It is easy to see when
some people do not do a good job of parking their vehicle. I've seen
vehicles take up two parking spots. I've struggled to get around
vehicles that are an excessive distance from the curb. There have
been drivers without a handicapped sticker who have parked in
handicapped parking spots and more. The frustrating thing is with a
little effort, these parking faux pas can be avoided. Some police
have provided such people with a coloring assignment.
“Why are taking up
three parking spots. You really shouldn't park sideways in a parking
lot.”
“Oh, I'm only going
to be here for a short time. I'm going to pick up some groceries, stop
at the bank, get a prescription filled and look for a new pair of
shoes. I'll be back here quickly.”
“That is not a short
time. It could take you hours to do all of that.”
“Well, if I park as
people want me to then I would have to back out and that would be
unsafe. This is much safer for me. Everyone can see me and I can
see everyone.”
“Other drivers also
hate you.”
“I think it's because
I color better than them.”
Below are excerpts from
the story with my valuable insights in italics.
All you really need to
know you learned in kindergarten…including how to park a car.
At least that’s the
philosophy of one Southlake, Tex., police officer who came up with an
original way to teach a lesson to someone who parked a pickup across
two spaces.
I suppose giving a
parking ticket doesn't teach the necessary lessons about poor
parking. It is a lesson that comes with a financial cost. I imagine
we should appreciate this unique way to get people to park correctly.
I've seen so many bad parking jobs, I believe it's possible for
there to be people who consider parking tickets as part of the costs
associated with owning and driving their vehicle.
“You've paid your
insurance and monthly car payment. What are these other charges?”
“Parking tickets?”
“Why do you get so
many parking tickets?”
“Hey, parking where you want and how you want doesn't come cheap.”
“Hey, parking where you want and how you want doesn't come cheap.”
“Oh.”
The Ram truck was over the
line and encroaching on a handicapped spot, so the artistic officer
drew a coloring book style page with an outline of the department’s
badge that read:
“We noticed you had a
little trouble staying in the lines when you parked next to a
handicapped space … Maybe if you practice coloring our patch and
staying in the lines here, it could help you avoid citations in the
future?”
I would have loved it
if they would have told this person to drop their coloring assignment
off at the police station. A police officer could look at it, grade
it and then give this person another one.
“What is this
coloring assignment?”
“Oh, it's a picture
of a prison cell.”
“Why do I have to
color a picture of a prison cell?”
“We've heard you're
looking for a job as a prison guard and thought this is something you
could add to your application.”
“Oh.”
“Oh.”
It appears the driver
got off with the colorless warning for the minor infraction, which
could have been fined $200.
I'm sure the driver
came away from this situation thinking if they are good at coloring,
they can avoid parking tickets.
“I have too many
parking tickets.”
“You need to learn
how to color inside the lines.”
“Why? I avoided a $200 parking ticket by promising to color inside the lines.
I don't know the connection between coloring and parking, but if it
helps me avoid an expensive parking ticket, I'm all for it.”
“Do they have coloring books you could complete to avoid speeding tickets?”
“Do they have coloring books you could complete to avoid speeding tickets?”
“If not, they
should.”
(Sarcasm Alert)
If this proves to be an
effective way to have parking violators follow the law, the police
may expand this program. They may ask people who are burglars to
build something with legos. Someone accused of running from police
may be required to play an intense game of chutes and ladders. A
girl accused of shoplifting could be forced to play a game of Barbie
dress up. I'm sure the list of future crimes that could be deterred
using this intense method of punishment is endless.
Here is a link to the
article.
https://www.foxnews.com/auto/cops-burn-bad-parking-job-with-coloring-book-lesson-on-staying-inside-the-lines
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If you think THIS is a
little funny. Check out my book
The Longer You Live The
Older You Get
Or my other one
I Speak Cursive Like a
Baby Boomer
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