Yeah, something like what happened to Al happened to me a couple of months ago - I got nailed in a speed trap and went to court to get the charge reduced and no points put on my record so my insurance wouldn't go up - no problemo, fine only.

What amazed me was a guy who went before the judge before me - he'd been arrested for speeding some 30mph over the limit, no license, no insurance, and worst of all when the police pulled him over he leaped out of the car and ran into the woods so the police had to chase him down on foot. He had no permanent residence and spoke no English, and there was noone in the room that could translate for him. The judge released this guy and told him that he would be required to return for court on a later date when they had a translater available... as if this guy understood a word he said! He just walked out and my guess is he'd never be seen again. If I'd done all that I'd still be in jail. This judge was either a dope or this happens so often that the jail can't hold them all... besides, the court/city makes money off good citizens like me - not transients like him.