Canine red tape

My friend's dog didn't have a police licence. How many Maltese dogs do?

Someone reported this serious misdemeanour to the police. My friend promptly offered to pay any fine contemplated by law, even though she was not aware of such an obligation after over a decade living in Malta. A fine? She must be kidding: it's a criminal offence that needs to be heard before a magistrate.

The other day she waited from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (not unusual) before she was called to answer the charge. The police officer-prosecutor was there too all this time. She pleaded guilty and explained that she had offered to pay any fine.

The magistrate, however, believed in her sincerity and imposed on her simply an obligation to acquire a licence. She was thrilled and went straight to the police station to comply. Out came her cheque book, but back it went into her handbag. The cost of the licence (listen carefully) was one lira! Her car parking fee alone cost her more than that!

I am now re-reading The World of Don Camillo.