My first speeding citation. Yeah, I know, I've gotten pulled over many times in my life but it has never resulted in a speeding ticket. Tonight changed that, and it wasn't even from an angle I expected. I always imagined a cop would be hiding in the bushes in some great hiding spot I didn't anticipate, or appear from out of the traffic behind me.
Instead, I had just slowed down to an unbearably slow speed because I realized I was going through a town and not on the highway that I wanted to be on. There was a cop in the opposing lane, and another vehicle between us. I watched the cop pull a u-turn in my rearview mirror, and slowed down as far as I could without stalling my car. The cop came right up behind me. I moved one lane to the right, since the road kata (keep right pass left) demands it. He followed. I basically continued driving as slow as I could, chewing on the beef jerky I was relying on to keep me awake, and staring at him in my rearview mirror.
Finally he put is damn lights on and we went through the whole bit. This guy didn't try to bait me or anything. He just accused me of going 55 in a 30, and asked for my papers. He also made me say the alphabet forwards after finding out I had two drinks in six hours. I would have offered to go through it again using NATO alfa-bravo codes, but I've had a strict say-as-little-as-possible policy every since that time a customs agent searched my trunk because she asked if I brought anything back from Canada and I held up a bottle of Dr. Pepper.
Anyway, I have no comment on my speed, but I will tell you that I was fucking coasting. The ticket is for $247. I am tempted to pay it, but I don't think you can do that and maintain your innocence. Regardless of the amount of money I lose, I care the most about not giving in and not letting the City of Bremerton profit, though I likely face a battle I'm sure to lose. I think I'm going to hire a traffic lawyer and take this to court, if for no other reason than I want to know exactly how the hell he allegedly clocked me from the opposing lane when there would have been a car in the way fucking up his radar. I don't think he's bluffing though: he quoted me the 55 before he saw the out of state license, so I doubt he's betting on me not showing up. If they really expect us to drive this slow maybe I should just sell my car and walk on the highway.
I have 15 days to respond and I have to send in the original ticket, which precludes framing it on my wall.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment