Neither my old but well-kept Buick,
nor my partner's two-year-old van, could
pass this safety test because of minor—
but not unsafe—flaws. But the difference
between our vehicles and that of the 19-
year-old student is that ours are driven by
‘mature’ people who carry large insurance
policies. According to our mechanic, these
inspections are a legal way for cops to
pull young drivers with older model auto-
mobiles off the road. Apparently, as the
VW had already passed AirCare, ICBC
would not have demanded a safety inspec-
tion had the police officer written up his
warning ticket for less than three minor
defects.

xample number two of bureaucracy
adhering to a ridiculous set of
rules involves the old adage: “You
can't fight City Hall” which appears to be
true in the fair City of Victoria where I spent a few days in
April.

I had stopped at a Yates Street parking meter which lured
me with the promise of 15 minutes-of time for 25 cents. I
fell for the bait, depositing two quarters into the obliging
slot and was miffed when the meter rang up only 20 min-
utes. But parking meters are not like pay phones—which
refund your money if you change your mind about making a
call—and my mistake was in assuming that the meter was
faulty. In all innocence I thought I had paid for 30 minutes.
I locked the car, returning 29.50 minutes later to discover a
parking ticket under my windshield wiper which informed
me that I had parked in a 20 minute parking zone, and that
I now owed the City of Victoria $7.50. Yeah! Right!

I searched in vain for information on how I could dispute
the ticket, enter photographic evidence of a seductive,
deceitful parking meter, throw myself—a tourist yet!—on
the mercy of the court, but there was nothing. Speeding
tickets may be challenged, but not City of Victoria parking
ickets. Where was justice? This fugitive high-tailed it to the
ferry.

One month later, a nifty little communication arrived

from the City of Victoria announcing that I had committed
offence which would now cost $20 if I paid up by a cer-
ain date, and $35 after that date. Non-failure to pay would
esult in a bench warrant being issued for my arrest. Arrest?

n handcuffs? For a $7.50 parking ticket? Cool! I'd get my

 

 

day in court after all.

I talked to my sister-in-law who not
only lives in our provincial capital, but
who is also'a member of the Law
Society.

“Pay up!” She said, “You can't fight
City Hall.”

If I wasn't a college student in dire
need of my education, I would have
debated that with the sheriff who
served the bench warrant, but my sis-
ter-in-law paid the ticket for me. She
has learned that it's easier to give in
than to fight the petty battles.

We may be hurtling towards the
new millennium in real time, but
politically we're heading back to
Orwell’s 1984.

 
     

 

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OPinion May 19) AR ,