This morning I went to bootcamp so I was up and ready to go to work very early/on time. I wasn't far from my neighborhood when I was pulled over by an Arlington police officer. Apparently, I had rolled through a stop sign while turning right (very likely...) and I was not wearing my seat belt (I wasn't on the freeway yet, I would've gotten around to it...).
He took my license, info, etc and wrote me up a ticket for both offenses. As I waited, I was mostly bummed about the fact that my clear record was going to be ruined right when I'm about to start paying my own car insurance. Lame.
You see, in the exactly 8 years that I've had a license I have only received 1 traffic ticket. All the other times I've been pulled over, I've been given only a warning. Can you believe that?? I can't explain how I have been this lucky but for some reason I am always able to get out with just a warning. I hope this is some kind of magical, life-long ability! My one ticket was for a carpool violation the summer of 2002. I've had a sparkling, spotless record ever since, of which I'm very proud. I've more than made up for it in parking tickets, but that's besides the point.
I figured my streak would end sooner or later. Officer Peart brought my two citations back to my car and we chatted a bit about having just moved here, the procedures for contesting a ticket should I choose to (that's when I said "uhh but I WASN'T wearing my seatbelt, how can I contest that?"), I asked if I could just pay today instead of waiting for the court date, etc.
As we were about to part ways he said "You know what, I'm going to go ahead and switch these two tickets to official warnings instead of citations. You seem like a nice person. Welcome to Virginia." He extended his hand for a welcome shake and I happily drove away.
As we were about to part ways he said "You know what, I'm going to go ahead and switch these two tickets to official warnings instead of citations. You seem like a nice person. Welcome to Virginia." He extended his hand for a welcome shake and I happily drove away.
Which means, officially, as of today...
I've been pulled over 13 times and only received 1 ticket!!!
I've been pulled over 13 times and only received 1 ticket!!!
8 comments:
that's so awesome! so often those stories don't turn out like that so you must be a lucky one.
Sorry about your ticket!
I got my first ticket two weeks ago - for driving in the carpool lane without any passengers. Boo.
Oh yeah I read your post Lindsay! For how much I drove in that carpool lane this summer, I'm surprised I never got pulled over for the same thing you did.
I'm just so glad I didn't actually get a ticket this morning because that would have really put a damper on the day.
That is insane. And totally not fair. And really funny. Congrats on the perfect record. And on getting up and going to boot camp bright and early and being on time to work.
Is it okay that I'm kind of mad you didn't get the ticket? I've been pulled over a handful of times, and every time I do, I think about my sister who can get pulled over AND not get a ticket, and how that never happens to me.
I'm kidding. Congratulations, and Welcome to Virginia!!
Welcome to Virginia indeed.
That is a seriously impressive ability Rachel!!
13 times? Holy cow! I've only been pulled over twice, but both times I got a ticket. It's especially lame since both times I was going under 10 over. I'm so jealous of you.
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