TTAS

To say that twenty-year-old Paula Kelly is a procrastinator is something of an understatement. She’s the queen of “I’ll do it later,” especially when it comes to “those annoying fines.”

“Better pay them,” her father advised, “you’ll regret it, sooner or later.”

Later was always her motto for things she didn’t want to do.

“OK, OK!” she told her Dad. “It’s on my ‘to do’ list, right there at the top!”

Well, not exactly right at the top. Right at the top of the list was a much more appealing task: acquiring a brand new home entertainment centre. And then it happened; the regret part, that is.
Her driver’s license was suspended because of the unpaid fines. Paula was outraged because she drives everywhere. She is definitely not a public transportation type of girl and it was going to be a good week or so before she could get it together to pay her fines.

And one evening, while her license was still suspended, a craving for ice cream got the better of her.

“Hum… Walk or drive?” she debated to herself. What harm could possibly come by driving her car just a “tiny” half block down the road to the nearest Ben & Jerry’s? What could happen in half a block, right? Wrong. One of her tail lights was defective and she was pulled over and subsequently charged with Drive Suspended. She knew she was in trouble now.

Every person who is convicted of driving a motor vehicle with a suspended licence is liable, for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $1,000 (and not more than $5,000), and for each subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $2,000 (and not more than $5,000), or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or both.

In a panic, Paula asked her father for help. He took her down to TTAS because he had used their services before and he knew they were highly effective. The paralegal team member who took Paula’s case told her that she was smart to contest any and all traffic tickets because of the demerit points involved. Paula had always thought you lost points from your driving record, when it fact they accumulate, causing you big insurance problems and other headaches down the road.

Paula was amazed and ecstatic when her charge ended up being dismissed. “Thank goodness!” she declared in relief. A week without wheels? Pure torture…”

Her father rolled his eyes.