~from Ami

Lest you think I'm a perfect driver, let me explain I've had my share of driving snafus: I've run into a rock wall, killed several squirrels and rabbits, smacked the back bumper of an older lady's car while driving my friend's Bonneville, and mowed down the stop sign on a side road in Prairie Grove, AR, at the tender age of 12. I've been ticketed once, outside of Kansas City on the way to a Royals game, and was so flustered I apparently pulled to the wrong side of the road (is there really a correct side to pull over on?) and the cop yelled at me over his bullhorn.

My 16 year old son received his license on a Monday and hit the back end of a school bus one week later. I guess the new rule in Oklahoma is that all teen drivers must appear in court if they are ticketed. After talking with the mothers of some other juvvies, I discovered you can show up on Wednesday afternoons and plead your case with the district attorney.

So my husband and I left our respective workplaces and Zack left school, we made the drive to the county courthouse, Zack sick to his stomach and breaking out in hives on his neck (we LOVE being Scandanavian). The assistant DA iced us by having us wait in the lobby for app. 45 minutes, wherein we learned whole new vocabulary words as affronted drivers came in to argue about their tickets at the front (bulletproof) window. Finally, the assistant DA came to get us and had Zack sit square in front of his massive desk while he fired a barrage of questions. Ever been in jail? Ever had a ticket? Do you participate in extra curricular activities? What did your parents do when they found out about your wreck? What are your grades?

Bottom line, he waived my son's ticket and the court appearance. Zack must do 20 hours of community service and come back in 45 days to show the DA proof he's performed said service. He must pay court costs and not get any tickets in the next 90 days.

Cost for new taillight: $42
Court costs: $164
Watching your teen squirm at the DA office: priceless