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My latest crisis: I got pulled over on the interstate recently for improperly wearing a seatbelt. I was wearing the seatbelt, but it was under my arm. They ended up giving me two tickets, but because one ticket was folded inside the other, I didn’t notice the second ticket until I got home. Vaguely enough, the tickets only stated “illegally operated vehicle” without any further specification. I called the small town’s city hall to ask how I should pay the tickets, and why I had two of them. They told me one ticket was for “improbable speed” (whatever that means ) and failure to display insurance. I told him that the charges were not the same as the officers had told me when they pulled me over, but he didn’t care. I looked up the fines and they are enormous. I don’t know what to do. Unfortunately I did not record the incident on my iphone. The city hall officer/spokesman I spoke to said that the officers who pulled me over have video footage that can verify the charges. I asked how this was possible unless they were wearing bodycams, and he told me that they were in fact wearing bodycams. I have no idea whether he’s telling the truth, and I guess the only way to find out is by showing up in court and asking. But if they deny the body cameras, how can I prove the officer/representative lied to me over the phone? I’m not allowed to record the call unless I ask permission first, right? And what am I supposed to say or do in court to defend myself? It’s my word against the two officers who pulled me over.

Sorry for the late update. Got the flu or something here, and I totally forgot to press the button. Discuss this comic in the forum

Tickets and summonses for minor offenses have plummeted by 94 percent and overall arrests have fallen 66 percent since the work stoppage began.