About a month back, I was coming back from my first day at an internship, I saw a group of cops pulling cars over, and unfortunately even though I realized it was because of HOV there was no exit before I got to them.  Even though I passed the 3 marked trooper vehicles, an unmarked car flashed its lights at me a quarter mile from the ticket frenzy.  10 minutes later, and an uncaring comment from the officer of: “The signs are clearly marked” I’m in great danger of becoming $187 poorer thanks to the ALL LANE HOV-2 RULE on I-66.  

Determined to at least form some sort of defense to becoming instantly in debt, I take pictures of how the on ramp doesn’t show many signs at all for HOV (at least form the late turn I made.)  I note how the cop made an error on my ticket to say that it was 5:30 AM instead of PM, I even consulted my parents and parent’s friends for ideas.

After spending a few hours, I felt like I had a pretty good plan: “Your honor, I’m a college student, it was my first day of the internship— the signs aren’t so obvious yaddy yaddy yadda.  Surely he’ll feel bad for a oblivious college student just trying to make his way to his next job after an unpaid internship right?

Yeah.. doesn’t matter.  I arrive before 9:30 to the courthouse area.  I see that they actually charging for parking in the parking garage… so I’m going to potentially pay a ticket, and they’re trying to charge me even more in order to park my car.  Defiantly I park 2 blocks away in a random neighborhood side street.  10 minutes of metal detectors and a camera cell phone check in, and I’m finally inside the Fairfax Courts building.  Holding a bright blue folder with my ticket and notes I’m rushing to see where my court is taking place.  I find the flashing screens much like an airport departure arrival style format called the “docket.”  I see my name flash on the screen 2h… and ask anyone with a clue where this mysterious room number/letter should be.  Up an escalator to the right and at last I made it to the room.  The next minutes would remind me of the military phrase: “Hurry up, and wait.”