Free Republic

One winner of a recent American Airlines contest says he would have been better off losing. The contest, launched as part of the airline's We Know Why You Fly marketing campaign, awarded free tickets to travelers submitting the best videos, essays or photographs about their flying experiences. The grand prize winners were offered 12 round-trip restricted coach tickets for two from the U.S. to anywhere in the world American flies. In exchange, American has the right to use the winning materials for promotional purposes. The contest's fine print explains that winners must pay federal and state income taxes, where applicable,...

I just got my first speeding ticket doing 39 in a 25 zone. I rarely drive the car and I should have known better. Since this is my first, do insurance companies raise rates for the first ticket, or is it better to go to all day drivers school? Thanks!!

Drivers quick with an excuse Sunday, April 10, 2005 By Larry O'Connor When confronted by a traffic cop, motorists will say the darnedest things to dismiss their misdeeds. Last year, police agencies in Jackson County doled out 47,005 tickets. In return, officers writing those dreaded citations heard at least that many excuses. Few are original and even fewer are legitimate, officers say. "Only in about 2 percent of the cases will they tell you the truth," said state Trooper Dave Clark, a 16-year road patrol veteran. At least in one instance, the oft-repeated claim of urgently needing to go to...

The Mike Tice ticket-scalping case took another strange turn Thursday with an Internet report that the Vikings' head coach had admitted to selling for profit part of his personal allotment of 12 tickets to last month's Super Bowl. Reached by the Pioneer Press, Tice said that, on the advice of his attorney, he had no comment. According to the report on the Sports Illustrated Web site, Tice sold some of his tickets for $1,900 apiece, a profit of at least $1,300 on each one sold. Tice made $750,000 in salary last season and is scheduled to make $1 million next...

Snow removal fines to continue City says break no excuse not to keep E.L. sidewalks clear By KRIS TURNER The State News As students and East Lansing residents prepare to leave the area for spring break, city officials warn that the sidewalks around homes must remain clear of snow and ice, even if residents are out of town. According to a city ordinance, residents must shovel snow from the sidewalks around their homes within 24 hours of snowfall, or face an $85 ticket. "It is just really a deterrent," said Todd Sneathen, director of the city's Department of Public Works....

I would like your opinions on ordering tickets (ariline) at Priceline.com as I need to make some resv. and have tickets sent to me. Thanks!

Why are those 65,000 people inside Heinz Field and not me? (Not that I am bitter or anything) My sister got married almost 10 years ago and, on that day, I was asked to share a few words of wisdom with the young couple. Having never been married (and being an idiot), I had nothing profound to offer. But I did tell them that if they ever needed my help, all they had to do was ask, as long as they always kept in mind the very limited clout that I had in this life. I told them that if,...

An Illinois man and his girlfriend managed to rack up nearly $1,400 in speeding tickets on a trip through Wisconsin -- all within three hours. Piotr Pac, 21, of Prospect Heights was pulled over on Interstate 90 in Rock County New Year's Day. The State Patrol said he was going 100 mph. About an hour later, he was stopped in Columbia County for going 84 mph. Then, 30 minutes later he was clocked and ticketed for going 77 mph in Sauk County. And finally, while Pac was napping and his 18-year-old girlfriend was at the wheel, she was stopped for...

British tearaways warned to slow down during rally in France Sun Jan 9,11:27 AM ET Offbeat - AFP LILLE, France (AFP) - A group of wealthy Britons who were promised "all the infamy you can handle" during a road rally across France were tracked by police helicopters Sunday and fined for speeding when they stopped at a highway toll booth. Police said they handed out fines of 90 euros (119 dollars) each to 11 drivers who clocked at speeds of up to 175 kilometers (109 miles) an hour. The drivers were taking part in a commercially sponsored event called the...

Excuse the vanity post, but I need some information about the inauguration. I got a note from my Congressman saying that I will be receiving "standing room" tickets for the inaugural swearing in ceremony....Does that really mean that I will be close enough to see the event, or will I be one of the distant faces looking on from the ellipse?? If it's the latter, then I will probably enjoy the TV version more. Can anyone whose been to one of these affairs clue me in??

