So on Sunday, March 15, 2009 - I got my first traffic violation. Scratch that - my first TWO violations.
I was going back to my apartment for the first time in 2 weeks, and I was speeding down this road (I was about 5 minutes away from actually getting to my apartment too). I passed the cop car, who was hiding at an intersection on my left side. As soon as I saw the cop, I knew that I was going to get caught.
One of my favorite "bragging points" is that I have never gotten a speeding ticket before, so it wasn't just $50 and a blemish on my driving record that was at stake - I was about to lose a bragging right. With so much on the line, my first thought was to get away!
The cop could not immediately turn onto the main road to pull me over, so I thought I had some time to hide. At the next intersection, I turned into a parking lot of a 7-11. I had 2 options: 1) park the car and go into the store or 2) turn out onto a different road and drive off. I'm not sure if #1 would have gotten me out of the ticket or not, but I chose #2. But the cop was just too fast. By the time I got onto the road, the cop pulled me over.
But due to my stunt of attempting a getaway, I got my 2nd ticket for "avoiding a traffic device" since it's illegal to cut into a lot to avoid stopping at a red light. As a result, I had my license taken away and have to show up to court in a couple of weeks. It sucks. A lot.
The thing that's really keeping things together for me is that I reason it into being okay. I've been speeding for as long as I have been driving. I have no problems admitting it. I disagree with speeding being a crime, but I also understand the risks*. After 5 years of speeding, it's really "about time" I get caught for it. Plus I get a new story to tell and bragging points of a different nature.
*Speeding is NOT about safety. We get ticketed for speeding because our state and local governments want our money. They can't keep their hands out of our wallets. It's a fact. And no amount of data will convince me otherwise.
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1 comment:
Dude that sucks. Not getting a speeding ticket is also one of my bragging rights... and also so my insurance doesn't go up.
But I do agree with you about speeding. Or more like as long as everyone on the road is going the same speed it's okay. Or if there's no one around.
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