It started last week. Bright and early on Sunday morning, Not-so bushy tailed and the wide eyes could only last 3 seconds before squinting became mandatory, I got into my 1995 Toyota Camry that was a nice shade of Maroon. Yes, there are a few scratches and dents, but she doesn't really look to be as old as she is. Kind of like Dolly Parton 10 years ago...
Anyways, there I was, making my routine trip to the Gas Station to grab a 16 ounce Redbull and head to church, where I spend two services being awesome as I lead people to open seat... Which is usually me following them as they choose their own seat, because I can't get the nerve to speak up...
So I was rounding the corner onto the side-street of Interstate-35, the major hub of traffic in my area, and all of a sudden, in my rear-view mirror, is a flashing light that would make anyone scream in terror. In a calm fashion, I drove over a bridge and sidled into a place to park. The officer sat in the driver's seat of his car, probably doing... Cop things... I don't know. He walks up, carrying some kind of machine with a tube on top. I let out a sigh. A breathalyzer, maybe? Good thing I haven't had a taste of alcohol for a good 2 months. I roll down my window.
"Is there a problem, O-officer?" I decide on the cliche' question, ignoring my cracking voice and dry mouth of nervousness that I usually get when faced with something like this. It was like asking out my Ex all over again.
"I noticed you didn't have a Registration sticker, or an Inspection sticker on your windshield. Licence please and insurance, please?" he holds out an open hand, waiting impatiently for the requested items.
Now, I may live in Texas, but I've only lived here for a few months, and even then, the first month I was planning on going back to Oklahoma, where I was already enrolled in classes. No, I hadn't paid for the classes thankfully, so when I decided to move back in with my parents, I was able to enroll into Northeast Lakeview College, a little complex about 15 minutes from my house.
Now, someone who is familiar with Texas would know that you have to get your vehicle Registered and Inspected, and display these two documents in the form of Vinyl stickers on your windshield. Failure to do so results in being pulled over. I was not aware of this, having not ever lived in the State of Texas, nor having planned to. My parents offered me 100 dollars a week on top of what I made at work to live with them... I have no idea why...
Back to the story: I was frantically digging around for anything that could resemble a proof of Insurance. I was sure it was there because I'd been pulled over for having a headlight when I made my migration from Oklahoma to Texas. I pull out paper after paper, making my already trashed car resemble one of those "Portable Document Shredder" Vehicles you see on Wall Street.
As I finally drag out my insurance and I discover my Registration Sticker, and I swear I hear the Chest opening sound from Zelda. Do do do do, Do Do Do DO, DO DO DO DO, DODODODODODO, DOOOOO! Yeah... I'm that nerdy.
I hand over both my insurance and my license, but with barely a look at the insurance, he tells me, "It's not valid..."
"No, It is valid... My Dad hasn't given me the new one yet..." I pitifully argue. So, I end up with a brand new ticket, sporting 3 entries:
Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility [X I'M INNOCENT!]
Failure to Display Registration Sticker [√ Yeah... I did that...]
Failure to Have Vehicle Inspected [√ What's an inspection???]
Fast forward to earlier today. I was just getting out of class (I only have U.S. History on Tuesdays and Thursdays. :3) when I get a phone call from the Repair Shop. That's right. The Repair Shop. My car had an exhaust leak, Meaning I had to fork over $200 to get my front exhaust replaced, and THEN and only THEN would I pass the inspection.
Inspection Sticker [√]
Now all I needed to do was go to the Municipal court and get it paid off... Except... I have no idea where that is... And today and tomorrow are the last two days to pay it before I have to miss a class to go to court... Which I don't want to do.
So... I'm driving down a road where I was pretty sure I'd seen it before... And I'm driving... And Driving... And right when I'm ready to give up... I find it. I jump out of my car (The awesome Camry that only costs me gas... And Upkeep), lock it, and run to the Municipal Court. Now, I've never in my life gotten a ticket... Never... I'm such a careful driver, that I incite rage from my fellow commuters, all because I go 5 under the speed limit at night and in the rain. <_< Yeeeaaaahhhhh...
When I picture Municipal Court, I picture Judge Mathis or Judge Judy... Shows that I only watched because they came on right after WB kids in that ancient year of 2000. So I run up to this nice little window, resembling a drive through bank. Weird... I show them my ticket, and with a breathy sigh I say, "Hi... I need to get my ticket dropped."
She nods once, forgoing the Human characteristic of speech as I slide her the ticket through the one inch slot. With a single glance, she spots something that I missed in my previous reading of this ticket.
"You're at the wrong Municipal Court... It's across town." she says, studying her fingers with a concentration seen only in Turtles and maybe an Elephant or two. I guess it paid off, because those nails were as shiny as... I don't know... Polished nails I guess.
So I'm back in my car, low on gas, and blowing my air-conditioner hard and fast to circulate my new air-freshener (The old one got contaminated by the smell of mechanic who decided sitting in my car for a long extended period was a good idea.) and trying to remember where the other city's Municipal Court is.
I finally just give up and ask the woman inside for directions, and she seemed about as attentive as she was earlier... But her nails were shiny, so...
I finally get to the municpal court across town, ready to get my ticket dropped (As I was much hoping) or dole out more money to pay the fine, whichever I ended up facing. I get to the window, knock on the glass a few times, and find out...
