I'm sure deerslayer has it right with what the Gamie could possibly be thinking before writing the ticket.

But, I also agree with EathMan's rebuttal.

A reasonable Gamie would have come down and said something about technically being in control of both rods because his wife was just sitting there reading. Then, dude could have said 'yeah, ok.....I'll have her reel it up next time' or something like that. Problem solved, and nobody is worse off.

Instead, Gamie-dude had to play the hard-ass and write him up. All I can say is you have to be a pretty big jerk to ticket a guy up in those circumstances.
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She was standin' alone over by the juke box, like she'd something to sell.
I said "baby, what's the goin' price?" She told me to go to hell.

Bon Scott - Shot Down in Flames