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A long day and the CHP
Dec. 17th, 2004 01:23 amToday is over. Finally. And I'm exhausted. And stupidly still online. What's wrong with me, huh?
Got into work at 8:40 this morning. Left the office at 11:45 or so. Threw a party/event/ thing for a client. Decorated all day. Then sat through the event, which started later for various reason.
Then all I wanted to do was get home. And was tired. Still am tired. VERY little sleep last night.
I seem to not pay attention to speed, my speedometer, or the CHP behind me when I'm this tired. For the second time when I was tired out of my mind, the lights came a'flashing behind me. The last time was coming back from the Grand Canyon, and I was doin' 85 or so, and was trying not to fall asleep. Near something the same this time, when the cops caught me.
So I pulled over and he made me exit the freeway (Really, how do they think you can hear them on the speaker? On the freeway?)and I freaked a bit when both cops came out and had hands on the holsters of their weapons. I'm black. It scares me, you know?
He told me that he pulled me over for speeding, and that he'd been pacing me for over a mile. He asked if I knew how fast I was going. I told him, last I'd looked down, 70-75. He *smirked* and said "C'mon, man, no. I clocked you for over a mile doing well over 80." I honestly thought I was doin' 70-75...but I was coming downhill, not really looking at my speed guage, and concentrating on driving straight and not looking at the blinding blue lights of the freaking truck behind me.
"Where are you coming from?"
"Claremont...from work."
"Where do you live?"
"Compton."
"Wow. You have a long way home, don't you?"
"Yes, sir."
"Hang here for a moment.
Anyrate, he wrote me a ticket (for doing "80-83mph"), which I'm probably not going to contest, but I have to wait on the clerk to find out if I can do traffic school (or pay the fine...depending on if I want the point/can afford the ticket) or have to appear in court. Which I'm not in the mood to do. Especially since the appearence is in FEBRUARY. I really can't plan that far in advance at the moment. And really, I'm not in the mood to be in West Covina at 8:30am.
The thing is that I was totally accepting of the ticket, and I don't think that he was prepared for my courtesy (I've got this whole respect for authority thing. And a healthy respect (read: FEAR) of law enforcement officers.) I think he thought that I was being sarcastic when I thanked him for pulling me over, that I would try to be safer, and told him to have a good night. Because, you know, I like to see my taxes at work. Just not on me.
I wonder if he was ready to deal with a respectful black man dressed in a suit and tie.
I've come to the conclusion that I should either stop speeding (HAHAHAHAHAHA...65 is so ridiculous...), or learn not to drive fast (or at all) when I'm tired. Just stay on the road for so much longer and possibly fall asleep at the wheel.
Eh, screw it. I'll deal with 70 for a while, and just take longer...it was just odds before I would get caught speeding. I just wish it were not tonight. Dammit.
Got into work at 8:40 this morning. Left the office at 11:45 or so. Threw a party/event/ thing for a client. Decorated all day. Then sat through the event, which started later for various reason.
Then all I wanted to do was get home. And was tired. Still am tired. VERY little sleep last night.
I seem to not pay attention to speed, my speedometer, or the CHP behind me when I'm this tired. For the second time when I was tired out of my mind, the lights came a'flashing behind me. The last time was coming back from the Grand Canyon, and I was doin' 85 or so, and was trying not to fall asleep. Near something the same this time, when the cops caught me.
So I pulled over and he made me exit the freeway (Really, how do they think you can hear them on the speaker? On the freeway?)and I freaked a bit when both cops came out and had hands on the holsters of their weapons. I'm black. It scares me, you know?
He told me that he pulled me over for speeding, and that he'd been pacing me for over a mile. He asked if I knew how fast I was going. I told him, last I'd looked down, 70-75. He *smirked* and said "C'mon, man, no. I clocked you for over a mile doing well over 80." I honestly thought I was doin' 70-75...but I was coming downhill, not really looking at my speed guage, and concentrating on driving straight and not looking at the blinding blue lights of the freaking truck behind me.
"Where are you coming from?"
"Claremont...from work."
"Where do you live?"
"Compton."
"Wow. You have a long way home, don't you?"
"Yes, sir."
"Hang here for a moment.
Anyrate, he wrote me a ticket (for doing "80-83mph"), which I'm probably not going to contest, but I have to wait on the clerk to find out if I can do traffic school (or pay the fine...depending on if I want the point/can afford the ticket) or have to appear in court. Which I'm not in the mood to do. Especially since the appearence is in FEBRUARY. I really can't plan that far in advance at the moment. And really, I'm not in the mood to be in West Covina at 8:30am.
The thing is that I was totally accepting of the ticket, and I don't think that he was prepared for my courtesy (I've got this whole respect for authority thing. And a healthy respect (read: FEAR) of law enforcement officers.) I think he thought that I was being sarcastic when I thanked him for pulling me over, that I would try to be safer, and told him to have a good night. Because, you know, I like to see my taxes at work. Just not on me.
I wonder if he was ready to deal with a respectful black man dressed in a suit and tie.
I've come to the conclusion that I should either stop speeding (HAHAHAHAHAHA...65 is so ridiculous...), or learn not to drive fast (or at all) when I'm tired. Just stay on the road for so much longer and possibly fall asleep at the wheel.
Eh, screw it. I'll deal with 70 for a while, and just take longer...it was just odds before I would get caught speeding. I just wish it were not tonight. Dammit.
