A Casualty of "Click it or Ticket"

Well, I had a moment of spontaneity last night with the kids that caused the incident that happened this morning. Last night, we went down to Galveston (we're in Houston to see the USS Texas) to have dinner. Since the kids have never seen a real beach or been to the Texas version of an ocean, we decided to take them down to see it. After dinner, we went back down to the beach and the kids and I went to the water. I let them get into the water and play in the waves so of course their clothes got wet. Caroline had packed an extra pair of shorts, but Jack only had one. We hadn't planned to go to Galveston or into the Gulf of Mexico for that matter, so I hadn't put in an extra pair.

So the morning when I woke up, I got dressed and went to the local Walmart that was open. Our hotel is on the service road of I-45, so in order to get back I had to turn around and get back up on the highway. Upon entering the turnaround, I saw 3 police officers. One pointed at another guy, and the second guy pointed at me to pull over. I did so and he of course asked for my license and registration. My purse was behind me and when I told him that he told me to pull over and get out to get it. I did this, and when the first police officer came over he was already writing me a ticket. When I asked what for he said I didn't have my seat belt on. Excuse me? What? My seat belt? I had it on. When I told him that I'd had it on, his response was, "Well, then you weren't wearing it correctly. Putting it under your shoulder isn't wearing your seat belt." And he went on to tell me the dangers of this and how wearing my seat belt the correct way was important. Yes, I thought, I already know this. That is why I was wearing my seat belt. He went on to tell me I could contest it (I live in Dallas so I'd have to come back) and he finished the ticket.

Now, I'm not going to argue with 3 police officers with guns and hand-cuffs, but I had to unclick my seat belt to get out of the car. I guess the city of Houston is hard-up for money, plus it's Memorial day weekend so it's the yearly campaign. I'll pay my fine and go on, but I hate that I got a ticket for doing what I was supposed to.