For the third straight off-season, Cubs ticket prices have taken a dramatic increase nearly across the board, rising as much as 20 percent for prime seats. Increases last winter averaged about 17 percent and figure to be about the same this year.

DANVERS — Patrolmen have cost the town $173,000 by refusing to write traffic tickets in a ploy to influence contract negotiations, top police brass and town management officials allege in a complaint filed with the state last week. Town officials claim police union members are handing out warnings rather than tickets in an effort to cost the town money and gain leverage at the bargaining table, according to their complaint to the state Labor Relations Commission. The 44-strong police union has gone nearly a year-and-a-half without a new contract in a dispute over raises. But at least on police union...

Heard radio commercial at Noon today on WGN AM 720, Chicago. Go to http://www.johnkerry.com/burlington and get tickets for the big rally in Burlington, Iowa on Wednesday October 20, 2004. If you go to that site, you see: What: Fresh Start for America Rally with John Edwards in Burlington When: Wednesday, October 20 Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Where: Southeastern Community College Loren Walker Arena West Burlington, IA Asks for your mailing address, phone number, and email. Maybe you(or family, or friends) live in Iowa, Illinois, or Missouri. Or, maybe you can find some new friends that live in Iowa, Illinois,...

A 5-year-old East St. Louis boy slid into the driver's seat of his uncle's Cadillac Sunday afternoon, put on his seatbelt, turned the key and drove off. But he didn't go far. Four blocks later -- with his mother in pursuit in her car -- the boy crashed the car into a fence. He was not injured but police gave the boy tickets for driving without a license and without insurance. .... [ snip ]

About 100,000 Texas drivers with a knack for getting pulled over will soon get bad news in the mail. Beginning in October, Texans with multiple traffic tickets, a drunken-driving conviction or other offenses in the past 12 months will receive letters from the Texas Department of Public Safety explaining that they owe surcharges of $100 to $2,500. That's in addition to what they may have already paid in court. Those who don't make payment arrangements within 30 days will lose their driver's licenses. "If you don't pay it, your license is suspended until you can," DPS spokeswoman Tela Mange said....

Poor Ticket Sales a Concern with Month to Go ATHENS (Reuters) - Athens Olympic organizers called on Greeks Tuesday to snap up unsold tickets to avoid greeting the world with empty stadiums when the world's biggest sporting event comes home in a month's time. With foreigners staying away and millions of seats unsold, Athens chief Games organizers Gianna Angelopoulos appealed to locals to pick up the slack and put on a good show in front of the world's cameras. "Tickets at fair prices are still available ... this is a once in a lifetime chance for people to experience the...

Tickets going fast for Hannity troop tribute Concert event raises money for families of personnel killed, disabled -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: June 14, 2004 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 2004 WorldNetDaily.com Tickets are moving fast for a concert tribute to U.S. troops that will raise money for the families of military personnel who have been killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. The "Hannity Freedom Concert," hosted by Fox News and radio personality Sean Hannity and the Freedom Alliance, is scheduled for July 8. It also will be sponsored by WABC radio in New York and Six Flags Great Adventure. According...

Police plan seat belt crackdown Friday, 21, 2004 BY TOM TOLEN News Staff Reporter In a campaign dubbed "Buckle Up or Pay Up! Click It or Ticket," local police agencies will join forces with others around the state to launch the summer travel season and seat belt compliance efforts. A total of 350 hours will be devoted to the safety belt enforcement initiative by participating agencies. "We'll have extra patrols," said Lt. Joel Allen, Michigan State Police Brighton post commander. Allen said the enforcement zones will be set up at both ends of a blocked off area on busy county...

From mid weekend predictions it appears the Passion of the Christ movie will gross over $42.663 million. Current numbers are a bit confusing, there are totals, predicted average totals and current grosses. But these figures may be close. Friday's daily totals were $22 Million in ticket sales Weekend estimate of Passion grosses is *$65.047 mill Currently it is ranked number ONE in front of "50 Dates"- which totaled $11.847 million for mid weekend sales.. From friday's numbers ,the sum of all other movie ticket sales in the USA was less than $14 million- compared to Passion's $22 plus million. *These...