It seems the cops are getting more ruthless these days, which can only mean one thing . . . I gotta come up with some new material. In the past, I've usually been able to talk myself out of tickets, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Gone are the days when I was able to get out of them by bouncing up and down and blaming my speed on "needing to go to the bathroom SOOOO bad" and my fear of public restrooms.
So on my way home from improv class Saturday night, I somehow lost track of where I was going and ended up on a road west of the airport. Once I turned around and headed due east, I finally found Legacy Parkway. Confused about Legacy Parkway? Well, let me tell you, it's definitely not a freeway, and certainly not a highway, but, as I found out, it's a byway. . . as in, by the way, you're gonna have to travel ridiculously slow on this road despite the fact that it bears an uncanny resemblance to a freeway. Turns out it's not a freeway because the stupid Sierra Club complained too much. They're good at that. So there I was, happily belting out some tunes, when I noticed those annoying flashing lights following close behind. Rubbish.
I still believe my first mistake was that I pulled off to the left side of the road . . . probably not the best way to make a good first impression. After I was instructed to relocate my car to the other side of the byway, officer unfriendly came up to greet me and I decided to go for the nice, innocent girl routine. I apologized profusely and admitted that I was unaware of the speed limit. I told him the truth . . . that I thought the speed limit was 65 mph (who really looks at speed limit signs anymore?), as it should be, and then the "travel at the speed of traffic" rule allows you to go about 5(ish) mph faster, naturally. He wasn't amused.
In the end I resorted to the tears. There they were, streaming down my cheeks, and when he handed me the stupid pink piece of paper I made sure to look at him, hoping as a last resort that he would see the tears, decide to cut me some slack, and rip it up. For heavens sake, it was late. And the dark, vacant byway scared me. What was I to do but drive a wee bit faster to calm my troubled mind and get home as quickly as possible? My hand was shaking as the tears dripped onto the $150(ish) piece of paper that I had to sign my name to. But he didn't buy it. The surly smokey still had the nerve to issue me the ticket. WAY LAME!
Kory laughed when I showed him the evidence, but I felt so bad that I told him I was gonna get a job to pay it off as my self-inflicted punishment. He raised an eyebrow and said, "no you're not." I guess I could slow down, but I feel more compelled to come up with some better excuses to use the next time around. Those county mounties aren't gonna get the best of me...(they might get the best of my bank account though. Sigh.)
17 comments:
I'm sorry that sucks I hate getting pulled over. Cops are always mean to me.
Sorry Carly! That's awful.. luckily *knock on wood* I've never been pulled over.
I hate mean cops!!
How many more "Smokey & The Bandit" references could you manage to squeeze into this one?
Sorry about your bad luck. Usually I don't feel bad for speeders but in this case and knowing you and believing that you really had no idea what the speed limit was, I feel bad. I can't believe you explained the whole "speed of traffic that allows you to go 5ish mph over the limit" rule, that's hilarious.
Wow, between the tickets you and Kory have . . . your insurance must love you guys!!!! Kidding Carlee . . .
Is there such a thing as a "mean cop"? I love that phrase. Maybe it is a carry over from when I worked at the bank and I was a "mean banker". Don't we all know the rules? Are they really mean or do we feel stupid that they do their job correctly? I can't wait until someone gets pulled over for the new texting-in-the-car law that starts in May.
There is only one way to get out of a ticket that works every time, follow the law! Look at that, no more excuses needed to be made. (by the way, I'm not preaching. I think we all have our close calls.) I just have to stick up for those "mean guys" out there because I used to be one.
Jeff,
Yes, there are mean cops and nice cops. The nice ones allow you the opportunity to explain yourself and talk your way out of tickets. The mean ones get pleasure from ticketing people, no matter how creative the excuse. Simple as that.
(BTW, this post was mostly in jest. I realize I was breaking the law...)
Haha. I always wished I could have cried to get out of a ticket, but it never happened. Then again, it has been 5 years since I have been pulled over...hopefully many more years to come. Super lame that he had no pity. Maybe you should have told him you were in labor. Hmmmm. On second thought.
And you should just mention the Sierra Club to Ross - he could go on and on and on....
haha, that's the worst feeling ever. the last time i got pulled over, cooper was screaming bloody murder, thought that would help...nope just made him quicker to issue the ticket...blast. sorry carlee
I wish Josh would've just laughed when I told him about my speeding ticket. Not fun though, I'm sorry. You should have pulled out some mad improv skills to get out of the ticket ;)
Sorry Carlee, that's rotten. I've only been on that road twice and each time in the dark. I know what you mean...a little creepy.
Aww crap!
I've done the didn't know speed limit, crying girl routine before too... I even pulled out the, "My husband's a cop." Didn't work for me either. He did reduce it to only 9 over, "Oh thank you officer (yeah right, loser!)"
I'm constantly reminding Casey to see things from my/our perspective, when he tickets people. He should try to be somewhat understanding of the situation.
WAIT! Improv class? Are you Michael Scott now?
lol, when i read this i thought exactly what venita michelle did, improve night?
I just wanted to let you know that after I wrote that comment I should have knocked on wood. I got pulled over last Friday. So lame. I was so confused as to why and when I asked the cop why I got pulled over he told me he wouldn't tell me until he gave me the ticket. WHAT THE?!
Yeah so my registration expired. Apparently with the move the notice didn't get forwarded to our new place. With moving, having a toddler, and being prego, I somehow forgot. I wasn't even going to try to get out of the ticket, but he didn't even give me a chance. He was such a jerk. Don't I have a right to know BEFORE you give me a ticket?! I guess at least it was on $30 and doesn't go on my record or anything...right?
Thanks for taking the time to enter in my photography give away!
-Jessie
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