I'm really kind of upset about getting a citation today. I couldn't imagine someone actually being overjoyed but I'm upset at the situation in which it was given.
When she first pulled me over, I had no idea WHY she tailed me and then pulled me over right before entering into a school zone, did I miss the speed change and she was going to cite me for it? No.
We just moved back after living in Italy, we were stationed in Italy an entire four years, which doesn't seem like a big deal but there are little things you don't consider when moving back to the states.
I asked my husband a few days ago, when we were going to register our car and he said when we were told. I'm not entirely sure that's the correct answer but I don't really know anything about car registration so I'm not sure what the process is (time to grow up and learn these things). I figured we'd get to it as soon as we could but I didn't realize we only had 60 days (from our arrival according to a friend -- which we didn't get our car until late January so not sure how that works either). Either way, I do believe we were still within our 60 day range of picking up our vehicle and returning it to Las Vegas.
I guess what I am really upset about is she could have informed me on what to do. I guess they don't cover that in the re-integration back into the states briefings that Matt attended when we got here. It's not something I'm saying is entirely the police departments fault but she cited me with a $190.00 ticket for something trivial....
The reason I find it trivial is she could have informed me what I needed to do have spending four years away from my country so that my husband could do his job. We aren't malicious, we aren't doing this to break the law. It's just something we haven't done, a friendly reminder would have done the same thing but now I have to go to court so I'm not paying $190 for something that wasn't "unlawful" or "unwilling". When Matt is at work, I don't have a car. It seems like a lame excuse and it is, but with an international move, buying a house, returning a vehicle to another state. We hadn't thought about registering the car as a top priority.
So my advice to all my comrades joining us from their long tours overseas, register your vehicle sooner rather than later. The PD doesn't entirely understand the sacrifices you and your family have been making and will charge you for it.
Ray had the same problem, but was pulled over on base - as he only uses his car for work. He didn't get a ticket, but the getting pulled over was enough to make him go and get his registration figure out (the car getting towed also was a swift kick too). Matt should be able to get a letter from his commander that waives the fee of registering the car in NV for this year - you guys will have to pay the following year though :( And, the fee/ticket will prob get waived if you get the registration and show the commanders letter - I hope! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kristen! Matt is out getting the letter signed and then headed to the DMV. --- See, if the police officer had just warned me that it wasn't going to fly then I'd understand but citing me with a $190 was a little over kill on a not so detrimental problem.
ReplyDeleteI really hope it is waived and we're hoping it is but the idea of paying $190 is just nauseating(& a waste of $$$$)!