All I got from the Sheriff were speeding tickets. But wait! It gets better. For eight hours during the classic car show at Bluffs Park on July 31, my daughter, Amber, and I stood under the LA County Sheriff’s windy tent selling our 2006 Malibu Impressions Calendar with all the proceeds going to the LA County Sheriff. Tired at the end of the day, we went to our parked car only to find a $50 parking ticket from the Sheriff.
“That’s unfair,” said the people who laughed at us. “Explain that to the Sheriff and get it off. If the parking attendant told you to park at the red curb, then it’s not your fault. You deserve better,” they chuckled. For a minute I thought about it and then did not feel bad. I did park at the red curb and should not have listened to the parking attendant. He directed me to park there. But it was illegal. He and I were wrong. A red curb is a red curb is a red curb.
Most of the time, most of us feel that we deserve this or are entitled to that because we are special. But the fact is that none of us is special. We are just different. If everyone thought they were entitled to a variance from the established law and order, what kind of society would we end up with?
Deputies may not all be angels. But within our borders they risk their lives more than any other segment. And if they are constantly challenged they will lose their guiding compass. So it is essential to support them especially if you subscribe to Bob Dylan’s song, “People are crazy and times are strange.”
If I find the deputy who ticketed me, I will give him a free calendar and thank him for a job well done.
K. Jeffrey Asfour