By Melisa Giovani

This is one funny true story. I was heading back to my car from Urth Cafe, enjoying my last hour of freedom before heading back to school for a class. Beneath the wind shield, I saw a familiar white envelope with ticket. I got my first parking ticket! Well, in fact, there are two of them: one for parking in an area that turns into private parking area after 6, ($47!) another one for not having the license plate display on the front part of my car. ($25)

I know. I know. I remember throwing the bracket for the front license plate when I was about to move out of Indiana a year back. (Indiana only requires drivers to show the back license plate) I was 'practical' enough not to realize that California requires both displays of the front and back license plates.

So, those tickets came from the city of Santa Monica.

Last weekend, i parked the car on Bunker Hill Street in Downtown Los Angeles, As expected, another $25 ticket for the absence of display of the front license plate. (Within the span of 1 day) This time, i was donating to the city of Los Angeles.

Don't worry. This would be the last one. On Monday, I headed down to Brazil Consulate to obtain a tourist visa. I was proud of myself for finding a residential street parking area without having to pay for the coin slot. When I got back, guess what? 2 tickets from the city of Beverly Hills! One for parking in an area that requires parking permit ($45) and of course $35 for the non-display of front license plate.

Now, I realize that the city of Beverly Hills gives more punitive fines than other cities I've been to. And of course I was 'quick' enough to take the action of buying a new bracket for the front license plate. I am NOT going to be the benefactor of all other cities in Los Angeles area anymore. (Though I thought it would be cool to add cities of Torrence, El Segundo, and Inglewood to my collection) After all, I am just a poor college student who's been asked to pay the government $32 for tax (While others are rewarded for their tax returns. Remember, the deadline for tax return is April 15th.:D)  

So, let's count the entire cost of this ticket saga: 47+25+25+45+10, (I was able to contest Beverly Hills' ticket for not displaying front plate since I've made a correction of buying the bracket. Amount of fine was thus reduced to $10. Yeay!) added with the $37.72 bracket, the grand total is...$189.72! 

Anyway, let's not fret over things that are done and dealt with. At least, i do learn my mistake. :)