Guy just knocked on my door

[Orrex]

Rang my doorbell, to be precise, at 22:32 local time.

I answered via the doorbell, and he said he was lost and needed a ride to the courthouse because his curfew is almost up.

I told him that I couldn't drive him because I'd been drinking (a lie), but he accepted it and moved on.

The courthouse, incidentally, is about a 12 minute walk from my house, but an 11PM check-in? Who'd be at the courthouse at that hour?

[SheltieLover]

1. Shit, I thought it was a hand delivered happy notification.

[Orrex]

2. If so, then I'd have driven him wherever he wanted to go!

[SheltieLover]

3. Hahaha!

[True Dough]

4. What would your response have been

if the guy said, "Are you the person who starts the daily thread wishing Trump dead?"

[Bayard]

5. LOL!

[Orrex]

11. "No, that guy lives next door."

[Tetrachloride]

6. i need a ride or bus money-- too common excuse

[Pisces]

7. I would have called him an Uber

[Orrex]

12. I don't think there's any reason for name-calling.

[2MuchNoise]

19. Hah! That gave me a lyft.

[hlthe2b]

8. Yikes.... I have had a late night knock on the door (one with a lot of glass before RING doorbell cameras)

once many years ago. It freaked me the hell out, though I'm pretty sure the guy just got the wrong condo/townhome.

How "sketchy" did he look?

[Orrex]

13. In the context of the town, not all that sketchy

The hour was weird, of course, and I have multiple exterior cameras so I was able to watch him approach and leave on foot for some distance.

In optimistic retrospect, I think he picked my house because the blind in the window next to the door was up, so he could see lights on inside. We don't usually have the blind open that late, but it sort of slipped our minds.

[some_of_us_are_sane]

9. My rule, NEVER open a door to a stranger after dark

I remember one night I was sitting at my computer in the dining room. At 10:00 pm there was a knock at the door. "

WHO IS IT?" , I shouted angrily. "Jehovah Witness", was the answer

I yelled back, "GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE! WHAT THE HELL'S THE MATTER WITH YOU!"

When I peeped out though the curtain I saw a thin young man in a suit walking dejectedly up the walk to the carport.

[underpants]

10. I'd think there would be.

A magistrate or someone to handle bail but I could be wrong.

I think TDO’s (Temporary Detaining Orders) anbd warrants are often handled by a judge via the phone or by a magistrate.

Powers: In many jurisdictions, such as Virginia, they are authorized to act 24/7 and exercise power within specific, assigned regions. They can hear summary offenses or low-level offenses, such as traffic offenses, common assault, and vandalism.
Qualifications & Becoming a Magistrate:
Virginia Specifics: Must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Virginia, and usually hold a bachelor's degree. They are appointed by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia.
General Context: They are often respected members of the community, sometimes volunteering and, in certain jurisdictions, not required to have formal legal training, though they receive training on the law.
Restrictions: In Virginia, a magistrate cannot be a law enforcement officer, a court employee, or a relative of a judge in their region. They are also prohibited from practicing law if appointed after July 1, 2008.

[Orrex]

14. You know what, now that I think of it, there may be a bail bondsman across the street

Could be my visitor was using the courthouse as the bigger landmark for his pitch.

[underpants]

15. Let Freedom Ring!

[Emile]

16. I would have said wait outside, I'll call

you a Uber. Then called the cops.

[Marthe48]

17. Reminded me of this joke

A man and his wife are awakened at 3 o'clock in the morning by a loud pounding on the door...
The man gets up and goes to the door, where a drunken stranger, standing in the pouring rain, is asking for a push.

"Not a chance!" says the husband. "It's three o'clock in the morning!"

He slams the door and returns to bed.

"Who was that?" asked his wife.

"Just some drunk guy asking for a push." he answers.

"Did you help him?" she asks.

"No, I did not! It's three in the morning and it's pouring out!"

"Well, you have a short memory." says his wife. "Can't you remember about three months ago when we broke down and those two guys helped us? I think you should help him and you should be ashamed of yourself!"

The man does as he is told, gets dressed, and goes out into the pounding rain.

He calls out into the dark, "Hello, are you still there?"

"Yes." comes back the answer.

"Do you still need a push?" calls out the husband.

"Yes, please!" comes the reply from the dark.

"Where are you?" asks the husband.

"Over here, on the swing."

[IronLionZion]

18. I'm thinking of the show Night Court

but I guess not every city has that