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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The Slice

The Spokesman-Review

My earliest brush with the law came when I was about 10 or 11.

I got nabbed riding my bike on the walkway in front of a shopping center. Then I had to go to what was called Bicycle Court and appear before a high school kid who wore a judicial robe.

My dad had to accompany me. And I recall my older brother came along, just for his own amusement.

Anyway, I spent decades thinking Bicycle Court was silly. But now I’m not so sure.

I see kids riding bikes without wearing helmets and I want to do my impression of Gomer Pyle in a classic episode of “The Andy Griffith Show”: “Citizen’s ar-rest! Citizen’s ar-rest!”

Of course, if I even spoke to the kids in question, whichever parent they live with would probably sue me.

So never mind.

Paul Turner

pault@spokesman.com