One of the plumbers eh?  Does look as if he is on his way to rescue a princess or something.  Glad you are taking responsibiity for your driving faux pas - glad Tennessee is into grace not justice.  All in all - your blog posts lately have been dadgum good - I think you knew but thought I’d give you an affirmation ‘cause isn’t Friday the Cuban assassin day?  just upchucking - I’m so sorry - I meant to say checking.  BTW word of wisdom - don’t try that raw food thing if you are eating TexMex or chicken in Austin - we call that food poisoning around here.

That’s obviously Mario.  Look at the color of the motorcycle.  Luigi’s motorcycle would be green!

I agree; Luigi would definitely be sporting green. 

I once got a ticket in this small town in Nevada (I was on a cross-country road trip), and I was going 35 in a 25.  I had literally been on the road for about 2 minutes and had seen no signs, as I had just pulled into a gas station. The cop was not the nicest I’ve encountered and couldn’t believe I hadn’t “observed” the speed limit sign.  I kept saying I had seen no such sign, but he didn’t care. I think he pulled me over solely because I had out-of-state tags.  I guess I’m lucky I didn’t have to show up in court, as that would have been incredibly inconvenient, since I live in Jackson, TN.

I once got pulled over for going 70 in the fast line on the freeway (65mph limit)...AND to top it off I was taking a friend’s sister to the doctor b/c she was unable to drive...AND I pulled over to the left (oops, I was frazzled to say the least!). I hate tickets. And courts. And, I like cops in general, but not when they’re ticketing me for being nice to someone…

Also, I’m pretty sure that’s my 6th grade teacher, Mr.L (no one could ever pronounce his crazy last name). He was a character for sure. Two words for ya, Toupee glue!
Maybe he retired and moved out there?

mmmmm.... spaghetti.

while i NEVER pull over to talk on the phone (like i know i should and like a number of states and local jurisdictions have made into law), i at least TRY not to take pictures while barreling down the highway.  i always do my best to slam on brakes whenever i see a photo op whizzing past at 75 mph… safety first, you know.

I’ve had three tickets in my life.  Once after I just started driving, entered a (just barely turned on 2-seconds prior) school zone going normal speed, got pulled over instantly and the cop had no compassion for a young girl.  Boo hoo.  Second one I was praying hard core in my car, on my way to school, lost track of my speed, got pulled over.  Har har, God...har har!  And last, was just a few weeks ago, going 42 in a 35...only I was lost and never did see a speed limit sign, and I was just trying to get down that dang road to see if it met up with the road I was supposed to be on.  I’m in the middle of my Defensive Driving online.  The comedy ones...NOT FUNNY!  Blah!  Haha.

lol! I’ve never been fortunate enough to see a Mario Brother in person. Good luck with that court date, maybe he’ll let you off with a warning if you write an awesome song about how you realize you did a “bad thing” and are sorry.

As for me, I have a clean driving record, but I’ve only had a license for a year. Here’s hoping for a clean driving record next year as well!

Impressive picture of Mario Bros. lookalike and dog.  Yes, I think that’s why you shouldn’t drive much if you can take that good of a picture while driving.  I’ve had 3 tickets: 1 red light, 2 speeding and I’m working hard on being more focused while driving. 

My iPod connection in my glove compartment is best left alone while driving, I’ve found.  By the way, what was on your playlist for your trip?  On Brody’s blog, we talked about the new Death Cab album “Narrow Stairs” as a road trip album.  What do you think?

I got my first ticket last year at age 27.  I was caught not coming to a complete stop on right turn on red by a camera.  No human interaction.  Just some bad paparazzi photos that showed up in the mail about a week after said violation.  Cost me 500 dollars all up.

We can no longer talk on the phone like you were doing and drive in California...has to be hands free.  This is good.  Apparently talking on the phone while driving is as dangerous as driving while drunk.

I’m sorry this happened to you.

Hate to say it, Shaun, but I’m pretty sure this is the curse of Boo Mama coming back to get you.

Travis warned you, man.

I can no longer drive in the state of NY.  Long story about turning right at a yellow light in NYC.  NYC is the same where they require to be in court. At the time my wife was on complete medical bedrest with our 2nd and they told us she had to be their beause her name was on the insurance card.  So we couldnt go.  They fined me and revoked my driving privileges. So now my wife just drives when ever we want to go to NYC

That guy also kinda looks like a fat Robin Williams.

Maybe it’s just me.

I live in TN...you do have to have proof of insurance. If they pull you over and don’t have it you just have to go to court and show it, and then you’re usually good. I think you probably have to pay court costs, though. I got pulled over once (for running a stop sign). Had to show the insurance (which I had) and the nice man let me off after giving me a stern, yet heart-felt lecture about safety.

Really?  Well, we have our insurance card in our car...er, van.  But I don’t take one with me when I’m on the road.  I’m no legal scholar...obviously, Sara.  How long has that law been in TN?  Because I was pulled over a couple years ago and they didn’t ask me for my insurance.  I just assumed…

My mistake.

