The Po-Po got me!

It's been about 10 years since I have been given a ticket for a traffic violation. That is NOT to say that I haven't been stopped in those 10 years. In fact, I was pulled-over on about 5 occasions during that time (simply for speeding), and not once did I receive a ticket. So, I thought I had "my lines down," well enough to evade a ticket from Wyoming's boys-in-blue...

I have to admit that I am a mildy aggressive driver and my foot does seem to be a bit heavy at times, but SAFETY FIRST (especially w/ Emma on board)! I've been told several times that while I do drive fast, I am a very cautious and safe driver (paraphrased from Joel's grandma).

Back to the story...Tuesday, I admittedly packed far too many errands between Emma's naps. Once she woke up, I quickly fed her, and set off to do my errands. I first rushed to Walgreens in Byron Center, to Costco in Grandville, then clear across town to meet some girlfriends for lunch at Arnie's (Centerpointe Mall). I was on the home stretch, making my way East, on 44th Street, from Grandville, when a Wyoming City cop spotted me.

Apparently I was doing 52mph in a 35mph zone (GULP!). So, I fully admitted my "wrong" thinking he'd let me go, once again. Ah, no...not this time. In fact, he told me it wasn't my speed that made him come after me, but the fact that I was "changing lanes" and probably a bit sporadically as I was running late for my lunch date. The cop wrote me up for a general traffic violation (instead of 17 mph over the speed limit). He explained to me that this was the mildest ticket he could give me for speeding.

Later that afternoon I called the Wyoming probate court to get the damage. I was very surprised to hear that I received a LESSER charge/ticket to the tune of a $100 fine and 2 points!! UGH! I can't imagine what I would have had to pay if the cop had written me up for the full 17mph over the speed limit!

Needless to say, I've been humbled and I am now watching the speed limit far more closely than I have in the past several years.