For the past few months I decided that due to incidents of road rage, the escalating price of gas and the "red" alert air quality warnings, that I would take advantage of riding the "DART" rail into work. I am fortunate to work for a company that pays for a pass for me to ride free of charge and although it makes my commute time longer I am actually enjoying the time I have now to read.
This morning the DART police boarded the train as they sometimes do. They proceeded to ask everyone for their tickets. I start to dig around in my purse for the pass. They get to my seat and say, ticket please. Well I started to panic!! I searched and searched...I started pulling out all sorts of things from my purse. I carry everything in a canvas bag (i.e. umbrella, book, newspaper, you name it I could be on Let's Make A Deal!). NO PASS (it's on my employment badge).
As I madly tear through all my belongings I occasionally look up and say..."I work for
NAME WITHHELD FOR FEAR OF REPRISAL and I have a badge with a pass...I must of left it at home!" The policeman said "I need some I.D. please".
This time I feel everyone on the train looking at me. I'm so embarrassed. What's going to happen to me??
I say to the cop, "I have money to buy a ticket at the next stop". (Thinking back that probably wasn't the smartest thing to say on the train). He said, "Ma'am, you will need to get off at the next stop and I will write you a citation". Now I've been told that a citation for riding the rail without a ticket is $250.00!!! UGHHHHH
He takes my I.D. and walks back to the front of the train and does not ask anyone else for tickets!! I continue my frantic search when alas, in one of the zipper compartments I find my badge. I wave it in the air for all to see..."HERE IT IS!!"
The police officer walks back to my seat, hands me my I.D. and says "Thank you ma'am, have a nice day". They must learn that at the academy...no one has a nice day when and if they are about to get a ticket.
Moral of the story...Do NOT get on the train unless you are certain you have a
ticket to ride! The Beatles were right,
She's got a ticket to ride, and she don't care!
