Armenians Armenians wherever I go! Can't get away from them. Nor do I want to really. Those who know me know it isn't my personality to be anywhere that has no community. But wow, I can't run from them. Even in traffic court!
So here's the story. Way back when, I got into an accident... about a year ago. A woman was double parked with her hazard lights in a two lane road divided by a double yellow. I had to cross over the double yellow to get around her and she smashed right into me as I'm pulling around. The cop comes and said I was probably right, but I get the citation anyway because I cross over the sacred double yellow line. What is this, Alice in Wonderland? So I had to pay $20 and then get my car fixed. Big deal, I did and I took off for Armenia around that time. Well, I came back to the US and stayed in Boston for a while, only to be hit again by a drunk driver... hit and run. I'm fuming, but what do I do? He was long gone and I was so shook up, I just went home. The next week, I get pulled over for speeding. Alright, fine. I got clocked for 51 in a 30. It shouldn't have been 30 anyway. So the officer takes my license and registration and goes back to his car where he sits for about a half an hour. Next thing I know, I see back up coming in. I'm thinking, 'what is it about little ol' me, all 110 pounds, that this guy thinks he needs to call back up?' So both officers approach my car from both sides, one taking a look at the big fat dent in the side from the stupid drunk driver from the previous week. The other one comes to my window and says, "Ma'am, could you please shut off your engine and step out of the car?" I said, "not likely until I'm told why." He said I was driving with a suspended license which is a criminal offense. After arguing for a while, the guy gave me a citation and said that he couldn't assess me an amount because it was a criminal offense, so I would have to go to court automatically. Son of a... Then he called and said that I had to pay for the tow truck to take my car where I need it to go. $82. I go straight to the RMV after this to take it up with them. Apparently, they reveived my payment for the $20 citation late and added a late fee. Well, they sent the notice to my old address and I was in Armenian so how the hell am I suppose to know. Then they sent a notice saying my licesne was suspended to my old address. They said I owe them $90 and I can have my license reactivated. I said HELL no. So after putting a few RMV workers through misery, I found a sympathetic officer who said the RMV would take the blame, would erase any old charges and reactivate my license. Goes to show what a cute little smile can do for you.
If only it ended there. So the next step was to find out when I had to go to court. Keep in mind, I had a plane ticket scheduled for Armenia only a couple weeks later. I called the RMV, the Court House, the RMV and the Court House again and got the run around until a sweet lady on the phone at the court house told me what to do. I went down there and requested a hearing myself, and she promised she would get it scheduled in September. She also promised to send the notice within the week to whatever address I gave her. Well, I gave her an address where I would be checking the mail that week. It didn't come. So I go to Armenia thinking it would be September anyway and I could just pick up the notice when I got back. A month later, I got an e-mail from a friend at that address... "Ars, you have a notice saying you have to be in court on May 30th. Isn't that next week? Aren't you in Armenia? My parents sent three letters to those people requesting a hearing in September because I was in Armenia. They rescheduled it for July 30th first and THEN October 1st. So finally, after all that heartache, I go in with a folder full of documentation, receipts, copies of the citations, proof that the RMV made the mistake. I'm sitting patiently, and in walks Jano Avedissian with his mother. It figures in Waltham District Court House I would find one Armenian I know in traffic court. Not only that, there were maybe 30 people there, at least 5 were Armenian... Demerjian, Der Vartanian, Raffi something, you name it, ians all over that court. Are Armenians bad drivers?
So I was the last called up. I thought it was because my case was so difficult. I go up prepared to make my case. The dude says, "what do you have to say about the speeding charge?" I said, "I admit to speeding, I take blame for that." He said some mumbo jumbo I didn't understand, said I owe $75 for speeding and then I was dismissed. I asked about the other offense and he said that charge was dismissed and joked that if I'd like for another charge he can think of one to add. I said no thank you. A year.... a year of headache and misery... arguing with my parents from Armenia on the few phone calls we had, and after all the preparation I made to defend myself, he doesn't even care, just let's me go. All because one person at the RMV forgot to process my citation on time.
Well, I certainly do not speed anymore and I may just have to find a job that revolves around not being on the road during rush hour, 'cause the way those maniacs drive, God forbid I get into another accident, I can't take it anymore! Knock on wood!
