[voodooman]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

How difficult is it to apply the same rules of manners and decency to police officers that are applied to everyone else? Be polite, be respectful, don't be belligerent...etc., etc., etc.

One of my daughters was pulled over for speeding. Was she? Hell, yes. She was also speeding in a "cone zone" even though no one was working. Breaking the speed limit in a cone zone does something horrific like triple the fine. However, if the driver greets the cop with "I'm sorry, officer. I was in a hurry and the road was clear and empty...and I made a mistake." (I'm free lancing from the original here, but basically, she was polite and she copped to the whole thing, if I may use that word.) The nice police officer ticketed her for speeding, but put down a lower speed than she was actually going. He got her in under the wire so that she paid the lower fine. He also left out that little "cone zone" bit, which he could have gotten very nasty about had he chosen to be.

When I was about 24, I was lagging about two or more car lengths behind the Gethsemene Baptist School bus, my usual "don't rear end the vehicle in front of you" way of driving, matching the speed. The lights went on behind me. I was startled and sputtered at the officer that I was two lengths behind the bus in what I thought was safe driving. The cop said "the bus was speeding, too, I just caught you first." I laughed and said "geeze, if you can't trust a Baptist School bus..." The cop looked like nobody had laughed at one of his jokes in years. I got a ticket, paid a fine, and life went on.

Morgan,

I am so happy that your back. You put a smile on my face no matter what.