Expired

In Washington state pilots have to register as pilots every year, and pay a fee. At least that's the case until July 1st, when a new law goes into effect: no more pilot registration, but a new gas tax is instituted to replace that revenue.

I just got a dunning notice saying I had not paid my pilot registration fee. It's due on my (May) birthday. The reason I didn't pay it is because of the above mentioned change in the law.

I called the Washington aeronautics office and talked with Tracy. She vigorously defended the policy, saying even if my birthday was June 31st, I'd have to pay the full fee. (I chose not to mention to her that if I was born on June 31st it would be a Gregorian miracle.) I asked if it didn't make sense to pro-rate this fee - I'm being double-taxed for the same services. She said that wasn't the policy. So their policy is taxation without representation, a practice expressly forbidden in the Constitution.

This is the sort of bureaucratic crap that chafes me. Raw. It's stupid. And it shouldn't bother me. I'm petty and angry to boot. I should just write my check. But I cannot stand that such a simple policy change could not be thought through so it makes sense for everyone. Essentially, it's not fair to about half the population.

I'll write a check for $2.13 and explain that I did the pro-rating math for them. Just because that's the kind of time I have right now.