Monday

Today I went to New Jersey and that made think about something.

We all remember the traffic fiasco a last year before Election Day that backed up traffic to the George Washington Bridge on the Jersey side. Everybody claimed it was politically motivated on behalf of the governor. As far as I know there are investigations going on right now about this whole affair.

Well, here is something that I think is totally unfair and I don't believe it is legal.

Over a week ago my cousin was involved in an accident in Jersey where thankfully neither his wife or him were hurt. Not even the car. The accident involved a few motor vehicles and was caused by something else.

I am trying to be very vague purposely as you can imagine.

Police came within minutes and because there were other injuries they conducted an accident investigation. My cousin was told that he had to go to the police barracks to prepare a statement but since the investigation was ongoing he had to leave his car right on the road even though his car was in perfect condition.

The police assured him that there was nothing to worry about and they would take him and his wife back to the car when everything was done.

Sounded good, besides this was not a multiple choice proposition.

They went went with the police and prepared all the necessary paperwork. When all was done they did take them back but not to the road where the car was left but to a yard where their car was towed by a private towing company.

The entire thing took about two and a half hour but in order to get the car released they had to pay over $300. The rate was about $110 per hour and the clock started running from when the towing company got the call from the police.

Now I ask: is this a racket between the New Jersey State Police and the towing company or what?

Can you imagine a poor tourist decides to drive to New York, gets involuntarily into an accident, him or his car are not hurt at all but at the end he is still clipped for several hundred dollars.

I guess this takes the place of the old speed traps!