I got pulled over yesterday for the second time in six months. Which is kind of funny for three reasons. First, because I intentionally speed less than I ever have in the past, and I don’t usually toy around with the 10mph grace period anymore. Second, because I live in a state that is known in the region for being lenient on speeders. Third, I drive less than I usually do. Despite 1 and 2, I’ve gotten pulled over on comparatively open highways for 10 and 11 over.
The last time, it was a relatively brief affair. Arapaho has a law that says if you get pulled over for 10mph or less during the daytime in good weather, you just pay the cop on the spot and it goes away (insurance never finds out about it). At first I was wondering if it was just a matter of the cop making a little money on the side, but he gave me official documentation and everything on it. It was one of those cases where I was going 85 in a 75, downhill, without intending to go 85.
Yesterday, I was taking Clancy to the doctor out in Alexandria. We were running a little behind, but even then I was sticking to 75 in a 70. I even commented, just a couple minutes before getting pulled over, that no matter how close the car behind was going to follow me and no matter how impatient they were, I was going to stick to 75. Apparently, I didn’t. The cop did a Uey and I looked down and saw that I was going about 80. So I got pulled over and the speed demon who’d been following right behind finally got rid of me blocking his way.
I told the officer about the appointment. If I’d been thinking, I would have said, “Officer, my wife, has a doctor’s appointment in Alexandria at 4:30. I apologize for going so fast. She was busy working the emergency room last night – she’s a doctor*, you see – and we ran behind so that we could make her appointment establishing care with the obstetrician that’s going to deliver our baby!” (How would he know otherwise?) Instead I just explained that we were falling behind and she had the appointment and we’re really sorry. It worked. He checked my license and he let us go. He said, “81 is a little too fast. Could you pare it down to 75?” “Yes, sir!”
It was rather fortunate that I put the updated registration sticker on my car a week ago. I lost the paper documentation for the latter part of license and registration, but I could point to the sticker. It was also a reminder that I need to put my wife’s registration sticker on her car.
* – Police officers tend to be lenient with doctors. Especially when they do emergency room work. Clancy said that he might have resented it if I’d laid it on too thick, so maybe it’s for the best that I didn’t.
About the Author
12 Responses to TBH: Outlaw Riders
Leave a Reply
please enter your email address on this page.
A trick that supposedly works in New York State is to show the cop an expired insurance card if you are stopped for a traffic violation. As long as the violation isn’t too severe, the cop will issue a ticket for the expired insurance card but not for the underlying violation. It doesn’t matter to him because he will fulfill his ticket quota either way. All you have to do is mail in a photocopy of your current insurance card along with the ticket, and it will be automatically dismissed at no cost.
I had heard from my grandfather, who used to live in the state to which I think you’re alluding, that there was effectively no speed limit–that they had the laws on the books to get the federal highway fund, but that for any speed up to 100 miles or so, as long as the road was open, the fine would be $5 payable in cash on the spot. Is that no longer the case for speeds exceeding the limit by more than 10 MPH?
So the speedometer in your car is off?
Peter,
I’ve heard the same thing. Or, even if you’re stuck with the ticket, better that it not be a moving violation. My father actually told me that. However, when I moved to Deseret and delayed registering the car and reminded him that it could save me a ticket, he changed his tune. In this case, I’m glad I didn’t get any ticket because it meant we were back on the road quicker and made our appointment.
Is that no longer the case for speeds exceeding the limit by more than 10 MPH?
That’s my understanding. The cop told me that the deal wouldn’t have been available if it had been at night.
So the speedometer in your car is off?
Yeah, I’m going to go with that…
Ugh. I got a speeding ticket from one of these photo devices and since have become a pathologically slow driver, actually obeying the speed limit (amusing how dangerous it is to obey the law, eh?).
To make matters worse, as a longtime Manhattanite I am an extremely inexperienced driver. I was pulled over one afternoon for suspicion of drunk driving.
Guess how much I had had to drink that night? Yup, absolutely nothing. The cop burst out laughing when I offered to take a breathalyzer test.
I hate driving.
Wait, Clancy is pregnant? Well, I’ll enjoy this blog for the next few months it’s still around. 🙂
How would the cop know otherwise?
What does TBH mean in this context? Looking back I see a common theme, but I can’t figure out the initials. Those Bastard Highwaymen?
The Badged Highwaymen.
Feh. Mine is better.