Friday, June 18, 2010

So Write Me a Ticket Then...

Those are not the greatest words to utter when a police officer informs you of some seemingly minor transgression you have just commited in his or her presence.

As I was leaving the establishment where I had lunch today I watched a driver turn in to the parking lot across a divided highway. I pointed out that his maneuver was illegal, and that it would behoove him to wait for the traffic signal on any future occasions.

He responded with a huge attitude to show off for his passengers. "Why?" He asked.

I let the 'tude slide for the moment and explained the violation to him in detail. It was then, at that very moment, that he made the decision that sealed his fate.

"So write me a ticket then!"

Well hell, if you insist! Who in hell am I to pass up such an opportunity? Ya' know, all that stuff about looking a gift horse in the mouth? Let's have those license, registration and insurance thingies cops are so fond of asking for.

What's that you say? You don't have a license? Well let me just check on that.

Oh geez! Says here your driving privilege is suspended. That means your van goes with me for thirty days and you and your passengers get to hoof it. Perhaps you should have taken the warning I gave you to begin with and left it at that.

The moral? If a traffic cop gives you a warning, feel very lucky and don't press the issue.

If you do it might make you look like the OTHER end of the horse...

8 comments:

Moose said...

Rule One: PEOPLE ARE MORONS.

BootedCop said...

These people actually make the job fun! Mostly because it's a story you get to tell over and over to your colleagues, family, and even your blog! I always tell the idiot at the end "you know, I was at first just going to give you a warning, but..." just to throw a little salt in the idiot's wound.

People like this, as well as alcohol, are what we call job security. You can't fix stupid.

Jeff said...

I can just see a caveman ancestor of his confronting some wild beastie with “Eat me come on I dare you.”
Why hasn’t natural selection taken care of these people? Oh well while they are still around they are always good to laugh at.

Cleanville Tziabatz said...

Here is a good way to handle it:

"Hello. I stopped you because I saw you commit a traffic infraction. I am inclined to let you go with a warning, but I want to discuss the infraction with you before making a final decision about whether to let you go without a ticket."

This opening comes off as less officious and makes people want to listen to what you have to say.

911 and the Randomness.. said...

Love it.

Mad Jack said...

Why is this mentally challenged individual running around without his keeper?

Anonymous said...

that was so stupid! haha...

GoGo said...

How old. Or i should ask how young were they?

I see your point, if you ask you just might receive, but kids are dumb. And i was equal portions of dumb and dumber when i was a teen. Were they teenagers?

Either way the ticket was deserved.