March 1, 2014 --

The February 11, 2014 letter from Finance acknowledged that payment for the November 17 parking ticket had been received, and demanded a further payment of $10 as a late payment penalty.

When this writer received the notice demanding payment of the $115 fine before the 30 days' time to answer had expired, he wrote to the Finance commissioner, indicating that payment would leave me hard pressed to make food purchases till my next Social Security check and remitted $65.

A December 18 letter from Finance acknowledging receipt of the $65 instructed this writer to pay the $50 balance "as soon as possible." For this writer that possibility occurred with the arrival of his January Social Security check.

This writer thought he was acting in good faith and also thought Finance would not tax him for being poor. Clearly this writer thought wrong. The February 11 letter demanding the $10 late penalty did not include a payment due date. Apparently this writer is now vulnerable to another late penalty....