Stop sign against blue sky

I got a speeding ticket today.

It’s been about eight years since I’ve had the pleasure, and it caught me rather off-guard, as if those flashing lights simply couldn’t be for me. It also brought to the front of my mind the same basic thoughts it always has, including:

• “Why don’t you go catch some real criminals, hot-shot?”
• “The speed limit on Oakland is thirty-five?! WHAT? It’s three lanes, one way, all commercial! That’s ridiculous. Nobody goes thirty-five on this street.”
• “Seriously, you should go catch some real criminals.”
• “I wasn’t even the fastest one in the pack. I was barely going 50. That guy in the red Mustang was going 60. Plus, he was texting. Why me?”
• “I guarantee someone in the capital city is getting stabbed right now. Stabbed by a real criminal. And you’re here giving me a ticket for going with the flow of traffic. This is so stupid.”

Of course, I don’t actually say any of this out loud to the police officer. I’m polite to a fault, admit my guilt (bearing false witness in a court of law kind of goes against my conscience, so I won’t be fighting the ticket), and even tell the policeman “thank you” before driving off. (What I’m thanking him for, I have no idea—helping take that pesky $180 off my hands?)

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Source: If A Police Officer Ruins Your Day, You Might Be The Problem | The Blazing Center