Gangster

I live in Suadiye.

I commute to work in Florya using the Marmaray or the Metrobus.

It is my daily routine.

Yesterday, I broke this routine to drop my son off at the airport, who is heading to America through the “work and travel” program.

At Istanbul Airport, where I drove my own car, I dropped my son off with his luggage at the first security checkpoint and turned back.

It didn't even take 10-15 minutes.

Saying goodbye, the struggle of giving him a spare credit card, and a photo or two.

That was all.

I came back and started waiting in my car, intending to leave the airport once he boarded the plane.

While I was busy with my phone in the car, I drifted off.

Two police officers, one a pretty girl, knocked on my window and asked for my ID.

I asked what was going on, but I didn't push it.

They checked my Turkish ID number, ran a background check, and left.

In the evening, I returned home by Metrobus again, only to face another routine pedestrian check at the Söğütlüçeşme station.

Actually, I wasn't going to get into this, but the parking fine that arrived via e-Devlet after returning from the airport really annoyed me.

They issued a fine of over 900 liras for the 11 minutes of waiting time I spent taking my son's luggage to the first security checkpoint with my hazard lights on.

So, as I understand it, either I look like a gangster—though it can't really be said that I do—since they check my ID everywhere, or the state is testing something.

Have some mercy, for goodness' sake.