Being lucky...

Saturday evening, I parked my car on the side of the road to buy a few things from the mini supermarket across the street. As I popped out of the shop a few minutes later I saw a police constable taking me a contravention. It’s only then that I noticed that I was parked on a single yellow line. The law says you can upload and unload goods on a single yellow line. As I approached the car he asked if it as mine and then for my permit. I kindly asked him to wait and got someone at the shop help me to put the goods I bought into the trunk. The PC waited and after I handed him my permit he asked if I have family in the police. As far as I remember I don’t but still told him I knew the ACP though, which is true :). The guy seems not to know who his ACP is, fair enough I though and asked him who is responsible or anyone I can contact for this contravention to be removed. He then gave me a number and claimed it was that of their office, while in fact it was a cell phone number. Hmm something fishy going on me thought. I noted that down together with the PC’s name and drove off. Later that evening I called the number the he gave me and a Corporal took the phone. I planned to record the conversation on my mobile and if ever anything is mentioned about bribe I would have filed a case against them. As he answered and introduced himself, I asked him about the contravention that the other guy took me and he said he does not know a thing about it and could not do anything. I asked him who I was speaking to several times to make sure I knew his name. When the called ended though I notice that the conversation was not recorded, grrrr… Any case I think that the guy at the other end suspected that as at the end of the call he seemed angry and was getting nervous. I let it go thinking that I would plead non guilty for this since I could argue over that contravention. Later that night I got several missed calls on my mobile, I did not take the calls as I did not want to get bothered by students again at that time.

This morning again I got several missed calls from the same number and this time I did not notice them as I was busy getting ready for office. When I finally took the call later in the morning, a guy confirmed my name and introduced himself; it was the same PC who took me a contravention that Saturday and he was calling from the police station. He kindly told that I need not worry about the contravention and that he will not file it as he is giving me a chance. I was surprised and puzzled, so much that I did not know what to say. I said ok and he said no worries he’s giving me a chance this time but it’s a penalty to park on where I was. Hmmm that’s kind of fishy again. In anyway I guess he came over his decision when he realised something, but what? He could have finally remembered who his ACP was, his friend the Corporal could have told him he suspects I tried to trap them, he could know someone who is related to me or he may simply be a good person… I would probably never know but I won’t complain over that.