was called for jury duty. Things change.
If there are double doors, I always use the door on the right. As I was approaching the court house doors , the right one opened as someone was leaving. I thought , "Nice. I have an open door." I took three steps and noticed a prominent "Do Not Enter" sign. I was looking for a place to enter before the do not enter sign. I even thought of hopping the rails. Out of the din I heard some one say, "Sir, go back out and use the other door." Then I noticed a substantial security station on my left. Okay, I just made a big boo boo!
I did as ordered and then they were asking me if I had a belt? This seemed odd. Then asked for my wallet and keys. They put these in a tub so I thought why are they taking this away from me when I might need some identification. Next , step through here! Was I being herded into detention? I was going to walk away from the tub, with my pants about to fall down, when they shoved the tub out and told me I could have my stuff.
Well, after going through a weird process like the security I was a little upset. This procedure was so lacking in communication it was mind boggling. I was totally unprepared for the procedure and they didn't help me. I am not unaware of security. I've been though enough airports. That's another story.
When I left, it was through the right door. I stopped to look for a sign. There was a do not enter sign. I was unable to see it when the door was opened by the person leaving.
In my little city , far from any big city action, I was not prepared for such high security. I thought after, that some very upset people could be entering the court house and that the security was necessary.
So I guess , in this ultra modern world, I will have to be alert for those security guys or else move far out into the boonies where the security guys would not like to go.
it is a sad state of our world, isn't it? yet, our little country po-dunk town made national news last year when a judge who had been prosecuted for theft of county equipment and subsequently lost his law license decided to kill the asst. da on his way to the courthouse one day and then just 2 mos. later killed the da and his wife in their home, out of revenge for them prosecuting him. so even in tiny, country towns, there is always a threat - even from within, sadly.
ReplyDeleteKey word:sadly.
DeleteMost all courthouse have security now...of some kind here mostly near the courtrooms. How much was your ticket? Now you can put that behind you:)
ReplyDelete$110.00 . I don't know how this compares to other places.
DeleteLook on the bright side. You got value for money. It probably cost them more than the fine to process you. Next time spin it out longer. Make them really work, ask for instructions in Braille.
ReplyDeletePay them in pennies although we don't have pennies anymore!
DeleteGee, I have never heard of this happening round about here. We have a courthouse in most towns but apparently not the security - I guess way out here in the forgotten East, we are still olde school.....cept at the airport where they do have a teenie bit of security but nothing like some of the stories i have read or heard of people being traumatized by body searching, etc My dear olde Mom went to England to visit my sister when she was 82 and upon leaving the airplane to go through security she was body searched - when the security GUY touched a certain area of her body, she spoke quite like her school teacher ways and said "Young Man, it is not appropriate to touch a lady like that" - I guess some people found that funny for some around her laughed and he apologized. SO, now the big question Sir Red - when whilst thew foot be heavily laden upon ye olde gassy pedal again?
ReplyDeleteOur court has everything from local to federal so some serious cases get tried here. We also had a major incident a few years ago.
DeleteNow as to the heavy foot. It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks.
As for airport security , I really have sympathy for the elderly going through on their own.
When they asked if you had a belt I thought a drink. LOL
ReplyDeleteWe might think of many things but it would be unwise to say them. I felt like asking if they wanted my pants too.
DeleteSo sad. We live in such an untrusting world.
ReplyDeleteBut I guess people can get a little western in a courthouse! :)
Cheri
Common sense seems to be lacking all around. Control of feelings has disappeared.
DeleteAt our courthouse you have to leave your cell phone in your car or they will take it away from you! We also have all the other security. They cannot be too chatty, because they are dealing with a dangerous new world.
ReplyDeleteRather sad comment about the security being chatty. In my case it would have been the difference between day and night.
DeleteSecurity is a big hassle these days. I hate having to get to the airport hours in advance to get through the security line, lines that are often longer than my flight. Still, this is the world we live in and there are lots of nuts out there.
ReplyDeleteThe time we have to arrive at the airport is insane. I live 100 miles from the airport.
DeleteIt's like going through a maze trying to get a simple task done. But I imagine (or hope) there are good reasons that have made this whole ordeal necessary.
ReplyDeleteIt only takes one incident to get out of control and we have a catastrophe.
DeleteI relate to so many of your posts! Almost the same thing happened to me the last time I was in the courthouse. I thought a courthouse was wide open to all, but not so any more. I was totally confused and felt like I should not be there.
ReplyDeleteI am familiar with this court house but hadn't been there for a few years so was surprised to meet the security.
DeleteOh Red you poor guy. I could not stop laughing while reading the beginning. My hubby felt like that when we were at the airport. Shoes off, belt off. My dear hubby wears suspenders as his pants do fall down. If he goes smaller in jeans. He would look like he was trying to be 20. Now when his suspenders was asked to be taken off at the airport you can imagine my look and my kids look. . He looked like the young guys with the pants down to their knees. I had to laugh at him. Then they said the security what was his your name sir.His name is really Siep. But with his original passport and what he is called now. Sid now as the Canadians cannot pronounce his Dutch name. They call him Zip. Or Syp. So we had already gone through.And my hubby's passport is not like yours and mine. It is a huge paper from passport so 20 minutes explaining so then they had to get a Dutch security guard. Hones. My son said to me. Why is dad being held up. He looks funny with being all half undressed. So like you said. The airport is another story. Yet Obama is letting in all the none illegal immigrants come on in.Free for all in America. Perhaps he should take them in at the white house till they have not a inch of space for him to move. . And us Canadians are treated like criminals.
ReplyDeleteIt could be all sorted for the non emigrants. Don't let them get duel
passports. That is too easy for them. We have all kinds of diseases coming in, robbers and heaven who knows what. I think O is two bricks to short a load. If you here his statement now. He thinks he can fix thee war. In reason. You think. Well I don't think so. Two guys have had heads chopped off. Oh please someone get him and Ford dismissed.They don't know the right arm from the right. oh Red you think it was my blog here. You have me going in here. Look you can read this and delete me for this subject off your blog. Or someone will have me going through the wrong door or maybe I have.
Everybody has a security story. I wouldn't have wanted to be your husband at the airport. I don't trust the beggars.
DeleteThere's a world of difference between Obama and Ford. Ford is a complete fool. Obama has no cooperation from his govt. so it's almost impossible for him to do anything.
Long comments? Don't worry.
It can be necessary but I hate the whole security thing. It is humiliating how you are treated. I have been with a plane this year after some years again. I disliked it so much that I didn't wanted to fly anymore. After this holliday I have decided again not to fly anymore again. You can not say anything, the officers feel attacked inmidiately and put you aside, Those eldery people with hanging trousers walking on their socks it is awfull and humiliating. In America we walked out a museum after we were asked to do the whole security thing. We didn't want to be treated as criminals just for a museum visit.
ReplyDeleteIt's this kind of stuff that make me nostalgic (except for modern medical advances) for the 1950's or even earlier...
ReplyDeleteI suppose it is for your safety, but they are pretty cold, aren't they? Security assumes we are all ex-cons with axes.
ReplyDeleteSome courthouses have a LOT of security these days. Meanwhile, the one in Cornwall, ON has little. My hubby is often in court there. No metal detectors, none of that! I've been in Toronto courthouses where it's like going through airport security!
ReplyDeleteI don't think we've got to that stage here yet in the wilds of Scotland or Napier in New Zealand but it's something we just have to get used to. The security in Stornoway airport is harsher than just about any airport I've been in (and I've been in quite a few).
ReplyDelete