Adjacent to Harrisburg, the corrupt political and crime capital of Pennsylvania, is an unfriendly district called Swatara Township. One of their "finest" is a moldering cop named Brian Karcesky. In deference to good taste, I refrain from making personal observations about Mr. Karcesky. He's a cop. That's a bad enough thing to say about anybody. In spite of all the crime and serious problems of the area, it's obvious that the truculent Mr. Karcesky doesn't trouble himself with any important duties. The unfriendly township of Swatara's racket is to augment its revenue by traffic ticketing working people. Having nothing constructive to do and apparently being much too frightened to actually try to prevent crime, the clever Mr. Karcesky hid himself near an intersection. It's a good spot for a nap. I ventured along and fell into his cowardly snare. Instead of trying to deter an offense, Mr. Karcesky felt like bullying a woman and, perhaps, making a buck for Swatara Township while getting an "at-a-boy!" for himself. He was on the lookout for a woman to dominate. I think his home life must be a bit henpecked. He sure deserves it. As I was driving through the intersection, the light turned red. I was already well into the intersection. I couldn't stop safely. Not to worry, cop Karcesky hadn't dozed off yet. He couldn't actually see the intersection or the traffic light, but he's a remarkable fellow with x-ray vision. He testified that he could discern the faint glimmer of the light's reflection on a hood. Groggy or not, he could instantly compute with super-human surmise, exactly when the light changed color and when I, an older woman, going to work, entered the intersection. Cop Karcesky said he gave some people warnings for their supposed offenses. Since I was a woman on my way to work, I apparently warranted a ticket. Cop Brian Karcesky has a buddy, the judge. In most places the cops and the judges are in bed together. It's what substitutes for justice in Pennsylvania. In Swatara Township Michael Smith is the district justice (or district magistrate, whichever is in vogue at the moment). This is not one of your more impartial judges. Among other things, he's got a problem with the legal concept of "beyond a reasonable doubt." District Justice Michael Smith shouldn't have his job. He was unimpressed with the law. It says that it's just dandy to do what I admitted doing, driving through a warning light. The law even explicitly provides that if a traffic light turns red as one is driving through, one should not try to stop unless it can be done safely. To Mr. Smith, the salient and determining fact was that a real cop, groggy from his boring shift, had x-ray vision and averred that a dim reflection of the rose glow established that the woman had gone through on the red. I share this small annoyance with you in the event that you're (a) a desperado or (b) a working woman. If you're a desperado looking for the ideal place to commit crimes, you may want to consider Swatara Township. The cops will be snoozing in concealment at intersections. If, on the other hand, you're a working woman, look out in Swatara Township! Cop Karcesky may awaken long enough to fix his keen x-ray eye on the gleaming reflection of a traffic light and fine you for not skidding dangerously to a stop. You'll get an example of Pennsylvania "justice." Rebecca's Bargain Antiques Collectible Vintage Photos Fine Prints - Old Maps Sheet Music - Old Books Elegant Antiques and Collectibles "If she's a girl, I don't know what my sister is" Tom Ewell in The Girl Can't Help It, 1956 You are welcome to use or republish any of our material. Please give www.prisoners.com credit as the source. Return to the Public Enemies Menu Return to the Judges Who Shouldn't Be Menu Return to the Main Menu Go to our site's Search Engine Send us Your Comments or Input.