Today we received notice from Chamonix, France authorities that we are being ticketed for two moving violations back in May, each in the same spot, one the day we arrived there and the other the day we left. One ticket is for 60 kmh in a 50, the other 63 in a fifty. Translated to mph, that is 37 mph in a 31, and 39 in a 31. The fine for each violation is €135, or about $147. Since we were driving our daughter’s car, we have to make sure that authorities know it was us and not her. At this point I have given her a photo of my driver’s license and told her if need be I can also do an affidavit that I was the driver. The laws in France are tough on moving violations, and I imagine it would affect her insurance as well.
Come to think of it, it will affect our insurance too, if word gets back and these days, you know it will.
When I saw the large fines versus the minor violation, my first thought was maudit piège à vitesse, or goddamned speed trap. (That is Google translate, so don’t blame me if it is inaccurate.) There is nothing we can do about it as we have to protect our daughter, and even though the offense was minor, that is not an argument in our defense. We are out $294.

Prior to discussing the Streisand Effect, I am reminded of radio talk show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger, heard on weekdays on SiriusXM channel 111. She is currently 75 years old and going strong. Back before the proliferation of Sirius channels she was usually heard on AM radio. The program was very popular. Even as I was a liberal at the time, and her advice very conservative, I liked her and had very little trouble with her advice, which was stern, sensible and straightforward.
