And a very Merry Christmas from a MSC sailor in Dubai, United Arab Emirates!

You scoff-law, you. ;-)

Congratulations! You are a risk-taker, a valued member of society! I say so because I once was leading a sunday school group from printed guidelines. One item said I should start the discussion with the person with the most speeding tickets. These are risk-takers who liven up a discussion. Unfortunately for my sunday school reputation, the winner turned out to be me!

Two years ago, I was driving home after dropping off my sister-in-law at the airport. It was just two days after my dad's funeral, and my mind was not on my speedometer. My soccer-mom Town and Country was pulled over for doing 70 in a 55. I too admitted my mistake, explained the cirsumstances, and respectfully (and on the verge of tearfully) asked if I could have a warning. The state trooper ran my license and registration, then gave me the warning. His kindness let loose the floodgates. He told me to stay put until I felt better and to drive carefully. I drove the speed limit all the way home--of course passed by everyone else.

Merry Christmas to all law enforcement officers--thank you for protecting us, even if sometimes from ourselves.

Not yelling "Yeehaw" or "Hold my beer and watch this" at the critical moment was likely helpful too.

Years back I was driving to a town outside Pittsburg in a borrowed 280ZX. That thing could fly considering the entire front end was all engine. So I'm flying up the interstate at about 110MPH. Just cruisin', when I see headlights in the rear view mirror catching up to me. I was clearly already in radar range, so there was no point at all in slowing down.
So what passes me? A long haired grunge listener in an old early 70's station wagon.
I felt so bad I went 55 the rest of the way...

Ya know, that is the one lesson that "kids" today just don't seem to get. If you are HONEST and show a little respect in these situations, Police Officers will treat you with respect, but when you LIE to them, they often keep you sitting there MUCH longer than actually needed, and still give you the ticket. Sometimes they even find more tickets to give too.

Hey, no fair! I didn't get out of my citation, damnit.

I got one yesterday for taking off my seatbelt in front of my workplace parking lot.

Ya know, that is the one lesson that "kids" today just don't seem to get. If you are HONEST and show a little respect in these situations, Police Officers will treat you with respect, but when you LIE to them, they often keep you sitting there MUCH longer than actually needed, and still give you the ticket.

I once pulled a cut-through-private-property-to-avoid-a-signal and in the process went in a "do not enter" that I didn't see until far too late. I told the officer the truth: I fully intended to cut the corner off, but the do-not-enter thing was unavoidable since I saw it too late. Officer couldn't have been nicer, suggested a street to bypass the odd corner, and sent me on my way.