George W. Bush, Still at Large

Via the trouble-makers at Cryptome, evidence that George Bush owes the DC guvmint some scratch. Some $225 in parking tickets have been issued to the 800-002 tagged presidential limo this year. Hard to say which is funnier, that Limo One got ticketed or that some DC traffic cop ticketed Limo One.

Better still, roll up the executive branch plate list a few digits and you'll find signs that Clinton era rides, circa 1998, rolled up some $450 in fines that as yet remain unpaid.

Here's to DC officials one day slapping an ugly orange boot on the offending limo. Or, via the Secret Service, die trying.

Comments

[thoreau]

I'm surprised that a traffic cop would even be allowed to slap a ticket under the windshield wiper without being attacked by Secret Service.

[M]

Sometime in the last century a DC traffic cop ticketed a presidential limo for an infraction. He said he thought it was a test.

Boy, it'll be nice when we start treating one another like adults.

/rantlet

[Terry]

Hu, just because the license plate number is registered to a Presidential limousine doesn't mean that the license plate is on a Presidential limousine.
Didn't you ever hear of forgeries or practical jokes?

[Isaac Bartram]

While out for a morning ride President Grant was stopped by a DC patrolman for riding to fast. He was issued a ticket which he paid.

One version of the story has it that when he recognized whom he had stopped the cop tried to wave him on and excuse him but the president insisted that he be treated like any other citizen.

Unlike Washington's cherry tree story this one seems to be essentially true even if it may have been embellished.

I wonder if future generations will fabricate stories demonstrating the great character of any of the recent holders of the office.

[Buckshot]

Alert Secret Service Agents quickly wrestled the parking ticket to the ground.

[Tom Bux]

I would think for the safetey of the President, his limo should be allowed to park where ever it will facilitate a fast getaway in case of an attack or threat to his life. You wouldn't want the President to die because he was waiting for valet parking to retrieve his car.

[Dan T.]

This seems a little fishy...I'm pretty sure that anywhere the Prez goes, the Secret Service makes arraingements weeks ahead of time down to the last detail. I can't imagine this doesn't include reserving a parking spot.

[Jennifer]

I wonder if future generations will fabricate stories demonstrating the great character of any of the recent holders of the office.

"Lesser men would run around screaming in terror, to discover their country was under attack. But Wise President Bush merely sat with the calmness of The Great Ones while the younglings finished reading 'My Pet Goat.'"

[Seamus]

This seems a little fishy...I'm pretty sure that anywhere the Prez goes, the Secret Service makes arraingements weeks ahead of time down to the last detail. I can't imagine this doesn't include reserving a parking spot.

I suspect there is more than one "presidential limousine" and that any particular limousine is not necessarily, at any given time, transporting the president. I find it perfectly plausible that, while another limo was carrying the pres to some function, some Secret Service agent was using the limo in question to pick up his laundry.

However, I'm looking forward to the constitutional crisis that ensues when the D.C. government refuses to renew the Secret Service's auto registration because of the unpaid parking tickets.

[R C Dean]

You wouldn't want the President to die because he was waiting for valet parking to retrieve his car.

If the froth 'n spittle content of their comments is any indication, plenty of H & R posters would like to see exactly that, would be my guess.

[ChrisO]

Given that it's DC, one cannot assume that either (1) any parking infraction actually occurred, or (2) multiple infractions occurred--DC parking cops have a funny way of piling several tickets on top of one another on the same car each time they circle the block, in order to meet quota. Parking in DC is very much an "assumption of risk."

[P Brooks]

R C Dean | October 31, 2006, 10:06am | #

You wouldn't want the President to die because he was waiting for valet parking to retrieve his car.

If the froth 'n spittle content of their comments is any indication, plenty of H & R posters would like to see exactly that, would be my guess.

__________

I am prepared to allow him due process.

[JW]

You wouldn't want the President to die because he was waiting for valet parking to retrieve his car.

A good tip to the valet at drop-off would take care of that problem.

[bubba]

Q: Do DC traffic cops actually sign the tickets? That would take cojones.

[Ethan]

If the froth 'n spittle content of their comments is any indication, plenty of H & R posters would like to see exactly that, would be my guess.

No, President Cheney would be no better than the President we have now: President Cheney.

[Apostate Jew]

You wouldn't want the President to die because he was waiting for valet parking to retrieve his car.

All Presidents should be required to ride in open cars, if only to give Vice Presidents some hope.

"The graveyards are full of indispensable men."

[ChrisO]

Q: Do DC traffic cops actually sign the tickets? That would take cojones.

They're unionized. They could probably pee on the First Limo and keep their jobs.

[Stevo Darkly]

You wouldn't want the President to die because he was waiting for valet parking to retrieve his car.

Can I think about this one and get back to you?