Why yes, the rules *do* apply to you!

Sorry folks, I've had this bee in my bonnet since Monday, and I just have to say something about it. Is there a reason that people think that the rules don't apply to them? What exactly makes them so special that they think they shouldn't get in trouble for something they were specifically told NOT to do? I've had this peeve all my life, but this one is just completely chapping me right now.

As many of you in the US know, there is a drought going on in about half of US states, and Georgia is one of the worst, especially Atlanta. Consequently, virtually all of the extended metro area is on some kind of outdoor watering ban. At the state level, I think it is the even/odd system (even numbered addresses on M/W/F, odd on Tu/Th/Sa, and only from midnight-10AM, or something along those lines), but local governments are putting in stricter measures in some areas, depending on the water supply and the situation at hand.

Fulton County is one of those most concerned about it. There is a real threat they might run out of drinking water. Yes, really. Hard to imagine that happening in this day and age, but it is true. So, they have banned all outdoor watering during the week. Even numbered houses on Saturday, odd numbered houses on Sunday. That's it. And to enforce, er, encourage residents to follow the rules, they put in place a very steep fine: $1000. Now, hold your horses. For the first offense, you get a written warning. You are told that you have violated the outdoor watering ban, and that the next offense will cost you $1000. In writing!

Well, today, 24 residents are going to magistrate court, saying that the fine is "unfair" and "too steep" and that they "should have been given a second warning." To borrow a term from my friend Heather,

Schwunh? (She says that IRL, too, it's so funny! She's also the only person I've ever met, besides my great-grandmother, who says "pshaw." But I digress....)

Let me get this straight. There was huge publicity about this law. You were told not to do it. And you did. You were given a written warning by a police officer and told not to do it or you would be fined $1000. And yet YOU still *chose* to do it again. And they fined you $1000, just like they said they would. And you seem to think this is unreasonable? I don't think so! Who do you think you are, Paris Hilton? (And we see what happened to her!)

To me, whether $1000 is a reasonable fine for the infraction is not the point. Although, to my mind, I don't think it is unreasonable at all. Any less and people would just pay it and keep watering. At least $1000 gets your attention and will probably prevent you from doing it again, and hopefully your friends from doing it at all since they know that YOU actually had to pay it, which is the whole freakin' point of the fine!!

The POINT of this whole thing is that they told you not to do it, they told you in writing not to do it, and you did it anyway, and now for some reason, you seem to think that the rule should not apply to you? No way. You were told not to do something and what the consequences would be, and you chose to do it anyway. The only person you have any cause to be upset with is YOU. You made the choice, now you must accept the consequences of your actions.

How do these people discipline their children? Or are these the same people who say "I just can't do anything with them" and "they don't listen to me" and all that crap? Here is how things go in this house:

"Luke, don't do that."
Luke does it again.
"Luke, don't do that, or I will ___."
Luke does it again.
I do ___, just like I said I would.

I told him what not to do, I warned him and told him what would happen if he did, and I followed through when he repeated the violation. Just like they are doing in Fulton County. My child is not above the rules, and neither are you!

Now grow up, pay the $1000 you owe, and stop watering your lawn when you're told not to!

Currently feeling: furious with stupid people