A Sunday Drive

Awful! Truly awful! Dave and I were headed out for a Sunday drive. I have been relentlessly looking for a pair of New Balance running shoes for a few weeks now. Today, I promised Dave I would choose one pair and walk out of a store with a purchase. We head over to Academy (yes, it was the one I visited last week) and still the magic shoe wasn't there. We head over to the Forum shopping center, driving on the access road. Low and behold, a police car was sitting there in a completely unproductive spot waiting for a victim. Instinctively, I look at our speedometer - 45 mph. Good job, Dave, it's usually a little faster. We keep driving, thinking nothing of it. Dave and I watch the police car in the mirrors where of course, he follows us. Hum he must have decided it wasn't a good place, either.

But, oh no, he turns on his lights. Instantly, my blood pressure raises and my heart beats fast. These guys have it out for us. He pulls us over and asks for Dave's driver’s license and insurance. That's all. I'm thinking "Wait, what is this for?" He walks to his car, writes on his little notepad, and issues us a citation for SPEEDING. "You know you were doing 50 in a 40."
My blood boils: we most certainly were not. Dave tells me to be quiet, but this can be a problem. I usually do not speak up; I don't like confrontation and really believe that people do not intentionally hurt you BUT this is an injustice, this is accusing someone of something that just isn’t true, this is completely ridiculous that I can’t calm myself down several hours later enough to write without shaking. From the passenger seat I bend over Dave, I’ve got something to say to this policeman (whom I’m sure does do valuable work and this is just a rare occasion for him):
“He and I both looked at the speedometer and it said 45. I’d like to see your radar.”
He dismisses this comment; of course, he’s not going to let us see the radar. Yeah, just ignore the blonde lady who just has to balance the checkbook: $103 for defensive driving plus court fees for NOTHING.

We drive off and I still am not satisfied. It’s enough to ruin a shopping trip. That is just unacceptable, there is nothing worse than getting in trouble for something you did not do. It’s just NOT fair. And I can’t just “let it go” like Dave suggests. “I’ll just take defensive driving. We’ll be okay.”

It’s just a driving ticket and in truth we are speeders. The only problem is that it’s our word against theirs. What would happen if we contest? Is it worth it? And this gets me thinking on a bigger scale: what happens when people are wrongly accused of bigger things than just tickets. That’s scary!

We continue our drive over to the New Balance store although I’m tempted not to give Selma anymore of my money. A little while later I walk out with a great pair of running shoes and a vow: I will not come in contact with the Selma police department, 2 times in 10 days is too much to handle. Really, don’t these guys have better things to protect the public from a woman walking and a man speeding slightly?