How I Got Out of a Speeding Ticket

                                 By J.P. Nix                                                    

             In the summer of ’91, I was doing contract work, mainly working throughout the southeast, this particular 6-week was scheduled to be spent in North Carolina.  Nancy and I had only married in February and lived in Atlanta, but now in the middle of July I found myself living out of state, and coming home only on the weekends.

            Finally Friday arrived which meant I would be making the 4 hour drive home after work.  Usually the work day ended around 4:30.  But this particular afternoon, we had caught up with as much as we could do, and my supervisor told me that I could leave at noon.

            I had my packed my bags the night before as I always left direct from the office.  As this was pre cell phone days, I called Nancy before I left the office and told her I was coming home early.

            “You are!” she sounded excited over the phone.  “That is so great.  Be careful and I’ll see you soon.  Love you Babe.”

            “Love you too,” I said. “See you soon.”

            As I made my way down the interstate thru North and South Carolina, when I crossed the state line into Georgia, in my rear view mirror I saw the lights of a State Patrol car behind me.  

            “Oh great,” I said, as I turned my car into the emergency lane and came to a stop.   

            A tall officer wearing his State Patrol hat, gun on one hip, nightstick on the other walked surely to my car. 

            “License and insurance”, he said as I rolled down the window.

            I handed him the two cards.

            “You live in Georgia”, he confirmed from my license.  “You were going pretty fast.  Why are you in such a hurry?”

            “Well officer I’ve been working all week in Carolina.  My wife called me this morning and told me she was getting pregnant tonight whether I was home or not.”

            It took him a second to digest what I said, then he handed back my cards.  “Drive careful, and watch your speed.”

            “Thank you Officer,” I said, breathing a sigh of relief.

            A couple hours later, I told the story to Nancy who rolled her eyes and laughed.