Ten Dollars and No Points: Yeah Right!

 I remember (almost ten years ago now) I had semi-heated back and forth debate with a staffer who worked for the original author of the “primary enforcement” of seatbelts law.  After I read him the basic conservative (and obvious) reasons why we should not go down the path of stopping people for not wearing seatbelts.  He simply smiled and ended the conversation with “its ten dollars and no points.”  I thought to myself, I guess not everyone gets it. 

As I was driving along late morning on a fairly warm summer day this past July I noticed a police car (Menomonee Falls) approaching from behind with lights flashing and I immediately pulled over to let it by.  Most folks would have probably looked at their speedometer to check their speed but I religiously use my cruise control, speeding tickets never made any sense to me.  It was to my surprise that I was getting pulled over for a seatbelt violation. It’s only ten dollars and no points" the officer said and handed me my ticket.  I said to myself, “what’s the point?”

I went to my court date this past week at the village hall.  After sitting in a room with about fifty people I must admit I was surprised to only wait an hour to talk to the “Village prosecutor”.  As I approached the gentleman reassured me that it’s only Ten dollars and there are no points.  I said great “let’s just forget about it”, he said “I can’t do that, it’s only ten dollars and there are no points, it seems
silly to go any further with this.”  I said “your right is it dropped then?”  He
said “sorry I can’t do that I wasn’t there.” I said “but it’s only ten dollars and there are no points.”  I’m waiting for my court date to arrive by snail mail. 

Ten dollars and no points; does anyone believe that?