Monday, April 16, 2007
Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind
Got pulled over today, by a cop!
For the very first time!!
I am here for just over 5 years, been here on several business trips before moving here, and - being the honorable truthful person that I am - I cannot quite attest that I've always kept the speed limit.
And yet - this is my very first encounter with the law.
(well, actually, it's the second.
The first time was when I called 911 by mistake, without even knowing I did, and 20 minuets later, three cops with drawn pistols and two police cars in the background were at the door... but that's another story...).
There I was, today, on a gorgeous shiny afternoon, driving back from my trip to the art store, with additional paint and brayers in the trunk.
I was speeding.
Not outrageously, mind you! Pretty much like anyone else.
I cheerfully sped along, as I caught a glimpse of a motorcycle in my rearview mirror, about 3 cars behind me. And the motorcyclist, y'know, seemed a big official.
To be on the safe side, I switched to the right lane, and slowed down, as he switched to the left lane, slowing down himself.
I kept driving at a decent speed, with the most innocent face I could dig out of my repertoire, awaiting him to start the audio visual show of lights and siren.
Nothing.
"Cool", I thought, "He was not after me, after all!".
Wrong!!!
I looked to my left, and noticed that he has slowed down even more, and was saying something, in addition to waving his hands in a weird way.
I was very tempted to cheerfully wave back, but I pulled over, rolled down my window, and looked at him curiously. Hey, these cops really do look like on TV: nice and friendly and cordial and all.
He stopped near me, almost smiled, and said "You slowed down just in a nick of time, didn't you?".
Now, in such cases, the best thing is to just surrender. No use arguing, Eh? Especially when I knew I was sinful.
Plus, he didn't even call me 'Ma'am'. I was starting to like him a lot!
I smiled a guilty smile and said, "Yes, I did. I am sorry", feeling my face lighting up in a graceful hue of vermilion.
"You were this close to getting a ticket", he pantomimed with two fingers, and added, "Slow down".
"Thank you", I said
('Thank you'!? 'THANK YOU'!??! what a dumb response!!).
"You see", he continued to mused, ignoring the fact that he is creating a serious traffic hazard with the two of us chatting like that on the shoulder of the quite narrow road, "When I see a car doing zigzags like you did, I go after it and give a ticket".
The Queen of Zigzags apologized, yet again.
"Slow down", he repeated with a lawful voice yet in a very benevolent fatherly manner.
"I will", I promised with doe eyes, and we parted as friends.
No ticket.
He took off, continuing his quest for other dangerous speed delinquents, and, after a surprisingly short while of waiting for someone to let me get back into traffic, I continued to drive.
The cop was out of sight - - -
- - -
- - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - -and yet, I drove just at speed limit all the way back home.
'cause he was so nice.
Damn, it's slow to be a good law-abider!!!
Labels: Driving, Faux Pas, Major Achievements
# posted by Nava @ 4:42 PM 
Comments:
you were lucky.
I'm curious to know how the conversation would have went if he was a big ass and gave you a ticket?
:)
# posted by 
: 4/16/2007 8:23 PM
Apparently, I am lucky. TexieD called to say that it could have easily been a matter of $200-$300.
Had he given me a ticket, I think I would have just been super-polite and head-nodding. Hey, I deserved to get a ticket, what can I say?
It probably happened for a reason, to give me a warning that I should think before racing on the road like that.
Now that you've successfully gotten out of a ticket, your next assignment for adjusting to American life is to get out of jury duty. :)
Turtar, I am not yet a citizen (just mastering procrastination in applying for that).
So, no jury duty yet...
Someday you'll have the pleasure of explaining to a judge why you should be allowed to go home. . . . :)
I've never actually been called to jury duty myself--never lived in the same place long enough. Maybe someday I can get out of jury duty, too.
Wow.. that was nice of that cop. I have had a few run ins with the law , I usually get out of the ticket.. Maybe I look innocent. I know I am a speed demon. I have no choice to slow down now. I always have my children with me. With them I always abide the law... PS jury duty no fun. But just like most of my tickets I got out of mine the last time I was called. I guess I am just lucky. I will not boast about it.. dont want the tables to turn on me..
You are lucky! Got out of a ticket without crying or flirting (or being called "Ma'am").
So... have you starting speeding and zigzagging again? ;-)
Guilt works wonders when it comes to making us behave (or is it fear?).
No, I think I just don't look like a bad person.
Plus, I was very honest, and did not even try to argue my way out.
I dunno.
what an exciting story?
This reads like some sort of quirky romantic comedy or a stalker horror. The dialogue is too perfect for this to be a one-time encounter. You will see him again. The question is, next time will he be holding a bouqet of flowers or an axe!!!
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I'm curious to know how the conversation would have went if he was a big ass and gave you a ticket?
:)
# posted by : 4/16/2007 8:23 PM
: 4/16/2007 8:23 PM Had he given me a ticket, I think I would have just been super-polite and head-nodding. Hey, I deserved to get a ticket, what can I say?
It probably happened for a reason, to give me a warning that I should think before racing on the road like that.
So, no jury duty yet...
I've never actually been called to jury duty myself--never lived in the same place long enough. Maybe someday I can get out of jury duty, too.
So... have you starting speeding and zigzagging again? ;-)
Guilt works wonders when it comes to making us behave (or is it fear?).
Plus, I was very honest, and did not even try to argue my way out.
I dunno.
This reads like some sort of quirky romantic comedy or a stalker horror. The dialogue is too perfect for this to be a one-time encounter. You will see him again. The question is, next time will he be holding a bouqet of flowers or an axe!!!