Shaun, Imagine the scenario:  You sin, God calls you to his side and says I must pass judgement on you.  You start thinking...what great saints can I put in place to stand for me in judgement while I ride the next cloud?  If I were there I would drive you myself.  Maybe hitch a ride with Brody or another friend. Stop on your way out for breakfast. Stop on the way back for lunch, and reminise about old days of your Texan ways, and how much you have changed since then Also, take pictures when it’s safe to take them. 

your driving scares me.

Time to start renting cars with cruise control?

Oh, this rental car had cruise control, Nancy.  But cruise control won’t stop you from accelerating. Which is really solving only half the problem now isn’t it?

I will be sitting through traffic school in the great state of KY on Tuesday of next week. They don’t mess around here. It’s my second go at it in 10 years. Could be worse, I suppose, but still I dread those darn videos of car crashes!
For future purposes, NEVER speed on 65! they get ya every time!

You might have to appear in court because of the amount you were going over the limit. 

I know in Indiana, at least, 25mph over the limit was considered reckless driving, and it’s a misdemeanor offense, as opposed to a normal “infraction” of a speeding ticket.

My last ticket was in KY in ‘95.  A friend (attorney) of a friend was supposed to go to court for me to get it changed to a non-points violation --- and didn’t show up --- even after a reminder call to my friend the day before. I called the day after and was assured everything was taken care of.

Fast forward a few weeks… I come home to an FTA bench warrant on my door!  Glad I wasn’t home or I would have been hauled in.

I redocketed.  An officer called 2 days later about the warrant - the night before I was boarding a plane to FL to board a ship to the Bahamas.  I didn’t want to miss my plane so I didn’t call back! I wouldn’t really advise that, though.

Needless to say - I showed up the next time in case he didn’t.  He showed and got it knocked down to defective equipment.  I left 30 seconds after he did.  He had no clue I was there since we had never met.  His friend and I lost contact soon after.

I need to talk to Becky about how to get out of those tickets.  Have not been able to get out of one...not one...the blue-eyed blondeness has never worked.  Why just last week I was ticketed for not having my turn signal on long enough before I turned.  For the love of pete, don’t you cops have a crack house to bust?  Why pick on a blonde, mini-van driving mom?  Since when is a brief turn signal a menace to society?  Becky - teach me your ways!!

I went to traffic school when I got my ticket to avoid having them report it to my insurance.  By went to traffic school, I mean that it was online.  it was supposed to take 8 hours and I zipped through it in 2.  Most of it was about how illegal drugs affect your driving.  One sentence about what I did for the ticket. 

Cinde, that’s hilarious, I have never heard of that.  (I mean obviously it’s not hilarious for you....)

I had a couple of speeding tickets while in college.  I was also ticketed for rear ending someone in an accident.  That’s the law in Florida.  Never mind that the person I “rear-ended” STOPPED in the middle of the road and proceeded to BACK UP because she’d missed a turn!  She was not ticketed for anything.  I got the ticket and a trip to the hospital for whip lash and a possible jaw fracture.  This one made me mad to say the least.  Made the judge mad too.  The arresting officer came to court without the information on the other driver (refused to give it to me).  He told the judge he had it “back at the office.” He lied.  The judge threw the book at him then.  Moral of this story:  never lie to a judge.  Especially one who is very good friends with the defendant’s father and serves a Gideon with him!

The only other ticket was received in Oklahoma.  I was driving to Texas to attend an Air Force tech. school.  I picked up my map to check where I was supposed to exit and apparently the speed changed at that moment.  A very “nice” OK state patrolman pulled me over.  Big, with a very southern drawl, and a sort of “Bufford T. Justice swagger about him.

Officer: License and registration ma’am.

Me: Yes sir.  Is there a problem sir?

Officer:  You were doing 65 in a 55 ma’am.

Me:  I’m sorry.  I was checking my map for my exit and must’ve missed the sign.

Officer: (as he’s writing my ticket) Well, I don’t know how they do things up ‘er in Michigan ma’am, but we don’t tolerate no lawbreakers in our state ma’am.  You kin send this here ticket in with yer check or you kin present yerself in to the judge on Mundee mornin’.  You have a nice day, hear?

A NICE day?  Sure.

Beth

NYC is the same where they require to be in court. At the time my wife was on complete medical bedrest with our 2nd and they told us she had to be their beause her name was on the insurance card.  So we couldnt go.
Car Hire Majorca Airport

Yes, I think that’s why you shouldn’t drive much if you can take that good of a picture while driving.  I’ve had 3 tickets: 1 red light, 2 speeding and I’m working hard on being more focused while driving.
Flights Spain

I will be sitting through traffic school in the great state of KY on Tuesday of next week. They don’t mess around here. It’s my second go at it in 10 years. Could be worse, I suppose, but still I dread those darn videos of car crashes!
For future purposes, NEVER speed on 65! they get ya every time!

California traffic school