get pulled over and avoid the ticket

First time ever being pulled over too. Going 80-something in a 55(Naughty Genevieve, Naughty Genevieve), the po-po pulled me over, told me how fast I was going, and blah blah blah.

Lucky me, I wore make-up today and was looking quite good if I do say so myself, so I used that to my advantage(though I didn’t try to come on to him or anything) I just played the “nervous school-girl whose never been pulled over before” role and he let me go. Which is true. I had never been pulled over before. He didn’t even ask for my liscense and registration. =] Ok, so maybe he never even planned on giving me a ticket, but still! I did it. XD

This was the first real time in over a year that I actually went out as an adult to just have adult time without children. Though I’m a very transparent person, I can also be a very private person. My preference is 1:1 rather crowds of people.

I had driven to north Scottsdale in the morning for an appointment, then home in Chandler, then to East Mesa to drop the kids off at the Nixons, then back home, then to west Chandler to meet Minosha for a late lunch, then to Casa Grande to meet Jon for drinks and a late dinner.

By the time I left Casa Grande, it was 1 am and I was tired. My normal driving a day is about 20 miles, so this day I had put over 150 miles on my car and it was now in the middle of the night, and I was very tired.

Did not want to stay out a my friend Jon’s house, as that would’ve been inappropriate, or at least the appearance of it.

I was going to take I-10 to 202 East home, as that’s more well-traveled, but I was so tired that I decided to chance it and take 547 home, which was still traveled, but went through Indian Reservation, and quicker.

Well, it was just myself and another SUV. My night vision isn’t all that great and I couldn’t read what was on the SUV in front of me. The speed limit was 55 mph. I was anxious to get home and the SUV going 55 mph was annoying me, so I looked to see if I could pass, and started to.

Little did I realize my approach was all wrong. I came up on the SUV and began to pass. I noticed not too far in the distance, a patrol car with his lights on and I pulled back. By that time, it was too late, the SUV happened to be a canine unit. He allowed me to pass him as he pulled over and slowed down.

Then, once I passed, he lit me up.

It’s been since the mid-90s since I actually got pulled over by a policeman, and even at that, they were 2 cops on bikes that pulled me over. So, technically, I think it’s been more than 15 yrs since I have been pulled over by a patrol car.

He asked for the usual and asked some questions, like did I know I was speeding. I answered everything truthfully as I began digging in my glove compartment (filled with papers) for the registration and car insurance, with shaking hands.

I looked so tired as the officer asked me why I tried to pass him. I said I was really tired and just attempting to get home so I don’t fall asleep driving. I apologized.

He let me off and expressed that he wanted me to be okay to drive home. I said that I was more awake now after being pulled over and I will slow down my driving.

The other patrol car that had it’s lights on before I was pulled over sort of escorted me part way home for a number of miles.

I am grateful I did not get a ticket, as that’s another expense that I do not need. So, thank you God for giving me a patrolman that was very gracious to me.

I saw yesterday that Todd Schoonover had completed this goal and marked it as worth doing which reminded me that recently I too have been pulled over and managed to avoid getting a ticket and also found it worth doing.

The morning of Thursday, November 29 around 10 AM I was going down Granville in Vancouver, BC heading south toward the freeway on my way back to Portland, Oregon. I was going about 70 kph where the speed limit was 50 or 55 kph. I didn’t even realize it as most people were going as fast or even faster than me. My car, which I rented in Portland, was a powder blue VW Beetle convertible with California license plates. Needless to say, not many people in Vancouver drive convertibles, so my car obviously stood out; it’s one of the reasons I think I got stopped and not the other speeders. When the motorcycle cop hiding in someone’s driveway pointed at me and motioned for me to pull over, I knew I should have been paying more attention to my speed.

I pulled over parallel to the road, but the officer actually meant for me to pull over into the driveway. I found that different since cops in LA usually require you to park parallel. The officer was entirely friendly when he pointed to his radar gun informing me how much I had been speeding. He asked where I was going, and when I told him that I was headed back to the states, he said to have a good day. However, he warned me to stay within the speed limit because the next officer that pulled me over would probably give me the ticket and I would have to pay it at the border before leaving Canada.

Well, at least during the trip back to Portland while I was driving, I heeded the officer’s advice and stayed within the speed limit (as hard as that was). I was so lucky, and I wanted to take advantage of my second chance to be a more conscientious driver…

There is nothing more satisfying than talking oneself out of a traffic ticket. Being polite and curteous always helps. It also helps if the kind police officer is in good humor too.