I'm sorry sir, was I speeding?

As some of you know, I am currently a Family Therapist with The Center for Children and Families. I drive to West Carroll Parish, Richland Parish, and Franklin Parish every week. It is a lot of driving, especially for me. Anybody that knows me well knows that I hate to drive. I zone out, I get bored, and I am not aware of my surroundings. Well this week it happened. I got pulled over by the police...TWICE! 

I have only received one ticket in my life before this incident, and luckily I got it moved to a non-moving violation. That was 3 years ago. This time around I got pulled over in Pioneer, LA. Pioneer is a little town between Oak Grove and Delhi. The speed limit changes from 55 to 45 around a curve, but you don't see the sign until you get into the town. 

I saw the police officer in his black SUV and immediately dropped my speed, but it was too little, too late. He pulled me over, and he said he clocked me going 57 in a 45. I immediately apologized because I knew I was speeding. He took my insurance and driver's license. I waited patiently. He gave me a ticket without lecturing or yelling at me. I told him thank you for just giving me my ticket and letting me go. I explained that I have been in the car with others and the police officers can be complete jerks for absolutely no reason. He said, "Well it's just my job to give the ticket. It's not professional for me to yell at you”. I told him this would be my first real speeding ticket on record since my last one was changed. He told me that I could ask the court to change this one to a non-moving violation as well. I said thank you and went about my day. 

Later on in the day I was driving through Rayville, La on my way home. I was driving down the main road in Rayville and was stopped by two red lights. Since I received a ticket earlier in the day, I was being cautious and making sure I was not speeding and paying attention. As I entered the interstate ramp, I see blue lights behind me yet again. I immediately pull over. I was very unsure of what I was doing, but I just waited. As soon as I pulled over, the police officer passes me and pulls someone else over. I got back into the driving lane, and I went on my way. I drove about five miles, and the police officer was back behind me. 

I pull over again. The office got out of his car, walks to my window, and proceeds to tell me that while in Rayville, he clocked me going 40 in a 25. I immediately began telling him that I was not speeding. I had my cruise set the whole time because of my previous experience. He then told me that he saw two white Honda Accords (I drive a silver Honda Civic), and he thought it was the other car, which he stopped first. He then told me that “it had to be me” because I had darker hair, and he was sure that it had to me. I tried my best to explain to him that it wasn't me, I stopped at two red lights, and if had been me, he would have been able to stop me sooner.
He did not believe me, which, I mean, he doesn't have to do. He is the one with all the power. 

I tried to explain to him that I had already got a ticket earlier in the day, and if he could help me out in this situation or give me seatbelt ticket or something other than a speeding ticket. He asked to see my other ticket which I showed him. He said you were speeding today.  Without hesitation I admitted to the earlier speeding. I think that he felt sorry for me and simply let me go with a warning. 



In a series of unfortunate events it seemed, I had several police officers randomly follow me from Rayville to West Monroe (30 minute drive). It was like they were watching and waiting for me to make a mistake because they just knew that I was speeding. I am not a perfect driver. I do speed sometimes. But the way the second officer handled that situation was not professional. He admitted that he was unsure of who was speeding; he made an ID with just my hair color, and despite the fact that I did not drive a white Honda Accord, he still pulled me over. The other car he pulled over was actually a white Honda accord. What confused me even more is that I also have a LA Tech sticker on the back of my car as well as a CBU sticker, which would help him identify my car. But…he did let me off the hook, and for that, I am grateful. 

I called Pioneer this week to see my ticket cost. It was ONLY $175. I guess I’m grateful because I was expecting the ticket to be a lot higher. I went by their Town Hall, and it is only the size of a 200 square foot house. I was raised in a small town my whole life. I forget about how small "small towns" really are and how they operate. I also forgot that this is how they get their money...by speeders. So for now, I will make sure to set my cruise every time I get in my car. I am not getting another ticket....Well at least not for a while.