It is one of those small satisfactions of life to know that you’ve evaded the law and escaped a penalty even though there’s little doubt that you were in the wrong. Taking into account my love of driving and undeniable reputation of speeding – I have in my short life traveled many kilometers and conquered many roads across Australia and around the world. And… in those years I have also evaded my fair share of speeding fines.
I have not yet been able to write a formula for my ability to evade fines nor am I certain there is one that will work in every circumstance. For it largely has to do with 1. Whether the officer is male or female: 2. The time of the day: 3. The whereabouts of your infringement and 4. The extent to which you’re breaking the law. I’ve avoided three fines in total; all of which were in the early hours of the morning and the sweet innocence of my face must have been enough to toil with the sympathy of the officers in mention :)
Though I reflect on these instances with a certain smugness, I cannot deny that at the time I was greatly indebted to those offices who thought it within their capacity for kindness to let me off. They were all times when fatigue and weariness from the journey was taking its toll and to get a fine when I was so far from my intended destination would indeed have been a shattering blow. I can only hope that if I were in the same circumstance, I would have acted in the same way for another human being, for I am only too aware of my readiness to act in retribution and ways of so-called justice for others wrongdoings.
