…is what I should have said to the policeman as he passed me my speeding ticket to the tune of $117.00.
Fortunately, I’m too well mannered. ; )
I am also, obviously, too distracted to keep track of the different speed zones: three of them within a one-mile stretch!
And though the officer was nice enough, (he gave me the lowest possible fine), he clearly had no idea what it is like to be a mother of several screaming precious children on her way home after an early morning errand. He seemed to think that I should be driving slower—that’s slower, Ma’am, not faster—to get to the goal that is my home.
He’s kidding, right?
He has simply got to be kidding.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,
Oh, bummer. Did you cry? I would have cried. And certainly not on purpose. I’m sorry he ruined your week. He has no empathy at all.
I had an early morning errand this morning with four of my five little ones. The kind where you have to get out of the car. Let’s just say I had to take a nap when I got home.
You rock! (Thanks for your blogging!)
sb
Oh no! I’m pretty sure I know what stretch of road, too!
Oh, no, what a week you’re having! There must be something really good right around the corner…
Asking for prayers for mum2twelve today. It seems a lot of us are struggling today. Bless you, Margaret, for your honest, beautiful writing. Thanks.
Eeewww Yuck! I am so sorry about that nasty ticket! And bless your heart for the week you you’re having. Though I will say those humble pies are rather lovely and I’m sure that officer was blessed by your encounter. I agree with Diane, something good must be right around the cornder!
Oh, Margaret! Think kindly thoughts of that police officer, who was just doing his job. The law is the law, and speeding is speeding, regardless of how many kids are in the back seat. So many lives are in your hands, and driving is probably the most dangerous thing you do all day. 🙂 I got a ticket a couple of years ago, driving 60 in a 45, just as distracted by a car full of kids and a late afternoon errand. People are cranky in the late afternoon. I seldom venture forth at that hour, and just wanted to hurry up. Lesson learned, a hundred dollars, later. 🙂 Actually, I thought it was funny, because I’d just been teasing my neighbor about her ticket a week before. More of that humble pie!
Ouch! That hurts.
I catch myself thinking while trying to get somewhere fast, “what is wrong with these people going the speed limit, don’t they have anywhere to go?” Then I have to laugh!!
Speaking as an ex-police officer….he was right. And for a $117 fine you had to have been WELL over the limit. And with children in your car.
Speed causes more accidents and deaths than anything else. And by it’s nature, speeding is often (although not always) through inattention…and that’s even worse.
Granted, the inattention was due to the children, but considering you have children in your vehicle, you have an even greater duty to them to pay attention to your speed.
I don’t mean to preach, not in any way, but I do feel it’s necessary to speak up for the cop. And considering that I’ve been in his shoes and I’ve seen sights that would haunt you to your dying day and through purgatory, well, please see his action as merciful and not condemning.
I was coasting downhill … coasting, mind you … when a policeman stopped me and cited me for speeding *and* because my strapping 13 yo was helping his brother shut a window and was therefore unbuckled. *sigh* I wish the police would just leave us moms alone.