Aren't those lovely words. Three words I have had personal experience with in the last 4 days. You read that right. I have always considered myself a law abiding citizen, done what I can to follow the most important rules, recognizing that some can be bent a bit. I am here to tell you rules don't bend in Virginia and there is a rule, multiple rules to everything. I am breaking rules I don't even know exist. The consequences are not small either we are talking to the tune of a $150 tow bill, TWICE!!! Now I know by posting this I am admitting to years of sheltered living, riding on the good name of my father and getting away with way too many stupids things in Rexburg but I am here to tell you Virginia is rediculous.
Since moving to the wonderful state of Virginia, which they claim was settled by Jamestown, so I am living in the oldest state in America, in case you were wondering; (i am not sure the punctuation on that sentence. A little help Chels?) I have had my car towed twice, sat at the DMV for 4+ hours and still have to go back, had a parking ticket in my own parking spot, replaced a muffler, been told my car was too noisy to pass a saftey inspection, my bank statement to a local bank with my address on it couldn't count as proof of residency, and on and on all so that I can pay a tax to drive my car in this wonderful state.
By moving to Virginia I have had to give up every outward appearance of Idahoness I have, my licsence, my plates, the title to my car, you name it. Of course all of this comes with a significant price tage attatched. I think I am just having a hard time being forced to pay money to become a resident of a state I don't care to be a resident of just yet. But I must or my car gets towed....
Allow me to explain, today I was having a great day. Getting the last boxes put away, fixing the stroller, cleaning out the car. I was checkin' off the list. At about 4 pm the girls and I headed to the gas station to vacumn out the car. On our way home I noticed a yellow/orange envelope under my windsheild. "That is not a ticket? How could I have a ticket? I have been in the house all day." Sure enough ticket for not having plates on my car and parking in unauthorized off street parking. This was in my complex parking lot!!! Apparently, the state was just kidding when it said you had 30 days to register your car in VA. To their credit the temporary registration we had expired on Friday. I was planning on putting our new plates (that took us three tries to get) on our cars tonight. Apparently I was too late.
After spotting my ticket I immediately looked around for Scott's car. It was gone!!! No where to be found. The car that still had a valid permit was towed because it didn't have the proper parking sticker in the window, because the 4 times we had attempted to get the temporary one, during office hours, the manager was not in the office. We couldn't get an acutal permit beacuse we have to have proof we paid the property tax on our car which we can't get until our cars were registered which we couldn't do because, both of us had to be there (1st attempt - no community property in VA) and we didn't have proper proof of residency (2nd attempt-see above) What do you about that. So, the first day, Scott doesn't have his car at work, it is gone.
Scott is in Chicago mind you, I have Kayt and Ella and know nobody within 20 minutes to help me out. Thank goodness, the tow company was only two miles away and I have a stroller.
I am so tired of all of the hoops you have to jump through out here. My only beef is this, if you are going to have a billion laws, make it possible to follow them!!!
I am at the laughing phase now because you can't be mad about it. It gets you no where and you have no way to stick it to them. You just have to take it up the tale pipe. It is a very helpless feeling to say the least.
Anyway, that was a sufficient rant. Stay tuned for mores tales of hard knocks by the country bumpkins. Until then love to all!
