Affording to not give cookies

(Source: ASDA Good Living)

     Getting stopped by policemen at a traffic blockage yesterday gave me some juice for thoughts. Me and Ondeh were on our way to a concert in the city centre, when they waved us to the side. It was a surprise to be picked, as we would both pass off as locals (Real deal on my side, while Ondeh is Indian, but not Malaysian).

They were surprised at me being local, and looked slightly relieved discovering Ondeh's non-localness. Checked our bags, and asked for IC and driving licenses. They tried to find issues with Ondeh's driving licence, but he has checked with the Ministry of Transportation, and as well with other traffic police encounters in random blockage where we lived. Hence, there aren't any problems with his documents. Yet the policemen tried to waffle about it being not right, and about how we would get a summon.

In short, I asked him to issue me the summon, with perhaps a tone in my voice of "let's get this over with". I was irate. The venue we were heading to was about 400 metres away and we are late. Plus they just gave me some long-winded shittiest acting I've ever seen in my life (eg, looking at the documents with a ponderous look and calling another officer over and going, oh, what are we to doooo etc), and my eyes was internally rolling so fast it could power some electrical appliance. If it is a real issue, write up the fine and stop wasting my time. But of course, there isn't an issue. They wanted some cookies. He wasn't too happy with this, and decided to be "nice" by letting us go with a warning.

     Driving on later, I recalled the other time I was stopped by some policemen in an unfamiliar territory. I did a U-turn in an isolated road, and the next thing I knew, the sirens were up. Apparently that turn was illegal. They did the whole gig of back-and-forth as well. Only, at that time, I had started my career with low pay. The summons would cost RM300. I remember, despite my principles, I was tempted. Very. That was a big big amount at that time.

Yet principles stood, and furthermore it was the fasting month, so I told him to pass me the summons and knock off a point under my probational driving license if they had to. They let me off.

I would say that I'm lucky to be where I am now; to have potential summons as a financial irritation rather than a threat to my financial well-being. I thought about the people who doesn't have that option, hence, for them, the tacit offer of cookies are a relief.