On may 8, I sent one of my employees on an errand. He drove a Fiat Uno. On May 10, I received a notice of contravention (number 119-05383-8) by post, citing a Fiat, BAO 264, was being driven without a licence exposed on the left-hand side of the windscreen that can be easily seen.

I personally inspected the vehicle and found the licence was affixed properly. I paid the fine via the Internet on May 12.

I have serious reservations on this system of meting out fines. I do not want to believe that this is an easy way for local councils or the government to collect money. Nor would I want to believe that wardens are given instructions to dish out a certain amount of tickets per day.

But I have to ask: why was not my employee stopped so that the matter could be sorted out with him and any wrongdoing pointed out there and then?

If I were to challenge this contravention at a tribunal sitting, accompanied by my employee, what chance do I have of making the judicial commissioner believe me? Besides, the amount of time that we have to spare to be present makes no sense when compared to the Lm10 fine. Time is money! Are we citizens being abused because of this very-well known fact?

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