Your Ticket is in the Mail

A couple of years ago, I got an official looking envelop out of my mailbox
and much to my surprise, when I opened it, I discovered that I'd made a
surprise visit to Sepulveda, California.. My vehicle had been ticketed by
theSepulveda Police Department and the letter informed me that I was
indebted to the court to the tune of $132.50.. Upon furthur examination of
the letter, I discovered that I was the owner of a vehicle which I'd never
imagined, also..

There were specific instructions to immediately forward the payment to that
court jurisdiction, with dire warnings of consequences for not doing so
within ten days of the date on the letter.. There was also included a toll
free number that advised me of how to call and make the payment,
conveniently by telephone.. with a credit card or checking account.. How
nice and accommodating.. Except.. for a couple of little details..

Even though I'd been in the state of California during that year.. I hadn't
been anywhere near the coastal city of Sepulveda.. Most striking was the
license plate bearing the number they'd cited, was attached to my 1989 GMC
pickup and not the Chevrolet car that was described in the letter.. What the
hell is going on here.. Needless to say, I didn't sit down and write any
checks..

The next step, I called the number they'd provided for my ease and
convenience to pay the debt, they alleged that I owed that court.. The
person answering the call was a very personable and accomodating lady who
was prepared to take the information necessary to process payment via bank
credit card or checking account.. Well ma'am, I didn't call you to remit
payment, the purpose of this call is to inform you that I haven't been in
your fair city since before 1960, and I have never owned a car that fits the
description of the one that obviously was ticketed.. The nice lady explained
that her ONLY duty was to accomodate the convenient method of payment and if
I cared to dispute the ticket, I'd be required to post a bond and physically
appear before the court .. or to face severe penalties and consequences for
failure to do so..

After several attempts to discuss the issue with someone with authority to
realize that some kind of mistake was obvious, I finally talked to a clerk
of the court whose jurisdiction was relevant to the ticket that was cited..
By this time, I'd already established long distance telephone charges that
amounted to more than a hundred dollars, and several hours of aggravation
with such a system..

The court clerk was also unable to make any kind of decision on the matter
... Then, it hit me.. the news media has been informing us that several Texas
cities are installing telephoto devices to monitor traffic and with
evidenciary authority to issue citations for traffic violations.. The
justification our local governments and legislators in Austin are using to
sell this tool of traffic enforcement, is that these devices will only be
installed at intersections which have been sites for so many accidents
causing death and property damage.. Here we go again.. "we are doing this to
better protect the public and keep you safe"..

Redlight runners and speeders through dangerous intersections aren't high on
my list of favorite people.. Especially on streets of high traffic density..
however, those same cities that claim such a dire need of these devices to
monitor drivers in traffic, go before city councils and other appropriate
authority to petition for more officers, cars and equipment, on a regular
basis.. Armed with the information about those most dangerous intersections,
my question would be.. "why can't you guys dispatch a team of officers to
each one and direct the traffic with a real live police officer ?" Now
that's a real deterrent for any redlight runner or speeder.. To see a real
live cop in an intersection directing traffic, with a couple of motor cops
highly visible stationed strategically, to immediately stop violators, would
be more impressive than any number of cameras .. don't you think ?

Our world of technology is wonderful and should be embraced.. but we've
exceeded the line of rationality and are embracing something that is beyond
logic.. Big Brother is watching you and sooner or later, will make you pay
the consequences even if you are guilty or not.. Convenient.. sure .. write
the check, your ticket is in the mail..

By the way. Even though that experience in Sepulveda, Ca. cost me more than
$150.00 to resolve, the check was never written and the "citation" was
dismissed.. USPS, Verizon, and a couple of gasolene companies made some
money on that deal.. I finally did make a trip to the lovely Sepulveda, Ca.
city and visited their little court, there.. But, that trip was definitely
at my convenience.. and a year later.. I was armed with all the applicable
registrations for my GMC pickup.. which clearly showed the Texas license
plate numbers.. I had pictues of the truck and clearly there was a mistake
on their part.. One of the silliest arguments came from one of the city
attorneys .. He commented that I'd shown no evidence that I'd never owned
the vehicle described in their original letter .. Does anyone suppose that
our Department of Safety in Texas is assigning duplicate license plate
numbers to different vehicles.. And.. that was a lawyer that made that
comment..

Better think about these traffic monitor cameras, before anyone gets too
enthusiastic about approving them, for any reason those officials are giving
us.. Whether it ever affects you or not, how many people just write those
checks and put them in the mail, in response to the letters they receive ?

hmmm.. Kinda gives me an idea, here.. Maybe you will get an official looking
letter from me and you will be trusting and sincere enough to just write me
a check.. OK.. the letter is in the mail and I'll expect the check within
ten days, or you can expect your youngest born to be vaporized .. How about
it ? Regards

Bill Walker
Irving

 

For those people, I can only say.. "The letter is in the mail and I will be
expection your check"....