I forgot to pay the registration fee for my minivan. We had the car inspected and never sent in the $33 for the tags. Totally slipped my mind (for the past 4 months).
While I was picking my husband up at the airport, with three little girls in the car, driving 20 MPH through the airport a nice police officer turned on his blue lights. The nice police officer reminded me that I forgot to pay my registration fee. He reminded me with a ticket and a court date. Yup, this was a great reminder. Apparently, a warning would not do.
Today, was the court date. I had to take the morning off of work, find the courthouse downtown (so happy that I don’t know where this is located), find a parking ramp, pay for parking, walk to the courthouse, go through a metal detector and wait in line with my paid registration receipt.
In addition to people with traffic violations… I stood in a parallel line with people that had been arrested and been in jail. I heard someone being asked if they had “posted bond.” Lovely.
Once my name was called… I walked up and was asked “Did you pay your registration fee?” I showed my receipt and said “yes” and made an embarrassed laugh. I did not get a chuckle or even a smile in return. I was told “The case is dismissed. You are free to go.”
What?? Were they planning on detaining me over $33?
I wanted to remind someone, anyone that I just forgot to pay my registration fee (for the past 4 months).
Point made. Lesson learned. I will never, ever forget to send in the $33 registration fee again.
Ever.
