Ticket

Well, I started to write out my summary of year 27...but as I was trying to put down all the highlights of the year I realized that I was making a ridiculously long post and that I'd have to break it up...so rather than finishing that post I just thought I'd complain for a second.

This morning I looked out the window. Outside there was a bird singing sweetly in a tree, a boy playing with his dog; there was even a whirlwind of pollen reflecting light in such a way that it looked like a whirlwind of sparkly magic dust (well it was either sparkly magical pollen or a Stephenie Meyer vampire exfoliating its skin upwind from me)...but sadly, like a nasty blue bruise on this idyllic landscape there was a COP reading the VIN on my car so he could give me a ticket (yes that's just VIN...VIN# means vehicle identification number number...I have a problem with that (and while I'm at it I also have a problem with VIN since half the characters are letters.... but I digress).

I asked the officer what the problem was. He told me my car had no plates. Rather than acting surprised that my car had no plates (those dirty license plate thieves), I explained to him why I don't have plates: that my car was recently purchased, that I can't register the car 'til I get the title, and I can't get the title 'til it's mailed to me etc.

He said that he was sorry but it was already in the system and that I'd have to appeal, but that either way it's against the law to park along the street without plates.

I told him that when I purchased the car I was told by the seller/bank that I had a 30 day grace period. The cop then said that they were full of hogwash (edited for content).

So, I spent a good deal of this morning talking with the people at the court (they were sorta rude) and writing up an explanation for why I shouldn't have to pay the ticket.

I really don't think I deserve this one, but then again, I never do. I guess even if I do get a ticket I sorta deserve it, not because of this violation, but because I've already talked my way out of so many. To date, I have received 5 parking tickets, and through contesting I've only had to pay.....0 of them. Most of those tickets in the past were deserved, so I guess I have negative automobile parking karma. So, if i do have to pay the 30 bucks here I guess I have it coming, it's just a bad time (although I can't think of a good time for a parking ticket).

The most frustrating thing about the ordeal was how much breath I wasted trying to talk the officer out of it. He kept on trying to defend his action rather than deferring. If he had said initially "I'm sorry, I already inputted the ticket, you'll have to appeal" I would have said "Thanks sport, I'll do that." But, instead he tried to justify the ticket itself and it wasn't until I asked him if he had any authority on the issue that he admitted that he couldn't help me.

I mean, I'm glad he's on my side now, but if he can't help me I see no reason to talk with him. He was a relatively dense man. I think I'll scan my ticket so you can read his writing. He has a penmanship far better suited for writing with crayons; he held his pen in his big meaty first as if he was going to stab the paper rather than write on it.

But, he was just doing his job. I can't really fault the guy. There's nothing wrong with him that completing high school wouldn't fix.

In other news I guess I'm sorta stranded. This morning I was supposed to go to a service activity. There is an old lady in my bishop's ward who collects junk and they need movers...so of course, bring out the elders quorum!

Anyway, I guess thats' about it. Other than my ticket, and a few things too personal for a blog post, my life is relatively boring. I'll post again next time I bump into the law.

Have a great day!

p.s. Here's a picture of the li'l one. She has such a wonderful expression on her face--looks kinda drunk. She's the cutest little wino you'll ever see.