The evolution of a driver

I've been caught speeding; 

once when I was 25... 

I enjoy speeding.

It's just as simple as that.

Well, it's just a simple fact. 

When I drive something,

I want to drive it fast!

Those are slightly modified lyrics to the Jane's Addiction song 'Been Caught Stealing'.  They're apt as a couple days ago I got a speeding ticket.  My first such ticket in about a decade.

I've been driving for just under 24 years now.  Back in my day (I feel old when I say it that way....Get Off My Lawn!) we took school sponsored Drivers Education classes at 16 years old.  Once the class was finished we went to the secretary of state, took the drivers test (written and practical), and were issued a license.  None of this 'can only drive during daylight hours with a responsible related adult over the age of 25 for the first year' type of limited licence crap that my niece is currently going through.  Nope... the state said I could drive any time I wanted to anywhere I wanted with anyone I wanted.  Suckers.  I could easily be used as an example of WHY they changed the rules as I was quite the little (well... not little) hellion when I first started to drive.

Let me share the evolution of me as it pertains to driving.  It all started in Drivers Ed.  As I did in all classes I took during High School, I breezed through the class.  The information from the book and the instruction seemed to just flow into me without any effort on my part.  The practical part of the instruction was taken at the local Middle School as they had a drivers course laid out in their huge parking lot.  We were given fairly new Buicks and instructed how to drive, corner, curve, park and so on.  This was supplemented by my father taking me to the parking lot across the street and teaching me how to work a stick shift.

Near the end of the class we were put into a car with several other students along with an instructor and headed out onto the open road.  The other students were... well they sucked at driving.  They couldn't maintain a speed and never knew what the speed limit was supposed to be.  Using the brakes, turn signal, and mirrors at the same time was an ability that they just didn't posses leading to many harrowing lane changes and turns.

On my first time behind the wheel I was near perfect.  I ignored the cat calls from the back seat, monitored the cars around me, went at or below the posted speed limit, signaled all my turns in advance, used my mirrors responibly, and simply put owned the entire drivers experience.  After we all had a turn (mine included going through a drive through so that the instructor could get a McRib and a coffee), we exited the vehicle and the instructor gave us a rundown on how to improve.  He took about 10 minutes for the other students and simply gave me a thumbs up.

The last day of instruction consisted of him giving us a driving test as similar to the one the state would give us and grading us how the state would grade us... Pass or Fail.  One student failed (he swore that he didn't see that stop sign), one student 'barely' passed and I passed with flying colors.  The only word of advice the instructor gave me was that I often drove too slow.  Man I wish he never would have said that.

I passed the state tests with flying colors and entered my life as a driver.  My older brother had gone off to the navy and gave me his car, a 1979 Chevy Monza.  I started driving to and from school, work, and most importantly my friends' houses.  FREEDOM!

It seems that the instructors advice of driving too slowly really sunk in as I quickly racked up the speeding tickets.  I remember one time in my Pontiac 6000 I was driving with my buds in tow down the highway.  I was probably going about 60mph in a 55mph zone when someone rushed up behind and started tailing me.  Cocky (and stupid) as I was I assumed this meant he wanted to race.  So I raced.  I floored the gas pedal and watched the speedo climb to 80mph.  All the while the guy remained right behind me.  He was close enough that when he turned on his flashing lights I didn't see them in the rearview mirror.

Yup.  I had just raced a cop car.

A year or so later I was driving myself and my brother to the barber shop.  I was in the left lane behind someone turning left.  As soon as the traffic cleared up I checked my mirror (there was someone coming up in the right lane but they were WAY back there) and swung into the free lane to get around Lefty McLefterson.  Once I was through the intersection I checked my mirror again and saw the oncoming car was actually off the road and over the curb.  I didn't give it much mind (again... young and dumb) until I pulled into the parking lot.  As soon as I opened my door that same car came to a screeching halt behind me.  The driver and passenger got out and started screaming at me.

According to him, I cut him off and almost created a wreck.  His female passenger pulled out a pad of paper and was writing down my licence plate number and started demanding my licence and registration.  Maybe if they weren't red faced and shouting I would have been more respectful (again... young and dumb), but probably not.  Instead of politely talking to them I shouted right back.  I believe 'Fuck Off' and 'Asshole' were terms of endearment that I threw at them.  I only backed down a bit when he pulled out his wallet and flashed his badge at me.  Yup... he was a cop.

And by 'backed down' I mean that I told him I still wasn't going to give him my licence, walked past  him, and flipped him t he bird.

Young and Dumb.

I got the ticket in the mail a few days later.  Reckless Driving.  It would be a $150 ticket and six points on my licence.  I don't remember the limit of points allowed on a licence, nor do I remember how many points I had, but I do know that the 6 points would have taken me over the edge.  I was about to lose my drivers licence.  My freedom.

