mizChartreuse || redefiningSuccess

Previously in the end of an era series: A wrong turn on a one-way street, coupled with my failure to renew my insurance policy in May 2008 unfurled a long series of events which made my life much more complicated than necessary. Two months after my Cook County court appearance, the Secretary of State placed a four-month suspension on my Jetta–of which I was not aware. Within a month, I was rolled twice by some stupid ass suburban cops, which made me really stop driving. After I made the two harrowing appearances in a suburban court, I was ‘let off’ much easier than expected!

I served my suspension period (amid gnashing of teeth and long bus and train commutes) for three months (i.e ‘the longest quarter year of my life), feeling as though December 15th would never come.

But come it did. With a huge surprise.

And thus ends my life’s most recent saga:

Part VII: The day of reckoning.

It was my judgment day. I Tweeted.

Since the judge in July told me to maintain my insurance and come back with the fine, I gathered my proof documents, transitchicago.com’d my trip, and headed out in the blustery cold to head to the Clark and Lake El stop near the Daley Center courthouses. As always, I left my house giving myself the least amount of time to get to the court by 1:30. If all went well, I’d get off the train at 1:23 and get through court security at 1:30 on the dot.

Except I was three stops away from home, at 18th St., when I realized I’d left my insurance papers on my bed in my haste to catch the 1:10 train. Really.

Damn it! Again I cursed myself. Can I seriously walk into court without those docs? Not only do I not have enough money to pay, but now I don’t even have my proof insurance. Idiot. Now I’ll probably have a continuance on my case to next month and delay being able to drive again…damn it! I considered going back home, but figured I may as well just go into court. Besides, the little white slip they’d given me only told me to return to court to pay. Right? RIGHT?!

I didn’t know, but there wasn’t enough time to turn back.

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Previously: I welcomed major difficulty to my life through not abiding by insurance laws, creating a series of unfortunate but humorous events over 2008. Police searches, court dates, car suspensions, long commutes and countless other complications truly gave me a new perspective. I had to think about why I let simple things snowball, literally, into more serious situations. Hindsight is 20/20, yes, and I knew I could not leave this experience without having taken something from it…

Part VI: Lessons learned and the scramble for cash

It was hard. You know how when you’re driving in the rain and see the poor people huddled under bus “shelters” to stay dry and you pity them? I was one of them. You know how when Chicago turns into God’s personal snow globe and the sidewalks and gutters are covered in black slushy slop but you still have to drag your blocks-of-ice feet to the El platform to catch your train and all you can think about is how much this sucks as your snot runs all over your scarf cuz you forgot to bring tissues again? Yep, my life. Ever been on a sardine-packed California bus where 80% of the riders just got out of the County jail four blocks south and won’t shut the hell up about how they’re “never going back”? Mmhmm.

Granted, it wasn’t always that bad, although I experienced all of the above a number of times.

I must say though, after having the convenience of a car forever and being accustomed to driving four city blocks just to go to the liquor store…resorting to complete dependence on CTA, planning my routes via transitchicago.com rather than Mapquest, and buying 7-Day Passes every week instead of filling my gas tank made for a very difficult transition.

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Last time in the End of an Era series: After coming thisclose to being in deep trouble with the Glendale Heights jurisdiction for almost missing my first mandatory court appearance, I planned ahead. The next time I’d have to go out to court, I promised to not make the ordeal so complicated and less of a fiasco…

Part V: Suburban Court Date 2.

My second scheduled court appearance at the Glendale Heights Field House was two weeks after the first (almost failed) one. This time, I made sure to have transportation sorted and was going to make this as painless as possible. The only thing I was worried about was another hefty fine.

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Previously in the End of an Era Series: In addition to my ticket from Chicago, I now had two additional tickets and court dates to deal with out in the suburbs—and a car with suspended license plates…

Part IV: Facing the Suburban (non) Judges.

Since my second time getting pulled over in the suburbs, I made it a point to not leave the city with my suspended car. I still risked driving to work and school occasionally–holding my breath the entire time.

I made excuses justifying it to myself: “I can’t take the CTA to River Forest! A 20-minute drive would turn into an hour-long bus and train trip!” “But United Center is all of four miles from my house–it’s just a quick shot down 290 and right off the highway.” Bad bad, yes, but I never got pulled over in the city. The Chicago PD has bigger fish to fry, for sure.

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Previously in the “End of an Era” series: My ticket for uninsured operation of a motor vehicle was less than half of what I was expecting to be fined! All I had to do was maintain my insurance with proof of SR-22, and return to court in December. Simple enough, until…

Part III: Busted in Suburbia.

The First Time

As Fall approached, I received notice that if the Secretary of State didn’t receive my proof of SR-22 (which I still don’t fully understand what that is other than a certificate of insurance when you’ve gotten my kind of ticket?) by October 25, my driver’s license would be suspended. Obviously, with many suburban obligations, such as my family, school and boyfriend, we couldn’t let that happen. Since I’d purchased insurance in May, I was fine. Or so I assumed.

When I went into my insurance office to pay my premium, I showed the lady the letter from Jesse White and she said, “Oh, yeah, we automatically send your insurance information to the state when you start a policy with us.”

And to think, I believed her. How naive.

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