A Rough Run In

I watched the video Ten Rules, by CATO and got at least 82 minutes in before resigning to this blog. I want to say that I am delightfully surprised that this kind of work is not only being compiled and delivered, but promoted. I remember, not so long ago… it was not at all a topic for discussion; this organized, educated form of dissent. It does make me think of the type of training that would happen during the civil rights movement, so that good might come out of an unfair situation where the power was strongly tilted toward the law and away from the people. This really gets me fired up, in a happy way. It can be so frustrating to feel powerless and at the will of some jerk who just happens to be wearing a badge. I don’t dislike all cops! I take people on a case by case basis, but it just so happens that most of what I know both first and second hand of law enforcement agents is negative. So, I’ll share a traffic stop incident I had the great fortune to be involved in. I was pulled over by two motorcycle Highway Patrol Officers and I knew that they pulled me over for speeding, but this was the second time that I was pulled over in the same area for driving 10 miles over the speed limit “while passing.” As most of us know, it is permitted to exerlate your speed within 10 miles per hour to pass. Both times, I was clocked speeding with my turn signal on and while reentering the lane ahead of the car that I was passing. I explained politely the first time, which was my first ticket ever… for anything, and it was a no go. This time, both officers approached my vehicle on either side and right off the bat; just their walk said everything… I knew they were prepared to be arrogant. I did what Judge Billy Murphy said; I remained calm and put my hands on the steering wheel waiting for instructions. The officer said, “You know why I pulled you over don’t you!” “You were driving like a bad-out-of-hell and could have killed someone!” He actually went on a bit and I can't remember it word for word anymore, but it was worse. Okay, so then he asked for my ID and registration and I told him that I keep my cash and ID in my sock and asked if it was alright if I get it. He looked over to his co-cop and laughed out loud telling the guy, “Did you hear that, she keeps her ID in her sock!” Normally, I would never get so worked up, but I had been having major problems with my neck becoming disjointed causing great pain and this greatly limited my movements, at times completely. This of course did not put me in a good mood and as life altering as it was, the last thing I could possibly take was some power tripping ass thinking he could get away with insulting me. I said to him, “I put my ID and cash in my sock because of a physical disability I have that prevents me from carrying a purse” and then I cussed him out and told him that he was a disrespectful piece of ****. I was so irritated with him and his co-cop, who was pacing back and forth like I was in BIG trouble. I looked to the guy, who couldn’t have weighed more than
105 lbs and told him he didn’t scare me and that I certainly wasn’t afraid of someone the wind could blow over. He got a hella funny look on his face, walked back to his bike and that was the last I saw of him. The officer ticketing me told me I was only 10 miles over the speed limit and apologized for insulting me (even after I cussed him out). I know that I shouldn’t have, but the pain I was in and the frustration of being yelled at and insulted without ANY cause simply pushed me to a place I thought I was well above. Sharing this, I want to be clear… I know what is right, maybe more than most, but it is a lot easier to do the wrong thing under stress. For most of us, just being pulled over is insult to be followed by financial injury that is coming and that is stressful enough to get verbal. That is why I am so glad that we have all been given access to some information that can mean the difference between freedom and modern day slavery (aka: jail time). By the way, I did not go into any kind of detail in regards to how ridiculously animated these jerks were. P.S. I was still irritated after he apologized and I told him he was a punk ass ***** and to piss off, before I started my vehicle and left. I suppose the fact that the pain I was in, AND my knowledge of the absolute importance of remaining physically calm was part of the reason that he let me go without a fight. That and the knowledge that he was being filmed insulting me over a physical disability! Anyway, I do believe in speaking up for myself, but cussing the guy out went a bit far… even for me. If not in pain, I should not expect to go there again.