So with the help of my parents I got a lawyer and went to court instead of paying.  The court day arrived and my lawyer seemed to be full of mirth and glee... it turns out the cop wasn't making an appearance.  According to him the case and ticket would be thrown out.   Sadly the judge disagreed.  He stated on the record that the written testimony of an off duty cop was above reproach and that my word was worth nothing.

Thankfully I had a lawyer as I believe I broke down in tears at that point.  My lawyer shifted smoothly into plan B and started going for a reduced ticket.  After some back and forth I ended up with a careless driving ticket.  The fee remained the same but I only had 3 points added to my collection.  That took me right up the edge of losing my licence instead of over the line.

I would love nothing more than to say I learned my lesson and started driving like a reasonable adult at that point.  Sadly I kept driving the same and just didn't get caught.

Fast forward a few years and I found myself away from home at college.  I was driving my Ford Escort and was damned poor.  One day I was driving around trying to get out of my pissed off mood.  I don't recall why I was pissed, just that I was very upset.   Going through a residential neighborhood I got pulled over again.  This time for performing a rolling or 'California' stop at a stop sign.

In case you don't know what that is, it's slowing down to below 5mph at a stop sign and then continuing on without coming to a full and complete stop.  And yes, it's illegal.  I had lost a few points on my licence but this put me right back up to the edge of losing it again.  Worse than that, I couldn't afford the ticket.  So instead of handling it like the adult I wanted to see myself as I had to call up Dad and borrow the hundred bucks.  I also at that time lost my insurance.  They deemed me an unacceptable risk and left me no choice but to get insurance from a 'high risk' company.  The prices were outrageous and offered me no coverage beyond the state required minimum.

I think if there was any moment where I learned to drive responsibly, it was that moment.

I didn't change overnight.  In fact it took me years.  But I DID become a responsible driver.  Over the next seven years the points all dropped off my licence without adding any on.  Once I had a 'clean' driving record  was able to get good insurance again.  I even changed my perspective on driving.  For all those years, driving was something to enjoy.  Something to have fun with.  But at that point in my life that changed to being a simple mode of transportation between points of interest.

Yes, I would still occasionally drive fast and even above the speed limit.  But I was and still am FAR more conscious of my surroundings.  I do speed on the highways, but it's generally about 5mph over the speed limit.  I feel that I could safely drive faster than that, but I don't want to risk a ticket.  It's just NOT worth it.  I still occasionally drive 'fun' but it's always in a safe place and no where near other drivers.

My philosophy when driving is simple... I'll drive at the speed that I can (up to 5mph over the speed limit).  If I need to go around someone I'll do so in a safe place and time.  If a safe place and time doesn't present itself... then I'll just hang a reasonable distance behind them and not worry about it.  If someone wants to go faster than me... then so be it.  I won't speed up to 'stay in front'.  I won't 'brake check' them to show my displeasure.  When there is a safe time and place for them to pass I'll make every effort to let them do so.  And if they try to pass me in an unsafe time and place, I'll back off and let them do it rather than make them be in risk for longer than needed.

While working as a photographer I drove all around the country.  Generally in a 15 passenger van full of equipment and people.  I did get a speeding ticket in the van once, but it was an over eager cop on the highway near Cleveland Ohio.  The speed goes from 70 down to 45 in a VERY short period of time.  In my defense I WAS slowing down, but his radar gun got me going 48 as I entered the 45mph zone.

Yes.  He gave me a ticket for going 3mph over the posted speed limit.

I also drove around the country in a semi truck.  18 wheels, hundreds of horse power, and over a two thousand foot pounds of torque.   The only ticket I got during that time was for passing by an open weight station.  I was sad and lost in my thoughts, but that's no excuse.  I ended up quitting my driving career before the ticket came... and that ticket would have ended my career anyway as it suspended my CDL (Commercial Drivers Licence).

Thinking back, I believe those are my only tickets in the past decade or so.  And really, the van thing happened in 2003... so more than a decade ago.  But more than driving in a manner that doesn't get me tickets, I've taken to driving in a way that gives me as little stress as possible.  I leave myself enough time to be slowed down by traffic so that I don't get pissed off at people.  I allow people to drive like assholes and don't let it bother me unless they are actually endangering me or others.  When I'm behind the wheel I put myself in a 'stress free' zone and simply focus on getting to point B instead of focusing on all the people driving around me.

Well.... my good driving record just got a ding.  I got that speeding ticket a couple days ago.

I've talked about how I drive about an hour to and from work each day.  That's a LOT of opportunity to get a ticket.  The speed limit is 55mph for almost the entire way, and the 'highway' portion of the trip is all two lane country highway.  Not two lanes in each direction... two lanes.  I try to maintain 60mph for the most part.  Even when people are driving slowly in front of me, I don't pass them except for in the three 'passing' zones.  The passing zones is when the highway opens up to four total lanes.

