As we all saw last week in an editorial in the Osoyoos Times newspaper, the power of the press can backfire on the editors and journalists who use it as a platform for a personal vendetta.

Editor Keith Lacey wrote a scathing opinion piece about getting pulled over by the RCMP and being "humiliated" by undergoing a Breathalyzer test.

Lacey accused the RCMP officer of being arrogant during the experience that made his girlfriend "physically sick" in an emotionally charged editorial that was published on February 8, 2012.

It was the behaviour of the officer in question that ruffled Lacey's feathers, saying he was "loaded with arrogance and self-righteousness."

However, as always, there were two sides to the story.

The officer recorded the entire incident from a camera inside the police cruiser, which apparently shows a completely different kind of interaction from the one Lacey describes.

Supt. Ray Bernoties, the officer in charge of communications for the province, responded in a letter, asking Lacey for an apology and suggested that the video be posted online.

Four days after receiving the RCMP's letter, Lacey apologized and retracted his claims.

Who knows what was going through Lacey's head as he wrote the original column that set off the whole controversy.

I have no doubt he was angry and embarrassed, especially in front of his girlfriend, but that was one of those situations where you type up the article and then throw it in the trash or delete it.

You don't publish it.

I had an experience with an RCMP member on Tuesday, where I was given a ticket for failing to wear my seatbelt.

He was conveniently located right outside the Daily Townsman office in an adjacent parking lot, busting me as I pulled into work.

I was angry all right, but angry with myself for realizing that I hadn't buckled in when I got in my car.

There is no way to even dispute that kind of ticket. You are either clicked in, or you're not.

Officer: "I noticed you weren't wearing your seatbelt."

Me: "Uh, umm, er, maybe you need to get your eyes checked."

Somehow, I think a conversation like that wouldn't go over very well.

There are countless tests and studies that show seatbelts save lives in car accidents and because I wasn't wearing mine, the law made me pay.

The RCMP officer-who was simply doing his job-was nothing but courteous during the exchange and I have no one but myself to blame for the resulting $167 fine.

Sure, it's an expensive lesson, and I'll moan about having to shell out that kind of money for a few days.

But guaranteed, I'll remember to buckle in from now on.