Workers in New York City can get one.

The city’s transit agency (MTA) sends out 34,000 late excuses a year.

All riders have to do is call a special phone number, provide specific information about the train, subway or bus they were on, and MTA will send an official late note.

And if all goes as planned, by the middle of 2009, riders will be able to request the notes online, according to the New York Post.

MTA will have an online request form that riders can fill out. MTA reps will still research the delay and issue an e-mail reply. The late notes will arrive faster that way.

The delay-verification letter shows the lines taken, any station transfers, total time of the trip, plus the time due to delays.

Have any unusual late excuses you want to share? You can, via the Comments Box below.