Unpaid Parking Tickets Could Equal Jail Time

It Happened to Me

After a routine traffic stop, I ended up in the slammer. You may find it hard to believe but I was taken in for something
as small as an unpaid parking ticket.

The flow of traffic was light for an early Saturday afternoon. I was listening to the radio and taking a leisurely drive to Manhattan with the intent on visiting a friend and spending the day in New York. I had just passed the sign that noted that I was approaching the last exit in New Jersey. Just as I was about to merge into the entrance lane to the bridge toll, I heard the sirens behind me and saw the red and blue lights flashing on a police cruiser in my rear view mirror. I quickly pulled over to the shoulder and silently thanked God that I had my seatbelt on. When the officer asked me for my license and registration, I handed it to him without hesitation. I felt confident that I would get over with a warning for speeding. There were plenty of other cars speeding to get to the George Washington Bridge.

When it took longer for him to return my documents, I began to worry. By the time a second squad car pulled up behind the first one, I realized something was terribly
wrong. Together they came to car and asked me to leave my vehicle and get in the police car. They never handcuffed me or arrested me but they did ask me if
I knew my license was suspended. Of course I didn't or I wouldn't be driving. I didn't state that obvious fact because I didn't want my mouth to get me into any more trouble than I was already in so I simply said "no". I did as I was instructed and left my vehicle on the side of the road and didn't look back.

As I rode through Fort Lee, I saw it from a whole new angle, through the window in the backseat of a police car. I listened to the radio notifying the officers of other more dangerous and pressing situations than little 'ole me and my suspended license. My mind was in a jumble as I tried to recollect how I could be in this
predicament. All of a sudden I had a flashback.