insuring your happieness

i knew this would be expensive…

…but DAMN!

so the other day i got pulled over and something happened that hadn’t happened in FOREVER – i actually got a ticket. i had been pulled over twice in the last couple of years, both times talked my way out of it. the last time i got pulled over before all THAT was back in the active warrant days, i instantly started texting people where i was, where they’d take me, etc, etc…only for him to not even run my license (clearly) and just let me go.

count your blessings, i suppose.

well, that was a couple years ago – but this time i actually got a ticket…for no insurance. i’m not gonna lie, i was kinda cocky about it. i knew i needed insurance anyway and had planned on getting some, i knew the judge i would appear before, and the last time i had gotten a “no insurance” ticket (which i believe was over a decade ago) the guy had let me off since “i had insurance THEN (as in the by the time i was in court).

who knew it had gotten so much rougher?

i walked in, presented my insurance card, and figured there we were – till he pointed out that i didn’t have it at the time i got pulled over, so he just HAD to enforce the violation…but he would wave $200 of the $312 fine and i would just pay $112.

“not bad”, i thought…but there was a but. a BIG “but”. a big but not even sir mix-a-lot would like…i can not lie. turns out in addition to the local fines, the great state of texas has followed the lead of other states like cali and instituted a points system, where you get extra state fines just to keep your license – and the “no insurance” ticket is not part of the points system…it’s part of the “surcharge” system.

the charge? $250 per year for first offense…for three years. so after a spotless driving record for the better part of a decade i now get to pay the state of texas $750 over the next three years just to keep my license?

that’s bullshit!

being a small town the pamphlet i got from the judge was far from new, told me about the points system and surcharges, but mentioned the no insurance fine would be part of the their new amnesty program (for first time offenders) to be instituted at some point during 2009 – which was LAST year.

nothing else mentioned about it, and nothing on their website, either.

so believe you me, before i start handing over cash i WILL be seeing what the fuck is up with hooking a brotha up with some amnesty…hey, i’m irish – can we get bono on this bitch to write a letter on my behalf or something?