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.
