Ah, parking enforcement. Everyone’s favorite branch of the police. Today was I am sitting at Starbucks on campus, watching the sleet, snow, rain, hail and other assorted kinds of weather happen, there were two cars parked illegally along the yellow-lined curb near Starbucks and TCF. The parking enforcement cops pulled up and walked toward the two cars to give them tickets. In the next few seconds, the owners of both cars came running forth from wherever they were.
The driver of the car parked farther from the cops had the advantage. She just got into her car and backed up as fast as possible, evading the cop trying to get her license plate. Success. The other driver wasn’t so lucky. After some sort of verbal disagreement and the woman trying to back away from the traffic cop, but getting trapped by another car, and a solid hood pounding by the traffic cop, the woman was handed a ticket, which she ripped out of the hands of the cop.
The cop then proceeded to laugh and get in the car with her partner, where they both laughed. This is exactly what I see traffic cops doing in my head when I receive a ticket. My worst fears have been realized.
