My Husband Got a Traffic Ticket Going 7 Miles an Hour

Like an American Idol comeback, life has a way of slapping us repeatedly with what Dr. Drew of Celebrity Rehab would dub an epiphany. Those amongst us like Hilary Clinton probably have lots of eye opening moments and are accustomed to it but even Obama would have shaken his head in amazement when my husband got a traffic ticket for failing to stop at a stop sign while traveling 7 miles an hour.

The family van, a 2000 Plymouth Voyager or egg on wheels as I call it, needed some repairs. The brakes sounded something akin to Project Runway 2008 winner Christian Siriano screeching when he was declared the top designer.

We took the egg down to our local mechanic to have it repaired and all went well until we were headed towards home. I drove off first and headed down 15^th street. Not overly concerned that my husband wasn't right behind me, I went on my way sure that he'd be home a few minutes after me.

Traffic in town was fairly congested and I figured that when I didn't cross paths with him along the way that he'd taken another route. I guess that's what I get for thinking.

About half an hour after I got home still no sign of the hubby and I began to worry that something had happened to him or maybe he stopped off somewhere to grab a beer. 15 minutes later my worries were laid to rest when he walked through the door.

The first words out of his mouth were, "I got a ticket. Can you believe that?"

I let out a hefty guffaw and said, "Uh huh. What'd you get a ticket for?"

He waves his ticket around, reminded me of Charlie in the Chocolate Factory with his golden ticket and says, "for failing to stop at a stop sign"

"Gotta watch those stop signs," I said, "they'll sneak up on you out of nowhere."

In disgust he tosses the ticket on the table, "Yea and the officer said I was only going 7 miles an hour. He should have let me go."

"7 miles an hour?" I ask, "Where were you at that you were going 7 miles an hour?

"I was watching some kids trying to decide if they were going to cross the street. I didn't want to hit them so I wasn't paying attention and ran right through a stop sign." So here's a word of advice for you, don't watch the kids on the street It's better to run them over and stop at the stop sign than it is to get pulled over going 7 miles an hour in Merced. At least then the ticket would be worth the fines you're going to have to pay.