Yahoo! My newest CD “Beauty And Fire” made it to the top ten http://ping.fm/OjDcd

Here’s a letter I wrote to the Alameda County Transit. Got any feedback or suggestions?

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I received this $255 ticket yesterday when I stopped at the red curb (now I understand “bus stop”) to pick up my sweetheart at the BART station.

This fine is cruel and unusual punishment.

First, I understand that laws are created to protect the rights of the citizens. I this case I did not hurt or inconvenience anyone. I stopped for less than 2 minutes directly in front of the door where the passengers leave the BART station. There were no buses anywhere in sight, nor have I ever seen a bus there. Even though I did see that the curb was red I never imagined that I could get a ticket under these circumstances.

The officer stopped me a block away with red lights flashing like I was some sort of criminal. I was shocked when he told me that he was chasing me because I had stopped at a bus stop.

Second, $255 is an unreasonable amount to pay for any non-moving violation and out of context with other parking fees in the city of Oakland, at least according to the internet. I am a musician and music teacher. It takes me a long time and a lot of work to make $255, especially under he current economic conditions, way more time and effort than this infraction deserves. If the intention of this law is to deter people from stopping at the bus stop a simple warning would have been sufficient for me. A fine like this has already created significant stress , and would create extreme hardship and be considered cruel and unusual by most standards.

Finally, I sincerely want to believe that law officers are hard working individuals that are paid to protect the rights, property and safety of the community. Unfortunately my only interaction with a real police officer is where I’m told I did something wrong that didn’t appear to be hurtful to anyone, then instead of getting a slap on the wrist I’m hit over the head with a $255 two by four. I’m a hard working member of my community. I pay my taxes, obey the law and respect the rights of others. I don’t want to resent a police force that appears to be looking for opportunities to extract money from me rather than protect the people it works for.

I will not stop at a bus stop again. Please rescind this ticket.

Tomas Michaud

Simple Meditation instructions and download link to a 20 minute audio http://ping.fm/hrR77

Learning Guitar through songs method myth http://wp.me/pFoQS-44

2 Days left to concert time – A Night Of Beauty And Fire http://ping.fm/A8Clo