Apologies to those that have already heard this, but I need some advise....
About a year ago, a friend of mine we will call Colonel Moutard, got a parking ticket in downtown Portland. Mustard had, in fact, PAID for street parking, however, he displayed the parking receipt on the wrong side of the car. Parking receipts are supposed to face the curb side of the street and Moutard - who is an absent minded, affable fellow prone to errors in judgement - put the receipt on his driver's side door facing the street.
The ticket was issued for putting the parking receipt on the wrong side of the car and the fine was $39.
Moutard was not pleased and felt like the fine was egregious, considering he had paid for parking. However, he got out his checkbook and wrote the City of Portland a check for $39. In addition to the check, Colonel Moutard made one of his critical errors in judgement and decided it would be wise to trace his middle finger on a piece of paper, include a message to impolitely "Go make love to yourself" and wrote "Anal Rape" on the memo line of his check. He then mailed this off with an envelope that had some more vulgarities scribbled on for good measure.
The check was cashed and life went on normally for Moutard until yesterday, when he received a letter from the court. In this letter, he learned that his letter had garnered the attention of a one Judge Penile Licker (name changed to protect the innocent), who found him guilty and enhanced his fine from $39 to $139. He also extended an invitation to appear in Judge Licker's court room to explain why he should not have an enhanced fine. He has until 2/16/15 to request a hearing.
Moutard is a good friend, so I'd like nothing more than to give him the best advise in this situation. Should he just swallow his pride and pay the fine or should he appear in court? Should he get an attorney? Should he call the news outlets? Should he join a magic football internet message board and ask its constituents what to do? I will hang up and listen, errrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I will turn over the best ideas to Moutard.