Beneath the Stripes - You Have the Right to Not Sit Still, Part 1

Beneath the Stripes:

Tourette's Syndrome from the Tiger’s View

by Darin M. Bush

You Have the Right to Not Sit Still, part 1

I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is: more schools in North America are hearing about Tourette’s spectrum disorders (TS+) every week. Even better, many of these schools are treating their TS+ students more appropriately. Pat yourselves on the back. Here comes the bad news: how many police precincts or traffic courts have we visited with the awareness workshop: seventeen? I think it is time to educate the police and the judges about TS+, and time to educate TS+ adults about the police, the judges, and the realities of law.

In the real world, neurological disorders cause abnormal behaviors that can attract the attention of police officers. Social cognition skills, and keeping cool under pressure, are never more important than when confronted by a judge. Believe me: they wear black for good reason. We have known about TS+ long enough that most of the people diagnosed early in this process are now adults, to one degree or another. Currently, the courts do not care how old you are emotionally or socially. Born 18 years ago? Then you are an adult in their eyes, plain and simple.

Let me also be brutally plain about one thing: TS+ is NOT a plea of “Not Guilty”. It is not an excuse. Last time I was in traffic court, here in Atlanta, Georgia, I pleaded “Nolo Contendere”. It means “no contest” in Latin. I once jokingly described “Nolo” as “Sorry, sorry.” I pleaded responsibility, but not fault or intent. Yes, your Honor, I rear-ended her car. No, your Honor, I did not want to or intend to. You can squeeze a lot out of two Latin words. The first time I was in traffic court, I pleaded Not Guilty: big mistake. Not Guilty translates to the court as “I did not do it”. I thought I was saying, “My actions or inactions did not create this accident. If you will let me explain, you will find it was caused by the gasoline spilled all over the road by the wrecked truck.” The judge ruled that I had indeed driven a car into the rear of another car. Well, when you put it that way…

The judge then charged me (bad choice of words?) for his time, meaning the time it took him to remind me, in many less words, that I was in fact driving said car, and it was under my control (sort of) when it in fact overlapped with the trunk space of another car. I calculated that his hourly rate is $720, since I had to pay an extra $60 for the ticket. I wish someone had whispered in my ear, “Hey, Touretter. Plead Nolo Contendere, shut up, and pay the fine.”

Pssst! Hey, Touretter. Plead Nolo Contendere, shut up, and pay the fine. Was that not simple? Actually, I would also strongly recommend you take a non-TS+ adult with you for backup. Assuming you can find one. Now, Grasshopper, go out and merge into traffic.

Questions? Comments? Eager for Part 2? Submit a Plea to the Tourette Tiger

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