Monday, September 23, 2013

Forgive Me for I have Sinned... Twice in One Week

As the leader of our family and the driver of our rented vehicle, I was a bit stressed setting out on an unknown road in two foreign countries heading for two locations which I had never visited.

I got the rental car early Friday, swung by the apartment, picked up our luggage and Brenda and headed out.

Just before we got to the South Africa border post, the Botswana police caught me in a speed trap.  Speed traps are VERY popular in both countries, I discovered.  They position themselves just over the crest of a hill where the speed quickly drops from 120 to 100 and then more quickly to 80 and about 100 meters later to 60 (37.2 mph).  They were very nice, but i got the speeding ticket anyway.

Lesson learned.

At the end of our trip in Kimberly, it was Saturday night and the streets were near empty.  I pulled up to a red light and stopped.  I assumed you could make a left turn on red (equivalent to a right turn in USA).

Nope.

But in Botswana, a ticket is the start of your penalty.  I hate owing money, so I headed out Monday to pay my fine.  I know of ONE police station in Gabs, but it is in a convenient location, and I needed to get my passport copy certified, so off I went.  Got the passport copy stamped, and went to pay my fine. 

"No can do." said the policeman.  "Our receipt book isn't here.  Might be here tomorrow afternoon, maybe Wednesday."

Where Can I go to pay this?" 

"Go to the police station down by the small bus station."

"Where's that?"  No help here.

We set our in search of the police station.

After asking two folks we find it in an unmarked decrepit building.

"Nope, we don't have the receipt book.  You gotta go to the Urban station.  Go down three lights and turn left."

At least we got directions.

After some searching, and only asking one guy, we found another building, no sign, but similar to the second one.

Finally our fine is paid.  Don't recall ever being so happy to pay a fine.

Prov 28:13 "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy."

Consider me to have forsaken speeding (for while at least).

Now you slow down too!



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