OT- but funny
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| Wed, 02-22-2006 - 9:34am |
There's been a lot of talk about the "cop in a box" program (cameras set up in school zones to catch speeders) and fixed cameras at traffic lights to catch people running red lights. I expressed my outrage to anyone who would listen - I even thought about calling in to a radio show disscusing the submect . How could anyone object to this??? If you're not running red lights, what's the problem? If you are...stop!
In last night's mail, I got a little present. A citation for speeding in a school zone complete with lovely photos of my car with my snazzy vanity plates (say chz)!!!! Oh my gosh! I really had no idea I was speeding (only 5 miles over, but still.)
I'm laughing at myself today. And paying the fine....
jt (say chz has a whole new meaning now...)

Don't get me started about the cop in a box. I understand what you are saying about if you aren't speeding you have nothing to worry about but I see it too much as a start in the direction of 'big brother'. I could go on but I won't.
I will tell about my last ticket. I had been out of town the day before to a different time zone. So on Mon, I come up to the school zone and yes, I'm talking on the phone and didn't notice if the lights were blinking. So I look at the clock in my car and mentally add an hour b/c I did all weekend. So in my mind it's 4:30 instead of 3:30 and the lights should be off. I'm driving 37 mph in what I think is a 40 mph zone. WRONG!! It's a 15 mph zone. I had been so careful all weekend not to speed on my trip b/c my oldest DD has a few tickets and a couple wrecks and I'm positive they're going to cancel my insurance. The sheriff stated that parents had complained about people speeding on this road. This highly upset me b/c I've called them many, many times about people passing on that same road in the morning - it's a veratible Nascar race around 6:30. The sheriff's dept says that b/c that's close to shift time, they can't check it yet they can check it at the 3:30 shift change time.
To add insult to injury, the sheriff calls for back-up on me - a 44 y/o school teacher with arthritis driving an old worn out Mazda - like I'm really a threat. He did this b/c my DH has a concealed carry permit for his handguns. He has this b/c he is a competition target shooter and is trying to comply with the law. He doesn't like to leave his handguns on the seat while he's traveling so he puts them under the seat (hence concealing them). B/c he is trying to abide by the law, they thought I was a danger to society. My oldest DD made me remove her dad off the title to her car b/c she's in another state that doesn't have concealed carry permits and she doesn't want any trouble.
I was sooo pissed when I got home that I was stomping and yelling. The poor dog went and hid in his crate. It wasn't pretty!!
A lawyer friend of mine told me that I could contest it and since I didn't have any previous tickets I would probably get out of it but I did speed and it was my fault so I paid the ticket and am praying that the insurance company doesn't run a check on us until something drops off.
I've fortunately never had a 'cop in a box' experience, but have found parking tickets on the windshield because I didn't notice the sign that said "No Parking After 5:00pm", and DS had 6:00 music lessons. Oops.
Hope it wasn't too steep a fine!
Tsk, Tsk, on you Leadfoots. Now is that a good example to set for your teens? LOL I'm just kidding. I'm guilty of speeding also, I just haven't been caught in a long time. Geez, did I just jinz myself for saying that? I better be more mindful of that speed limit now. I don't want to be added to this list of dangerous, speeding Moms. LOL
Mily