Especially if those friends happen to be members of the Citiy Council of the District of Columbia:
D.C. Council members have long distributed to family and friends special license plates that have accrued more than $20,000 in city parking fines, which the plate owners likely will not have to pay.
Since the early 1970s, council members and the mayor have bestowed the license plates — which feature low numbers — as political prizes. The 13 council members have exempted themselves from parking restrictions and fines since 2001.
Of course they have. After all, why should politicians and their family and friends have to comply with the laws that us mere mortals are subject to ?
In 2001, council members voted to exempt themselves from many parking restrictions when on official business. If members are ticketed, they can submit their tickets to the secretary of the council, who contacts the DMV to have the tickets revoked.
Council member Vincent B. Orange Sr., a Ward 5 Democrat running for mayor, has not submitted the tickets associated with his vanity plate since May 11, 2004, when he was issued a ticket in the 1100 block of Constitution Avenue NW for parking during rush hour.
Mr. Orange has $720 in tickets associated with his plate.
Violations on plates issued by the current council date as far back as 1999. \
Council members have a total 459 tags available to distribute. As of yesterday, 72 holders of those plates owed the city money for parking tickets.
Money which, of course, will never be repaid.
