I feel like a criminal. In all my years of driving, my driving record is totally unblemished. The other morning as I was driving into work and, I might add, only a quarter mile from my house, I get pulled over. I was doing 13 over the speed limit. I was shocked. I really had no idea. I was just driving along, listening to the radio, minding my own business.There was a time that I knew most of the officers and they were all older than me. Now they look like kids and our little police force has grown so much....I doubt that I know any of them anymore. The ones I knew have all retired by now. My home town police department is not to be confused with the one I worked for, which is the next township west of where I live. He took all my information and went back to his car to check me out. In a few minutes he returned and explained to me what had transpired.
First of all, he praised me for my excellent driving record and then said that he was not going to give me a speeding ticket but, instead, would be issuing me a Civil Infraction for Impeding Traffic. (which is a laugh cause I was just basically going with the flow). He said the Civil Infraction would not go on my driving record and I would not be given any points. BUT, I would have a fine to pay within 10 days.
He politely handed me my Civil Infraction, told me to have a nice day and went back to his partially unmarked traffic car. I was not happy, of course.....but I have to admit that I WAS speeding and when you do wrong, you have to deal with the consequences. And also....I reminded myself....I have driven this same stretch of road thousands of times and have probably been driving over the speed limit hundreds of times without even thinking about it.
I called the court to find out what my fine is and to confirm what the officer told me about it not being part of my driving record. The fine is a whopping $145. for the charge of Impeding Traffic. I was going 13 miles over the speed limit and if that had been the charge I think the fine would have been double that, plus 2 points on my record. So....I must look at the bright side of this. And, yes.....I have learned a lesson. Be more diligent of my driving speed. Nothing makes you sit up and take notice quicker than hitting you in the effing pocketbook. OUCH. I am NOT telling my son or my grandson about this. Matriarchs have a certain image to uphold, you know.
17 comments:
I've never liked going fast so I have a clean record with the state. My slow driving on the otherhand can sometimes drive Jay nuts.
$145? Ouch!
Ouch is right - that's a hefty fine! Can you take the defensive driving program and get out of some of it?
Ouch for the third time. In N'awlins I caught it for going 29 in a 20. Only 'cuz I had out of state plates (they hate foreigners there). But that's all for me... and that was enough, it was over $200.
Image--HA! I loved that line!
Be well, Val.
OUCH! that is hefty, but then...13 over the speed limit.... Yes..indeed you have to uphold your image....! However, I guess it is the roads that we are most familiar with that are the most dangerous.... take care!
Yow. I guess the old $50 fines were pocket change to most people so they've raised the stakes. Nice of that youngster to give you a break!
What!
First time I heard about Civil Infraction!
What was the limit on that stretch of the road? If it is 25mph in a residential area, you can't bargain so I heard. But if it is 45 and you're doing 58, you could bargain... not sure if it's true or not though.
Until last year, I had never gotten so much as a speeding ticket and then I got into an accident that was ALL my fault.
I just plowed into the back of a truck, not paying attention.
It kind of brought me up short...
Civil Infraction is a new one on me. Sounds like something that would have happened back in Berkley days - though if it did I never heard of it. Somehow it just doesn't fit driving but it's better than 2 points on your record and a much higher fine.
I'd take it and run Val because it's better than the alternative but yeah, don't tell the family. We can't have your matriarcal crown getting tarnished.
I'm glad to see you are safe from all those storms and that you are lucky enough to have power.
shhhhhh - I wouldn't tell any of your family, either. I'd take the infraction over the ding to your record and potentially your insurance rates going up.
They DO like little babies don't they?
Yowza! That IS pricey!
My spouse once got 2 speeding tickets ..on the same vacation.The second one was in Cornfield ,Illinois and the officer literally took his license, right there on the spot . To be returned as soon as he mailed them his whopping fine.
Times have a changed. :)
I agree ...keep mum .LOL Us matriarchs DO have a reputation to uphold.
Hope you're having a great weekend.
Just stopped by to say thank you very much from the Bowmans and Little Miss.
Heather BT
http://adoptakid.blogspot.com
Congratulations on your clean driving record Val. I'm thinking that the department has come up with a way of making money. People are naturally anxious to avoid points, etc, so they do not contest the "non ticket" as they would a real one; thus, costs are reduced to collect the fine.
When I was 26 or 27, I received a speeding ticket for exceeding the speed limit by 12 MPH--my first ticket and I had been licensed only since age 22. It cost me $175. Since that was in the early 1960s, you can imagine that $175 was a bunch more than it is now. And, oh yes, I might mention that the speed limit was 80 mph. (I was picking up the kids who had just spent two weeks with my parents! Yes, I was in a hurry.)
Cop Car
Yikes....that's painful Val. Congrats on such a great record though. I can't remember the last time I got a speeding ticket...it was many years ago, but I don't remember it being that much....maybe things have gone up. I guess that will keep me on my toes. I have gotten a ticket for not wearing my seat belt once....now how dumb was that?
This post made me laugh, at the last line anyway...it is hard to preach to them and then not follow our own rules, i have learned that the hard way...LOL
And ouch is right - thats a big fine, but it certainly is better than the alternative.
Hope your weekend is awesome!!!
Hugs, friend! :)
You and me both Val. Just sent my payment off in the mail. Bummer.
This proves that some things are better swept under the rug. ha! Not many... but in this case, definitely! Have a great Tuesday. (slow down peep!)
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