14 Oix 4385: The Law Must Be Crazy

[song-for-always.livejournal.com]

Dee,

Thanks SO MUCH for coming! I've been running all over trying to figure out what to do! I did go to work yesterday, though. Getting fired probably won't help to raise fine money. But you do have enough to pay the fine, right? You really are rich? I did make 20 lz selling cley on the 11th (after the 10 lz bribe fine I ended up paying that one guard). So I don't need to worry about getting lozens for the fine? Let me know if I should be!

I took today off from work so that I could help Sevendrums more. I spent four hours down at the guard station that's holding him. Some talking to guards but mostly waiting for a chance to talk to different ones.

All the guards I talked to said he's being held for the same crime: Aggravated Public Indecency. I asked what that meant. Public Indecency means being naked in public. Aggravated means you were lewd as well as naked, like waving your privates in someone's face or something. I asked how Sevendrums had been lewd and they said it was just down on his arrest record that he was. I'd have to talk to the arresting officer to find out details. It was his day off. I asked for his home address but they wouldn't give it to me.

Anyway, the guards all said (at different times) that the fine was 200 lz. So either it really is, or they're all in it together. I'm not sure how I'd tell the difference.

There's a court date for 12 Consimbs if Sevendrums wants to contest the allegation. The deadline to pay the fine is 21 Consimbs.

The forfeit date is 25 Oix.

I said, "Wait wait what? The forfeit is before fine deadline? It's before the court date?"

Guard: "The courts are in recess for Surprise, miss. There aren't any hearings until Consimbs. Fines are always due a week after the hearing."

"But how come the forfeit comes before the hearing?"

"The forfeit date is always a week and two-thirds after the arrest if it involves holding a prisoner. We can't be holding primes in gaol forever, miss. We've not the space for it."

"But what happens if he wants to contest the charge?" I asked.

"Then he can contest it on the 12th of Consimbs."

"So he won't have to forfeit on the 25th of this month if he's going to contest the charge?" I was a little reassured.

"Oh, no, he still forfeits. He'll be sold at auction on the 25th if he hasn't paid the fine."

"But that makes no sense!"

"Sure it does. He can still contest the fine on the 12th of Consimbs," the guard added not-so-helpfully. "If he's somehow found innocent of wrongdoing, he'll receive the pro rata share of lozens for his time served and the rest will be refunded to his purchaser."

"So if he doesn't want to be indentured for fourteen days, he has to pay the fine by the 25th?"

"Yes."

"And then he can contest it on the 12th? And if he's innocent he'll get the fine back?"

"Oh, no, not at all."

"... what?"

"Payment of the fine constitutes an admission of guilt. He can't contest it after he's admited he's guilty already."

...

So I've been trying to find a lawyer since then.

Comments

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

Oooh, you've got some very well-tuned laws in Daukrhame, don't you?

Seriously -- do they consider Sevendrums a foreigner, to treat him that way?

[song-for-always.livejournal.com]

I think they must! He did spend several years in Vheshrame, growing up. But he's *from* Daukhrame! And he's been living here *forever*!

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

I suspect they consider him a khtsoyis?

[song-for-always.livejournal.com]

That too. They don't know him! Then they'd realize he's a nice Khtsoyis.

[gavinfox.livejournal.com]

Finding a lawyer sounds like a fantastic idea!

[song-for-always.livejournal.com]

It's not going well. They all want more money than I have!

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

And let me guess -- if you're sold at auction you no longer have the option of paying your fine if you lose at the hearing.

Maybe you could bid on him at auction? Since you're bidding down time you could bid it down to one day or something and be sure to win.

[song-for-always.livejournal.com]

That's a great idea!

[delight-in.livejournal.com]

No it's not! I'm not letting BOOMSY be AUCTIONED!

[gavinfox.livejournal.com]

What are the pros and cons, the costs and benefits, of letting him get auctioned? Don't give your first answer; pause and try to think of as many as you can, that is, try to think about this rationally.

Note: This only works if you are not in a Wild Rush.

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Clever! So Delight and Song For Always would pay 200 lozens, but then if they are successful in contesting the fine, they would get the pro-rated amount back.

[gavinfox.livejournal.com]

This is a fantastic idea!!

[delight-in.livejournal.com]

No it isn't! Getting auctioned is BAD!

[gavinfox.livejournal.com]

Buuuuut being guaranteed to win the auction and THEN getting all your money back because the charges were voided and the results of the auction likewise being declared void, and him being able to bring a lawsuit against the city for wrongdoing on their part... what's not to like?

[gavinfox.livejournal.com]

Wrongdoing and DAMAGES for the effects of his reputation and his psyche due to being (gasp) auctioned for a crime he didn't commit!

[gavinfox.livejournal.com]

Here's a question: What are the long term effects (on your career, hirability, social status, and other important things) on having served time as an indentured servant due to unpaid fines? Are people who did that heavily discriminated against? Discriminated against at all?