denis bider

Various thoughts

You have to dress up to pay a parking ticket in St. Kitts

Posted Oct 4, 2007 at 17:00 by denisbider

Last edited Feb 12, 2008 at 16:01 by denisbider

liberty personal st. kitts

An officer stopped us yesterday while we were driving down the street, and pointed out that the annual road license sticker expired on the vehicle a few days ago. She gave us instructions on how to get a new sticker (it's not my car in the first place, so I didn't have prior experience doing that here before). But rules are rules, so I also got a US$55 ticket for driving an unlicensed vehicle.

The way to pay a traffic ticket here is to go to the local court house. So today, after renewing the road license sticker, me & my wife went to the court house in order to pay the ticket as well. Since daytime temperatures here are around 31 degrees Celsius (87 Fahrenheit), we were dressed how we thought was appropriate given the outside weather; she was wearing short pants, and I was wearing flip-flops and shorts.

It turns out you can't pay a traffic ticket in such apparel. You see, in order to pay a traffic ticket, you need to get into the court house. And in order to get into the court house, you have to abide by their dress code. The dress code says that my wife's shorts were way too short, and flip-flops aren't acceptable as footwear. Even if they are nice Reef sandals that cost US$72 at the local Marriott.

Fortunately, the people at the court house were friendly - as most people here are: the officer volunteered to take my ticket and the money, and she went to pay it while we waited outside.

We now know, however, that the next time we go pay a traffic ticket, we need to dress up for the occasion. Anything to do with the court house is a serious matter here.

List older posts

Showing 4 out of 4 comments, oldest first:

Comment on Oct 7, 2007 at 02:37 by verbatim

Heh funny. I can't understand those hot weather countries with their "dress for cold weather" rules. Almost all countries are the same with that matter. Probably religion has strong influence on their moral views. My girlfriend was "attacked" by older ladies some islands south of your place for wearing hot pants in public place :) I have to say that even hot pants are too much for lesser antilles weather. Especially if you are walking or cycling a lot.

And 72 USD for sandals is way too much :P

Comment on Oct 7, 2007 at 20:03 by Anonymous

My girlfriend was "attacked" by older ladies some islands south of your place for wearing hot pants in public place :)

Some guests of ours went to the beach at the local Marriott, and the girl was approached by the staff and requested to cover up because she was wearing a thong bikini. :)

And 72 USD for sandals is way too much :P

Due to a lack of acceptable alternatives, this had to do. :)

They have so far actually been worth it. They've been comfortable and durable.

Comment on Oct 8, 2007 at 17:10 by verbatim

Some guests of ours went to the beach at the local Marriott, and the girl was approached by the staff and requested to cover up because she was wearing a thong bikini.

Are they allowed to do this (thongs doesn't seem "illegal" on St. Kitts)? Aren't all beaches public? Marriott sounds like a resort for Americans where one-piece swimsuit is a way to go :).

I guess your wife can't sunbathe topless ;).

Comment on Oct 8, 2007 at 21:56 by Anonymous

Are they allowed to do this (thongs doesn't seem "illegal" on St. Kitts)?

The guy explained that if an inspector came around and saw the girl wearing the thong, they would be fined thousands of dollars. (Not sure which ones; USD 1 = XCD 2.7.)

I guess your wife can't sunbathe topless ;)

Nope. :)

But we're not big fans of sunbathing anyway. Even living here, we tend to be whiter than our guests from Europe.