The day started off with a ticket. A $108 ticket for not displaying my tabs. As you can see, the officer HAD to see my tabs through my windshield when he gave me a ticket! I took this picture as proof.
I'm a lawyer-in-training. I was not about to let this stand. I went to the court house, took my number, and sat down to wait. This is not the first time I've done this; once, in undergrad, I got two parking tickets in the same day. The short story is that I was too close to a fire hydrant, and I had a miscommunication with the property office about which lot we could park in for free. It happened the first month in my first apartment the summer after Freshman year. I had about $70 to my name. I was in tears as I explained to the officer that I had no money, this was my first summer in the big city, etc. etc. I still remember that poor man, watching me cry. With a big sigh he said, "How much can you pay?" I think I paid $40.
This time around, I am blessed to have more than $70 to my name. Just like the first time, I told the truth with passion.
Me: "Sir, I'm here because I got a ticket for not displaying my tabs, but they were clearly displayed through my windshield."
Hearing Officer: "Is there a good reason why you don't have the tabs on your plates?"
Me: "No. None that are directly relevant."
HO: "I can appreciate that."
Now, in case you think I'm above playing the "kid" card, I did manage to throw that in as I was explaining that things have been really busy... you know, since purchasing them on April 13... because they expired the last day of February...
He cut it down to to $54. Procrastination cost me $3.60 each week. About $.50 per day. For less then a cup of coffee each day, you too can procrastinate like a pro...
And related to the quest, my family did run down to the basement for a few minutes while the worst of the storms went through (tornado sighted southeast of town). My thought? How furious I would be if all the crap in the dumpster got mixed back in with all my stuff in the SCARY ROOM if a tornado went through...
Your tabs expired in FEBRUARY and you've been displaying them in your window since April? I think your hearing officer was very generous. I would have doubled the fine for arguing! Lawyers. Hmph.
ReplyDeleteClarification: I am laughing. But some of your shenanigans really baffle me!
ReplyDeleteHa! I didn't argue! I said I had no good reason! What more do you want from me? :-)
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