The officer who pulled me over... Didn't give me a ticket for not having an inspection sticker... I didn't have to go through all of this at all... All I had to do was go and show my insurance... Which I'd had for a week...
So yeah. That was today's and last week's adventure. :3
Anyways, there I was, making my routine trip to the Gas Station to grab a 16 ounce Redbull and head to church, where I spend two services being awesome as I lead people to open seat... Which is usually me following them as they choose their own seat, because I can't get the nerve to speak up...
So I was rounding the corner onto the side-street of Interstate-35, the major hub of traffic in my area, and all of a sudden, in my rear-view mirror, is a flashing light that would make anyone scream in terror. In a calm fashion, I drove over a bridge and sidled into a place to park. The officer sat in the driver's seat of his car, probably doing... Cop things... I don't know. He walks up, carrying some kind of machine with a tube on top. I let out a sigh. A breathalyzer, maybe? Good thing I haven't had a taste of alcohol for a good 2 months. I roll down my window.
"Is there a problem, O-officer?" I decide on the cliche' question, ignoring my cracking voice and dry mouth of nervousness that I usually get when faced with something like this. It was like asking out my Ex all over again.
"I noticed you didn't have a Registration sticker, or an Inspection sticker on your windshield. Licence please and insurance, please?" he holds out an open hand, waiting impatiently for the requested items.
Now, I may live in Texas, but I've only lived here for a few months, and even then, the first month I was planning on going back to Oklahoma, where I was already enrolled in classes. No, I hadn't paid for the classes thankfully, so when I decided to move back in with my parents, I was able to enroll into Northeast Lakeview College, a little complex about 15 minutes from my house.
Now, someone who is familiar with Texas would know that you have to get your vehicle Registered and Inspected, and display these two documents in the form of Vinyl stickers on your windshield. Failure to do so results in being pulled over. I was not aware of this, having not ever lived in the State of Texas, nor having planned to. My parents offered me 100 dollars a week on top of what I made at work to live with them... I have no idea why...
Back to the story: I was frantically digging around for anything that could resemble a proof of Insurance. I was sure it was there because I'd been pulled over for having a headlight when I made my migration from Oklahoma to Texas. I pull out paper after paper, making my already trashed car resemble one of those "Portable Document Shredder" Vehicles you see on Wall Street.
As I finally drag out my insurance and I discover my Registration Sticker, and I swear I hear the Chest opening sound from Zelda. Do do do do, Do Do Do DO, DO DO DO DO, DODODODODODO, DOOOOO! Yeah... I'm that nerdy.
I hand over both my insurance and my license, but with barely a look at the insurance, he tells me, "It's not valid..."
"No, It is valid... My Dad hasn't given me the new one yet..." I pitifully argue. So, I end up with a brand new ticket, sporting 3 entries:
Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility [X I'M INNOCENT!]
Failure to Display Registration Sticker [√ Yeah... I did that...]
Failure to Have Vehicle Inspected [√ What's an inspection???]
Fast forward to earlier today. I was just getting out of class (I only have U.S. History on Tuesdays and Thursdays. :3) when I get a phone call from the Repair Shop. That's right. The Repair Shop. My car had an exhaust leak, Meaning I had to fork over $200 to get my front exhaust replaced, and THEN and only THEN would I pass the inspection.
Inspection Sticker [√]
Now all I needed to do was go to the Municipal court and get it paid off... Except... I have no idea where that is... And today and tomorrow are the last two days to pay it before I have to miss a class to go to court... Which I don't want to do.
So... I'm driving down a road where I was pretty sure I'd seen it before... And I'm driving... And Driving... And right when I'm ready to give up... I find it. I jump out of my car (The awesome Camry that only costs me gas... And Upkeep), lock it, and run to the Municipal Court. Now, I've never in my life gotten a ticket... Never... I'm such a careful driver, that I incite rage from my fellow commuters, all because I go 5 under the speed limit at night and in the rain. <_< Yeeeaaaahhhhh...
When I picture Municipal Court, I picture Judge Mathis or Judge Judy... Shows that I only watched because they came on right after WB kids in that ancient year of 2000. So I run up to this nice little window, resembling a drive through bank. Weird... I show them my ticket, and with a breathy sigh I say, "Hi... I need to get my ticket dropped."
She nods once, forgoing the Human characteristic of speech as I slide her the ticket through the one inch slot. With a single glance, she spots something that I missed in my previous reading of this ticket.
"You're at the wrong Municipal Court... It's across town." she says, studying her fingers with a concentration seen only in Turtles and maybe an Elephant or two. I guess it paid off, because those nails were as shiny as... I don't know... Polished nails I guess.
So I'm back in my car, low on gas, and blowing my air-conditioner hard and fast to circulate my new air-freshener (The old one got contaminated by the smell of mechanic who decided sitting in my car for a long extended period was a good idea.) and trying to remember where the other city's Municipal Court is.
I finally just give up and ask the woman inside for directions, and she seemed about as attentive as she was earlier... But her nails were shiny, so...
I finally get to the municpal court across town, ready to get my ticket dropped (As I was much hoping) or dole out more money to pay the fine, whichever I ended up facing. I get to the window, knock on the glass a few times, and find out...
The officer who pulled me over... Didn't give me a ticket for not having an inspection sticker... I didn't have to go through all of this at all... All I had to do was go and show my insurance... Which I'd had for a week...
So yeah. That was today's and last week's adventure
