I know I posted a week or so ago how excited I was for my first Citizen's Academy class, which was last night - and I had a great time! I enjoy learning and being challenged so I think I'm going to take a lot away from this series of classes. I guess if there is one thing that irriates me about classes are the people who say whatever they think will get them an "A" even if it doesn't make any sense in the real world! For example... we spend a good part of the evening talking about how law enforcement doesn't operate in the black and white, that there are some grey areas. We discussed "speeding" and at what speed should someone really be pulled over and ticketed (and we used the freeway as an example, obviously, a school zone would be different). Hands raised, people started saying, "One mile over!" "Two miles over!" .....c'mon!! REALLY?! You all are idiots. Everyone goes AT LEAST 5 miles over.
Even the officer is kind of prodding to get some more realistic answers, so I raise my hand and say, "11 miles over. If you're going over 10 over on the freeway, you should get a ticket" --the officer laughs, (and I think he agrees) and then calls me "Lead Foot" and goes on to say, "see, there is not black or white answer...etc etc"
Oh, I should also point out that when it was our turn to "give the tickets" people actually said they would give their boss, neighbor, mother-in-law, and get this.... I kid you NOT.... they actually said they would give themselves a ticket if they were driving, saw their spedometer and realixed they were going over the limit, because the law's the law...GET REAL!!! Anyone who's being honest with themselves would not give themselves a ticket, unless you are an idiot!!
So fast forward to this morning... I'm driving to work as usual and going my usual speed, about 10 over, and observing everyone else who are also going about 10 over and thinking/reassuring myself that in fact, everyone in my class is crazy, and no one goes the actual posted speed limit, and if they do, they are probably a danger to the road, because everyone realistically goes at least 5 over...even in the slow lane. I'm thinking all this, and telling myself that I'm right, etc, and mid thought, I kid you not, BOOM. Motorcycle cop...looks at me after using his radar gun, points directly at me, and flashes his lights...son of a.....
I literally can't believe the irony. I actually got pulled over!! And got a freakin' ticket!!! MY FIRST TICKET. I got pulled over for going....get ready for the irony....11 miles over. Serious. He asks for the license and registration, and I'm thinking...how can I pull the pregnancy card, I wonder if that would work, and as I grab my registration from the glove box, my prenatal vitamins fall out. (accident, not planned!) Yeah, well, that didn't help a bit. Shucks.
He comes back with a ticket, tells me because I have a clean record he reduced it to only going 5mph over - and hands it over. On to the next victim.
I'm debating whether I take my ticket to class next Weds and see if I can somehow get a "citizen's academy" pass or get some advice on how to minimize it as much as possible. There's got to be some way, and if there's way, I'll find it. But until then, I'm going to eat my humble pie and try going to the "speed limit."
**Update** I have no patience. I realize that. I tried going the speed limit home...and watched as EVERYONE whizzed passed me. I felt like the old lady in the boat of a Cadillac, barely accelerating. I also wanted to run over people at Costco for dilly dallying in the aisle I needed to go down, because I was in a hurry from driving so stinkin' slow... It's ridiculous and I'm fully aware of it....and I'm laughing at myself right now because of how ridiculous I sound.
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