The 40 Dollar Paperback

This post has nothing to do with bikes - except to the extent that, on a bike at least, you can't get a parking ticket.  And when was the last time riding your bike required you to go to court?  Let's just say that Watch Hill, RI is definitely best seen from the saddle.

June 10, 2009 was a Wednesday.  Since it was June 2009, it was cloudy and a little rainy.  But since it was the 10th, it was a wonderful for a Wednesday - it was our wedding anniversary.

A few years ago, I'd given Mrs. Suitcase a special ring under an arbor in the courtyard of a nice restaurant in Watch Hill, RI.  Unfortunately, the restaurant has been since converted to condominiums, but we decided to celebrate our anniversary by revisiting this neat little seaside town anyway.

Despite it being "summer" (so the calendar tells us), the weather and mid-week timing of our trip meant we had most of the town to ourselves.  Parking was not a problem and I got a nice spot along the street, one of the few cars there.

We visited the shops - including a great second-hand bookstore called the Book & Tackle - and had coffees and snacks while admiring the sailboats in the harbor.  We even decided to visit the lighthouse which, despite being here a dozen times or more, we'd never seen.

As we were walking to the lighthouse, past the car, I spotted a little notice? flyer? something under my windshield wiper.  What's this?  A PARKING TICKET??!!  Alas, yes, despite the fact that ours was now the only car on the street, I had failed to notice - nailed a good 15 feet high on a utility pole - a sign indicating "Parking for Watch Hill Residents Only."  Not being a Watch Hill resident, I would have to pay $75 for the opportunity to use a local's parking space - a commodity not really scarce this particular day.

Like any outraged citizen, I decided right then and there to tear the ticket up in little pieces and scatter them around the base of the lighthouse exercise my constitutional right to my day in court.  The fact that I'd be able to take the morning off work to do so cinched the deal.

For the next four weeks, I crafted an argument that would have made Clarence Darrow proud.  It wasn't a legal argument - since I didn't have a leg to stand on.  I was guilty as charged.  But I thought if I could appeal to the judge's better side, get in touch with his humanity, I might have a chance.  Mentioning its being our anniversary and my wife's being out-of-work would need to figure in there somewhere.  I'd have him apologizing to me for our inconvenience by the time I was through.

So this morning, I drove to the Municipal Court for Watch Hill, located in Westerly, RI.  With the passage of time, my arguments - which had seemed so persuasive - started to acquire a patina of desperation.  Would the judge really care a wit about the weather on that particular Wednesday?  Would he consider my mentioning my anniversary and my wife's employment status relevant facts in determining my guilt or innocence of the charge?  No matter - it was too late to mail in the 75 bucks.

The judge took the traffic violations first, mentioning that the parking ticket matters would be considered later.  This was actually good, since I learned that a statutorily mandated court fee of $35 would be assessed on each case, regardless of the final disposition.

When the traffic violations were done, the judge said he would be doing two trials next, but that - in consideration of everyone's time, including his own - he was willing to make an offer to the parking ticket defendants.

"For those of you with parking tickets of $75 or more, if you agree to pay $40 court costs, you may have your ticket dismissed.  Please be advised that I take parking ordinances very seriously and only rarely do I overturn such tickets.  Once I begin to entertain arguments on parking tickets, at the conclusion of these two trials, my offer will expire."

I think I was third in line.  I figured even if my less than stellar arguments won the day, I'd still have to pay 35 bucks - AND be out my time.  I know how long trials can take.

It wasn't even 10:30 and I'd expected to be in court until at least noon or later.  So I decided to explore downtown Westerly - a quaint, former milltown right on the state line.  It has this beautiful railroad station I've always wanted to explore.

 

Built in 1912 and beautifully restored, it would be worth a visit in its own right.  Under the circumstances, it provided some consolation for my trip.

 

Having been to Westerly a few times, I'd seen the outside of the station before, but never had the chance to see the inside.

 

And the final consolation.  The local library set up this cart of books in the station - "Read and Ride... Free for your enjoyment"  Ok, so I wasn't going to ride the train, but I DID ride/drive quite a ways.  So I looked over the offerings.  I'm sure they were mostly book sale rejects, but I did find a copy of Ray Bradbury's "Dandelion Wine" - a novel that takes place during the summer of 1928.  Since I'd just given the town $40, I figured I could take a free book from the town library - even if I wasn't traveling by train.

But I did get a sensation of train travel when I stopped on my way out of town at a local coffee shop.  I'd planned on stopping at a Dunkin Donuts I spotted on up by the interstate, but I promised I'd support the local, independent shop - provided I could find  . . .

parking.

Thankfully, there was a spot right near the front door - and no "No Parking" signs in sight anywhere.  I got my coffee and sat by the window.  The cafe is right next to the Pawcatuck River which forms the state line between Connecticut and Rhode Island.  As I sat there, watching through the window as the river flowed by, it felt like I was the one moving and the river was standing still.  Almost like being in a dining car on a train.

But my reverie was broken by the realization that while the Mrs. is currently between jobs, I am not and had to get to the office.  I approached my parked truck with some trepidation, but there was nothing on my windshield and I was able to get out of town $40 lighter, but a good book and a good cup of coffee richer.

Comments

[Mrs SDC]

I can't believe you were even entertaining the thought of fighting the ticket, much less driving to Westerly to do so....

[Katherine]

Good story. And I always love seeing photos from your part of the country.

I'll see your $40 parking ticket and raise you a $75 parking ticket and $300 towing fee. Mr. Mellow and I went downtown to an art festival recently and parked about one foot too close to a fire hydrant that was completely concealed by a bush.

"It's a matter of perspective," the cop who wrote the ticket said as he pulled back the branches to show us the hydrant. (As we stood in the empty spot where our car once was...)

I remember watching the passing single-speed cyclists and being jealous. We'd all get along better if we could just ride our bikes everywhere...

[Bob Grove]

Hey Chris. Great story as usual. Sorry I lost touch with you for a bit - my move to NorCal became all consuming. I'm glad I'm back to reading the blogs...especially while I'm in between jobs too!