Policeman Encounter

Yesterday, as I was on the way to the library in our- past due for inspection and Texas tags- Ford Explorer, I was driving along listening to a CD. At the same time I was also trying to listen to Celeste spell made up words. She was being very insistent that I could both listen to the music and translate the made up words she was spelling. While it is true that I was managing to do both, I apparently, couldn't do a third thing as well which in this case was to drive. As I pulled up to a stop sign, I stopped, (I thought... but in reflection maybe it was sorta a roll.), looked in all directions, noticed a cop car coming from the left, and then went ahead and made my right hand turn. Blue squiggly lights. Oh man!!

I pulled into a church parking lot and was so nervous I was trembling! This was my first experience being in the drivers seat with a wiggly pulling me over. I managed to pull out my license and proof of insurance. As the policeman approached my window, he asked that dreaded question: "Do you know why I pulled you over ma'am?"

My mind has a couple scenarios...

Scenario 1: I'm thinking, "Alright, I've got Alabama plates-never mind that I'm 60 days past due for having them changed over to represent Texas- and, I've also got an Alabama driver's license, my hair swooped up in a Sarah Palin style do, and make up nicely applied due to it being date night. I'm gonna put on my best Southern drawl and sweet talk my way right out of this ticket!" Celeste, all quiet while I'm answering a few questions, suddenly speaks up very loudly and inquisitively and says, "Mommy, why are you talking like that?"


Scenario 2: I'm thinking,LIE if he asks how long we've been in this state!"Well, Mr. Policeman, sir, I'm just here from Alabama visiting my lovely friends...The Haynes, Schleys, Easleys...we obviously aren't familiar with the streets and the stop signs and such. Nope, my conscience won't allow that.

But, what actually happened was,

Scenario 3: "Ma'am, do you know why I pulled you over?" I shake my head in a silent "No." Yes, I could guess that I must have run the stop sign, but I'm not gonna suggest it! He says, "Really?" So, I have to squeak out an audible, "No." He says, "Well, ma'am, first off, you ran that stop sign back there, AND, your brake lights are out!" I'm genuinely shocked. I play that up a little. "Oh no! I had NO idea!" Totally true. He gets my insurance card, walks away for a second, comes right back and says "Drive safe, and it's probably just a fuse on your brakes. Just get that checked out." Hands me my license and let's me go scott free...no warning, no nothing! It took me a good half hour to settle my nerves and start getting really grateful that he never even asked about what we were doing all the way here in Texas from Alabama. I would have been in sooo much TROUBLE.

Got the brakes fixed and the inspection done today! Off to the DMV tomorrow. :)