A Tale Of Two Tickets



After over 35 years of driving without a single traffic violation or ticket (well, there have been a few violations, without the ticket as no coppers were around at that moment, teehee.) I received not one, but two tickets yesterday, ugh! 

I was running errands and while I keep my cell phone with me at all times I never (ok, rarely) use it while driving.  I'm one of those guys that even with a bluetooth device I'm liable to crash into something.  I'm the type of guy who can't talk on a phone (landline) and listen to a conversation as I'll lose what both are saying, the one on the phone and the one trying to talk to me, lol.

Well, I was downtown and approaching a traffic light that had just turned red.  As I came to a stop my phone rang.  Normally I would have just let it ring then looked at who had called after I reached my destination, but nooooooo, I answered it (knowing this light takes FOREVER to change).  At the very moment I answered it, a police officer on bicycle (BICYCLE!!) came around the corner, saw me on the phone and rode straight up to my window.  I closed the phone, rolled down the window and politely said "hello officer" (more like "What?").  Cordials were'nt gonna cut it with this copper, he said to me "When the light turns green I want you to pull over by the curb across the street".  Without another word (having the right to remain silent ya know) I rolled up my window and looked blankly at the red traffic light. 

The light turned green and for a split second I thought "He's on a bike, I can out run him".  Then I envisioned myself in a gawd-awlful chase with helicopters and squad cars reminiscent of the OJ chase of '94.

I pulled over.



Through my sideview mirror I could see the law abiding officer walk his bike across the crosswalk, park it behind my truck, and begin to walk towards me.  I knew my ____ was in a ringer.  Without hesitation, he said "license, registration, proof of insurance".  I handed him my license, then the registration, and at the moment I went to give him my insurance card I realized that my new card was sitting on the counter at home and I could hear my wife saying "Here, you NEED to put this in your truck".  I thought, 2 outta 3 ain't so bad, right?  WRONG!  The officer returned to the cab and started to recite the laws "The State of Oregon requires motorists to carry proof of insurance in their vehicles at all times.  The fine for failure to provide proof of insurance is a max $260.00", I gave you the max" (I thought aren't I special).  He went on, "The operation a vehicle while using a communications device is a misdemeanor and the fine is $110.00" (there goes 2 rounds of golf!).  "Do you have any questions for me sir?" (again with the right to remain silent treatment) I just shook my head.  "You have a pleasant day sir".  For a split second (I think in those split seconds often) I thought about backing up over his bike, but somehow the picture I drew in my head of sitting in that jail cell awaiting arraignment just didn't look or feel good.

  

      

 Lesson learned.