Outwitting the PH Police Department
Don't worry, it can't be done. Here's an example of how my own stupidity causes me to blame the bureacrats.April 2004: Katey sends in a check to renew her license/plates. She sends in the amount specified based on the criteria given and by the specified due date.
Katey's check gets returned, saying that as she didn't have a city sticker last year (when she was a resident of a different city), she needs to purchase one, meaning she owes more than was originally specified and submitted.
Katey submits the revised amount.
June 2004: Katey gets a ticket while parked in her building's lot. Violation? Not having a city sticker.
July 2004: Katey pays the fine for the ticket. But, she pays it late, thereby doubling the fine.
Katey forgets about ticket and sticker, which has yet to appear.
November 21, 2004: Katey finds a second ticket on her car. Transgression? Yep, no city sticker. Ticket is due by November 20, 2004.
November 23, 2004: Katey receives a notice stating that her ticket is now past due and the fine has doubled.
Katey digs up cancelled check from the payment of the original ticket. Takes that, second ticket, and notice to the police station.
The woman police officer (WPO) explains - though not exactly politely - that the ticket was for not having the sticker. The sticker still needs to be purchased from city hall. Katey asks how she was to know this, being new to the city, and seeing as how she has already submitted money towards this. WPO shrugs. The sticker, as it is now past due, is now doubled in cost. Katey asks where city hall is and is told that they were closed and she would not be able to purchase sticker today.
Katey then states that she was out of the town - natch, the COUNTRY - during the time of the second ticket. She explains (multiple times) that she was not back until after the ticket was due to be paid, thereby not allowing her even the option of paying it on time. WPO asks for proof of the time out of country. Katey digs through her wallet and finds a receipt from Rome, dated November 18th. She finds another, dated November 17th. WPO accepts that as proof.
WPO then makes a proposition: If Katey can pay for the sticker ($60) AND the ticket ($50) right then and there, WPO will mark the second ticket down to $12. Katey kisses ass and agrees wholeheartedly. Katey whips out her debit card.
WPO explains that they only take checks or cash. Katey doesn't carry checks and has $4 cash. So now, Katey has to make a special trip back to the police station tomorrow, instead of hauling ass out of town directly after work, which will be a short day as it's a holiday eve. The moral of this story? Sometimes you just gotta bend over and take it (and that's a Pappa Peon quote).
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