Someone stole the rear license plate off of my F-150 over the weekend. No big whoop, I thought. I reported it to the local authorities and I had to go to the DMV to get new ones today, since I need to use the truck for work tomorrow. I went online ahead of time to fill in the application to be prepared when I get there, and the application clearly states that it is $2.00 a plate to replace. I was in luck, I had $5.00 in my pocket, or at least I thougt I was in luck. What the form does not tell you is that there is a $5.00 counter fee for going into the DMV to get this done. And, since I only had $5.00 and the U.S. government is the only group on the planet that is not using any forms of electronic payment in these times, I had to pay a $2.50 fee to use the ATM at the DMV. Not that the total of $11.50 for the plates and fees is going to bankrupt me, but it's the principle that the $5.00 counter fee is $1.00 more than both replacement plates and the $2.50 ATM fee is $0.50 more that one plate. In total, the plates were only 34.8% of the total cost. The remaining 65.2% of the total cost was fees, not to mention the hour and a half I had to wait in the DMV waiting area moving from open seat to open seat trying to find wear the B.O. smell was the most tolerable.

Anyway, it's over now. In the future, maybe I'll just mail the form in and chance not getting pulled over for the 3-4 weeks it takes to get the replacements in the mail, and take the chance that I won't get pulled over and receive a fine for not having the plates... I feel better now.