I was pulled over for speeding late this morning on the way home from piano lessons. Why doesn’t the baby cry you want her to?
Actually, the very nice police officer didn’t play any games. He told me right away why he pulled me over, briefly chastised me for speeding with kids in the car (because 48 mph on a very wide, very straight, four lane road with a ridiculous 35 mph limit is dangerous, I guess), checked to see if my registration and insurance were up to date, asked if all the kids were mine, and then took my license back to his car to make sure I wasn’t wanted for felonies in ten states.
I was pretty sure I’d only get a warning, since he didn’t take the car info. My kids were very excited at the whole spectacle, and I think were a tad disappointed that nothing more dramatic then a cursory order to “Slow down” occurred.
As we pulled away, I asked who was going to tattle on me to their father. The response was a chorus of gleeful “Me!”
“Does he really need to know about this?” I asked.
“Yes!” Again, a happy, unanimous response.
So much for not biting the hand that feeds you.
For the record, I don’t keep secrets from my husband, and he wouldn’t be (wasn’t) particularly upset by this anyway.
Reit This Way 
I’m glad you didn’t get a ticket. Those darned kids — is there no loyalty?I was pulled over for a rolling stop about 8 years ago and I remember Noah was the only one with me. He started crying because he thought the policeman was going to take me away! I think the officer felt terrible (and probably wondered where my kid got that idea!). It was good for a warning.
The last time I got a ticket, I was on my way home from church (blush) with the kids in the car – they RAN into the house to share the news with their father. Gulp.
My last stop was on post, just out of the main gate, which is still 5 more miles from the real entrance of post…I’d been driving for two hours, needed to nurse a baby, and I had to go potty really, really, bad…I still got a ticket. So I don’t care if there’s a line of ten cars trailing my bumper…when I cross that border between state road and post road…I strickly obey the speed limit…cause I refuse to be taxed ever again. I’m glad they didn’t ticket you. That really puts a cramp in one’s day for sure.
As an ex cop, sorry, I have no sympathy. You were over 10 MPH over the limit…he would have been completely justified in giving you a ticket. MORE than justified. Congratuations…you are an object of mercy. Whether you consider the speed limit to be just or not is irrevelant. It’s a law. Render to Caesar unto Caesar. A co-worker of mine recently used this idea in a spiritual lesson she provided to others, drawing a parallel to God’s own laws. When you are passing a car, look at their spedometer…what is the signed MPH…and what does it read on their spedometer? Are they going the speed limit? Are you passing them…if they are exactly where they should be? What does that say about YOU? And for the record, I’m guilty, too, so don’t take this as a self-righteous comment. I’ve deserved a ticket often. But given my history in law enf, I know from the job what lines to push, and the rest of the time I’ve just been lucky. And I haven’t had kids in my car. I recently heard a story. A man was driving over the limit, en route home. He was pulled over. The officer walking up to his car was a guy from his church. He was at first relieved, and then, when the officer did not give in to the friendly chatter of before and after Mass, the man became miffed. “Who is THIS guy to tell me what to do?” He rattled to the officer, whom he’d previously considered a friend, about his long day at work, his family at home, his kids, etc. The officer got his info, went back to his car, and came back, writing something on a pad. The man who had been pulled over was growing angrier by the second. What was he really doing wrong but driving a little fast? It was a straight road..there was no danger. The officer handed him a folded piece of paper, wished him a good evening, and walked back to his car. The man sat there for a moment, and then opened what he thought was a ticket. Then he opened it up and read a handwritten note. I don’t remember the wording, but the gist was this: The officer told the man that a few years prior, his child had been killed as a result of someone speeding…on a road just like this one. And while the man could go home to his family and indeed needed to be with them, the officer would never see his son again, because someone else didn’t see the danger, didn’t consider the possible outcome of their actions. The officer did not write a ticket..only admomished the man to go home carefullly and take care of his family…and in doing so, remember those who had lost their own as a result of careless actions. I know someone who lived on a busy road. Their son and another were best friends, and lived across from one another. One day the boys were crossing the road, carelessley, given…and their son didn’t make it. Because the car that hit them was speeding. Had that car been going the limit, the 14 year old boy would not have been struck. Does that absolve the boy? No. He shouldn’t have taken the risk to beat the car. But he doesn’t have to live with his decision. The driver does, because the driver will never forget the fact that had he been going the limit, he would not have killed a kid whose transgression was just going home. Just like he was. I’m sorry to be the harda**, but there it is. Suck it up and learn from it, and remember those who lived out consequences you don’t have to face.