Unit 28 :
Getting and fighting for a traffic ticket and parking ticket

Intermediate

Summary

To be able to  know the reasons of being ticketed.

  • Brain Storm : Share your ideas with your teacher. Try to make sentences.

What are the common reasons why people violate the traffic and parking rules?

Vocabulary

Repeat the following words and phrases with your teacher and use them in a sentence.

  • driver’s license(phr)
  • red light(phr)
  • brake light(phr)
  • violations(n)
  • traffic court(phr)
  • fine(n)
  • locks you away(phr)
  • permit(n)
  • principle(n)

Dialogue 1

Read the dialogue aloud with your teacher.

Ray

Officer

Can I see your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance?

Sure. Here you are, officer.

Did you know that you were speeding? You were going 70 in a 55 mile an hour zone.

I was? No, I didn’t know.

You also ran a red light and your brake light is out. I see that your tags have also expired. I’m going to have to cite you for all of that.

I’m sure I didn’t run a red light, and I didn’t know my brake light wasn’t working. I just renewed my registration and I’m still waiting for my new tags to arrive in the mail. 

 Is there any way I can get away with just a warning?

 I’m afraid not.

What’s the fine for all of those violations?

That information is on the back of the citation. Here you are. Have a nice day.

 Thanks. Thanks a lot!

Let’s practice 1

Arrange the jumbled letters to form a word/ words. Definition of each word is given as your clue.

1. incesel – an official document  that gives you permission to own, do, or use something, usually after you have paid money and/or taken a test

2. ionsvioalt – an action that breaks or acts  against something, especially a law, agreement, principle, or something that should be treated  with respect

3. akerb – a device that makes a vehicle go slower or stop, or a pedal, bar, or handle that makes this device work 

Dialogue 2

Read the dialogue aloud with your teacher.

Mindy

Eric

Hey, where are you going?

I’m going to traffic court. I got a parking ticket and I’m going to fight it.

How much was the fine?

It was only $40. But it’s not the money, it’s the principle of the thing.

Why? Weren’t you parked illegally?

No, I wasn’t. The street I live on has metered parking from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. After 6, you can park there with a permit. Well, I parked my car at 7:30 PM and I have a permit. But, I still got a ticket.

Did you display the permit clearly? It isn’t expired, is it?

 Yeah, it’s clearly displayed and it’s good until June 2007.

Well, it sounds like you have a good case. Are you representing yourself or did you hire a lawyer?

I’m going there by myself. Wish me luck.

Good luck. If the judge locks you away, I promise to visit you in jail.

Thanks a lot. I’ll remember that.

Let’s practice 2

Arrange the jumbled letters to form a word/ words. Definition of each word is given as your clue.

4. imterp – an official document that allows you to do something or go somewhere

5. oruct – a place where trials and other legal cases happen

6. geduj- a person  who is in charge of a trial in a court and decides  how a person who is guilty of a crime should be punished, or who makes decisions on legal matters

Discussion：

Share your  ideas with your teacher. 

  1. Are you a good driver?
  2. Have you ever been in a car accident?
  3. Have you ever been pulled over by the police? What happened?
  4. Have you ever driven a car in a foreign country? If yes, which side of the road did they drive on? Were the road signs different?
  5. Are the drivers in your area where you live good drivers?
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