I got a ticket today.
Ticket, as in moving traffic violation.
This, my friends, is a first for me. The first blemish on my spotless 16-year driving record. And I’m none too happy.
Technically, I was cited for “wasting finite resources.” Which, in my case, meant that the officer who cited me was under the impression that I was speeding. Either that, or she was just shy of making her ticketing quota for the month of August and I was a wrongplacewrongtime casualty.
She claimed that her radar “strongly” lit me up speeding.
I’m far from convinced. But that, apparently, is beside the point. Or at least it is for now. We’ll see what the judge has to say though.
The kicker?
The kicker was that this highway patrolwoman had the nerve to approach my car and explain to me that I was being cited for “wasting finite resources” while her patrol car idled behind us.
Um? Finite resources. Ahem.
She proceeded to take my license and registration.
Her car idled.
She walked back to her car and radioed in to check for warrants (because, you know in my spare time I have this pesky habit of knocking off banks and stuff).
Her car idled.
She came back and argued with me about the validity of her claim.
Her car idled.
The gas it was a guzzlin’ friends. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if her AC was blaring all the while. And yet still, she ticketed me for “wasting finite resources.” As I sat in my parked minivan with the engine turned off, our reusable shopping bags laying on the seat next to me.
Finite resources. Uh-huh.
It took everything I had to zip my lip. Because I had plenty to say about finite resources. Like the fossil fuels that were burning their way through her gas tank. Or the triplicate paper she used to write me a bogus ticket. And that’s saying nothing of the tax dollars wasted on ticketing a homemaker in a minivan, on her way home from a visit to the park with her four-year-old gangsta preschooler.
Finite resources.
I’d love to tell you more but yo, some homey in the hood just blew powder and now I gotz to blow ‘for the PoPo come light us up and send us ovah. Yo.
Or something like that. :)
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
You crack me up. Especially the last part. I have to tell you though: I don’t buy your gangsta persona a bit. You’re far too pretty and sweet for that craziness.
P.S. Sorry about the ticket (those are definitely wasted tax dollars).
P.P.S. I have yet to get one either.
Seriously, why is a speeding ticket called ‘wasting finite resources’? Bizarre.
That sucks…what a weird line “wasting finite resources.” However, it might have been her letting you off nicely. My hubbie got a similar notation and basically it’s a cheaper version of a speeding ticket and it’s a civil violation, not criminal, so it didn’t hurt our auto insurance rate.
Really hoping this is the case with yours…of course, the officer was straightforward with my husband and told him this info instead…imagine that.
That is the wierdest thing I have ever heard. Is it illegal to waste finite resources?
They call it a waste of finite resources because technically, you’re wasting gas by going over the speed limit.
The officer who ticketed me did mention (repeatedly) that she was “giving me a break” by ticketing me with the waste of finite resources rather than a speeding ticket, which carries a higher fine, points on your license, etc. The trouble I have with that is that I WASN’T speeding!!! If I were, I’d look at it as though I got lucky. I just hate the injustice of it…
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Ok, now on to the problem at hand: I will bet that she didn’t have her radar on and thought you would be an easy target in which to write a ticket! I would fight it and hopefully get it dismissed.
Oh wow I CANNOT wait to hear the follow-up on this story! My hubby just got a speeding ticket this spring too. First one for either of us. I was so mad — shouldn’t they be out looking for drunk drivers or child molesters? They always say there isn’t enough money to crack all the pedophilia rings out there but I bet I could re-budget their money to make it work!
I found this for you!
http://www.amazon.com/Beat-Cops-Fighting-Traffic-Winning/dp/0963464116/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283358225&sr=1-1
That does suck. After your FB status yesterday, I wondered if this would become a blog post so I could hear more about it!
I did not know you could get a ticket for that. I wonder if that is something they ticket for here in TX.
I have a few friends who have gotten tickets for that, and I agree with Kristie. She probably didn’t have her radar on. I have heard that going to court (just showing up) could get it dismissed. And I bet you could give them your finite resources speech…
Fa sho, as the kids say…yesterday must have been “quota day” for tickets – I was on my way to pick up a pizza that I had a free coupon for, and that pizza ended up costing $126! I’ll admit I was speeding, but why stop me on a day when my dinner was going to be free?!
Yo dawg!
I’ve never received a speeding ticket nor a “finite resource” slap on the hand. I hope it’s all dismissed when you have your day in court.
My dh was pulled over and given a warning ticket the other day because his tag lights were out. I got my one and only ticket when I was 36. I have repeatedly said in this town To Serve and Protect needs to be taken off their cars and replaced with Fines Are Us. It’s now all about generating revenue.
Ok ladies (and gent in case Jeff comments)…considering my husband is one of these law abiding popo’s, I can’t not comment :). Here in Chesapeake, VA, we don’t have quotas….so if you get a ticket here, that’s not the case, although I can’t say that its like that other places. But she does have to write down a code from her radar when she clocked you and that should be on your ticket. If you were not speeding, then I would definately go to court and fight it. For those that do speed, then unfortunately you get a ticket. Some officers do let you off with a warning, especially if it is your first offense, but not always. I’ve never heard of that infinite resources thing here in VA, so maybe it hasn’t made its way East yet..weird. Good luck and hope it gets thrown out for you!!!!