Well... I was driving home from work and if I'm honest, it had been a good day.  I was feeling a bit under the weather (it was the beginning of a full blown cold that I'm still suffering through as I write this).  In front of me was not one but two big rigs, and they were trying to maintain 50mph.  Now understand, big rigs have a tough time maintaining any speed.  It simply put take a long time for them to spool up their power and increase speed.  They also have to slow down regularly when they hit a curve or hill.  So while they didn't go over 50mph, they dipped well below it on many occasions.

When we got up to the passing lane I knew it was a Go/NoGo situation.  I could easily pass one truck by simply speeding up to my desired 60mph.  But that would simply put me between the two trucks.  To pass both safely I would have to really step on it.  So I stepped on it.

Just as I was moving between the two trucks (still accelerating), I noticed a car parked off the road.  As I continued to go I saw the car's lights turn on and pull out behind the truck.  I'm no longer young, and I'm no longer dumb.  That was a cop car.

My eyes drifted up to my rear view mirror and I saw that he was already around the first truck and accelerating toward me.  I let off the gas and slowed down to 60mph (easily passing the second truck), but as soon as the cop got behind me he turned his lights on.  I was already looking for a good place to pull off (we had two big rigs behind us to consider) and I pulled safely off the road.

Now one thing I've learned from my police friends and from my vast experience of being pulled over is this.  Cops don't want a story.  They don't want a lie.  They want to safely talk to you and if deemed rightous, issue you your ticket and get back onto their way.  One key there is 'safely'.  Understand, police have been shot by people they pull over so they are naturally wary about walking up to someone's back with no view of their face, hands, and potential weapon.

So whenever I get pulled over I first turn the car off (look Mr Officer, I'm not leaving).  I put my keys up on the dashboard (look Mr Officer, I'm seriously not going to try and leave).  I don't make any move for my wallet or registration (look Mr Officer I'm not going for a gun), and I place both of my hands at the top of the wheel (look Mr Officer I don't have a weapon in my hand).

I let him use his flashlight to look through my car and only look up at him once he speaks to me.  When he invariable asks for my licence and registration I say 'Yes Sir' and then tell him where I have to go to get said information.   Most often it means fishing my wallet out of my back pocket and my registration out of the glove box, but this time it meant getting my wallet out of the cubby between the seats and my registration out of the glove box.  Taking my hand off the wheel (and noting that his flashlight focused in on my hand) I pointed down to the cubby then over to the glove box and said "Yes Sir.  I need to get in here and here to get that for you".  I moved slowly and steadily and gave him plenty of time to see into the cubby and glove box before putting my hand in and pulling anything out.  It actually took me a bit to find my proof of insurance as I have all my rental paperwork in with my official stuff (I just haven't moved it inside yet).

While I was gathering my paperwork he asked me if I knew why he pulled me over.  Now I know people that take this as an opportunity to either outright lie ("No officer, I have no idea why you pulled me over"), or start spinning a story or minor lie ("I was probably speeding, but I didn't have my cruise on so I'm not really sure").  Not me.  I go with blunt honesty.  "Yes Sir, I was speeding".

He actually paused with an air of surprise at my honesty.  When he followed up with "Do you know how fast you were going" I again went with the truth "I wasn't looking at my speedometer, but I believe I was going about 70mph Sir".  He chuckled and said "73, but close enough".

I'd love to say my earnestness and care got me out of the ticket, but it didn't.  But I believe it went a long way to the cop writing me a ticket for 5mph over the speed limit, rather than almost 20mph over the speed limit (which is an automatic "Reckless Driving" ticket).  5mph is honestly the least he could do without letting me off the hook entirely.

When I was younger I would have been pissed off.  Even with the favor of not writing me the appropriate ticket, I would have been upset at him writing me ANY ticket.  I mean here I am just going about my business.  Yes I was speeding, but damn it, there were no cars in front of me and until he pulled around, no cars behind me.  The road was straight, the weather was clear, I was in perfect control of my vehicle and endangering no one.  He knew damned well that I was passing two slow moving trucks and could easily guess that I'd be going near the speed limit after I passed  them.

But now?  I'm not upset at all.  In fact I'm grateful that he let me off with the minor ticket that he did.  I WAS speeding.  I was breaking the law and his job is to enforce the law.  It doesn't matter that I'm a good safe driver and have a clean record.... the law doesn't mention those as considerations at all.  The law simply says that you shall not drive in excess of the posted speed limit or the current road conditions.

So... sometime later today I'll call the county clerks office and find out how much the ticket is.  I'll pay it, and wait for my insurance to go up (I'll at the very least be losing my 'safe driving' discount).  Thankfully my insurance just got re-upped so it will be a good six months before I see the increase.