I was driving around and I ended up in a city I’ve never been before, in a state I don’t usually drive in. I was exploring some of the scenery near the Grand Canyon and on my way back home. I saw lights and heard sirens behind me. My heart went in my throat, “Oh no, what did I do.”

I pull over the cop car pulls over and the man gets out of the police car he walks over to me.

“Do you know how fast you were going?” he asks

“I’m sorry officer.”

“You were going 10 mph over the speed limit. The speed limit is 30 mph, you were going 40.”

“I’m sorry.” I say again.

“You’re going to have to appear in court.” He tells me

“You can’t just give me a warning?”

He says, “No. And I’m going to need to see your license and registration too”

After he takes my license and registration he goes to his police car then comes back with a notice telling me when I need to be in court by. Seems kinda much for just a minor speeding violation. Now I have to go through all this. Wait in the court room and have to pay a fine, or so I thought. This sucks.

I want to get it done and over with, so I look up the directions and head there right away. I start my car back up and head off with a huff.

Get to the court house and it is very busy. Wait about an hour and my name is called.

The judge is a tall woman with black hair of medium weight. She looks at me seriously as I stand there in the middle of the court room. There are a few attendees but no jury. I am given a public defender, he just stands there besides me.

The judge explains, “You are hereby charged with speeding. Your sentence to be carried out tomorrow morning at around 7 AM.” (I’m thinking huh) “You will be held in prison until the discipline tomorrow. Miss Shanika will be carrying out the sentence. As with all traffic violations, your punishment will be 50 strokes.”

“50 strokes!” I say out loud.

“You will be carried to the stocks in the public square, bound to the stocks. Miss Shanika will administer 50 smacks to your buttocks and then you will be free to go.”

I burst out laughing, because obviously this is some kind of joke.

The judge sternly counters, “What’s so funny?”

“This is a joke (laugh) you can’t be serious.”

“I’m absolutely serious.” He says well very seriously.

There is a cop in the room standing up front and she chimes in, “This is the way things are done here. It may sound unorthodox, but we find that using a fee as a penalty isn’t fair for everyone because some people are so much more well off. We have also found that by using corporal punishment it has a much more lasting effect while avoiding the risk of taking away the little money someone may have that they need to live.”

OK so I guess there serious. Secretly I find it a little erotic. Never had corporal punishment before, at least not as an adult. As strange as it is, I’m kinda hopping this is for real. Are they really gonna do this? Wow!

“How do you plead?” The judge asks.

My public defender is not doing anything, just standing there.

Beardly can I get the words out without blushing at the thought of what they are really gonna do to me. Still not sure if this is for real. “Yes officer I’m sorry, I did it.” Then I gulp

From that point on my pulse is high. “Wow I can’t believe this.” Is the only thought that goes through my mind.

My public defender finally speaks up and asks me, “You’re not going to ask for leniency?” My heart is in my throat, I know I can answer, but I don’t.