And yes, he butchered my name in court.
So here's the story. Way back when, I got into an accident... about a year ago. A woman was double parked with her hazard lights in a two lane road divided by a double yellow. I had to cross over the double yellow to get around her and she smashed right into me as I'm pulling around. The cop comes and said I was probably right, but I get the citation anyway because I cross over the sacred double yellow line. What is this, Alice in Wonderland? So I had to pay $20 and then get my car fixed. Big deal, I did and I took off for Armenia around that time. Well, I came back to the US and stayed in Boston for a while, only to be hit again by a drunk driver... hit and run. I'm fuming, but what do I do? He was long gone and I was so shook up, I just went home. The next week, I get pulled over for speeding. Alright, fine. I got clocked for 51 in a 30. It shouldn't have been 30 anyway. So the officer takes my license and registration and goes back to his car where he sits for about a half an hour. Next thing I know, I see back up coming in. I'm thinking, 'what is it about little ol' me, all 110 pounds, that this guy thinks he needs to call back up?' So both officers approach my car from both sides, one taking a look at the big fat dent in the side from the stupid drunk driver from the previous week. The other one comes to my window and says, "Ma'am, could you please shut off your engine and step out of the car?" I said, "not likely until I'm told why." He said I was driving with a suspended license which is a criminal offense. After arguing for a while, the guy gave me a citation and said that he couldn't assess me an amount because it was a criminal offense, so I would have to go to court automatically. Son of a... Then he called and said that I had to pay for the tow truck to take my car where I need it to go. $82. I go straight to the RMV after this to take it up with them. Apparently, they reveived my payment for the $20 citation late and added a late fee. Well, they sent the notice to my old address and I was in Armenian so how the hell am I suppose to know. Then they sent a notice saying my licesne was suspended to my old address. They said I owe them $90 and I can have my license reactivated. I said HELL no. So after putting a few RMV workers through misery, I found a sympathetic officer who said the RMV would take the blame, would erase any old charges and reactivate my license. Goes to show what a cute little smile can do for you.
If only it ended there. So the next step was to find out when I had to go to court. Keep in mind, I had a plane ticket scheduled for Armenia only a couple weeks later. I called the RMV, the Court House, the RMV and the Court House again and got the run around until a sweet lady on the phone at the court house told me what to do. I went down there and requested a hearing myself, and she promised she would get it scheduled in September. She also promised to send the notice within the week to whatever address I gave her. Well, I gave her an address where I would be checking the mail that week. It didn't come. So I go to Armenia thinking it would be September anyway and I could just pick up the notice when I got back. A month later, I got an e-mail from a friend at that address... "Ars, you have a notice saying you have to be in court on May 30th. Isn't that next week? Aren't you in Armenia? My parents sent three letters to those people requesting a hearing in September because I was in Armenia. They rescheduled it for July 30th first and THEN October 1st. So finally, after all that heartache, I go in with a folder full of documentation, receipts, copies of the citations, proof that the RMV made the mistake. I'm sitting patiently, and in walks Jano Avedissian with his mother. It figures in Waltham District Court House I would find one Armenian I know in traffic court. Not only that, there were maybe 30 people there, at least 5 were Armenian... Demerjian, Der Vartanian, Raffi something, you name it, ians all over that court. Are Armenians bad drivers?
So I was the last called up. I thought it was because my case was so difficult. I go up prepared to make my case. The dude says, "what do you have to say about the speeding charge?" I said, "I admit to speeding, I take blame for that." He said some mumbo jumbo I didn't understand, said I owe $75 for speeding and then I was dismissed. I asked about the other offense and he said that charge was dismissed and joked that if I'd like for another charge he can think of one to add. I said no thank you. A year.... a year of headache and misery... arguing with my parents from Armenia on the few phone calls we had, and after all the preparation I made to defend myself, he doesn't even care, just let's me go. All because one person at the RMV forgot to process my citation on time.
Well, I certainly do not speed anymore and I may just have to find a job that revolves around not being on the road during rush hour, 'cause the way those maniacs drive, God forbid I get into another accident, I can't take it anymore! Knock on wood!
And yes, he butchered my name in court.
posted by Arsineh at 12:53 AM
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