"It's Just a Shortcut..."

I have finally been pulled over by a police officer! Let me just say that I was flippin' nervous! However, I believe that I handled it perfectly and with a calm conscious. OKAY! Hang on tight, it's a long ride! Here we go...

I was coming home from my Monday night Floor Hockey spiel and I decided to take a faster way home. First, here is some background info: You have to understand that the usual way (Des Meurons St. for those who know and care...) consists of two traffic lights that are approximately only 15 metres a part. These traffic lights are NOT synchronized, and it kills me (Yes, they're super close to one another, yet you can never make both of them at the time of night in which I was driving. If I hit the first light going 70km/hr as soon as it turns green, then maybe I would make it...)! Anyways, I didn't take that route (I pronounce it "root" not "rowwt", is that weird or normal?). I instead, came down the street (Marion) that intersects perpendicularly to these two lights. It actually splits into two before hitting the "usual" street that I take (Des Meurons). It is at that split where I disobeyed a traffic law. As you can see below, it's quite obvious that I can't turn left there (it's not even an intersection)! But it is WAY faster to turn there, trust me (don't worry I won't do it again, I've learned my lesson). Though you do have to drive ~ 6 metres in the oncoming lane to do so!


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(Google Street View is spectacular, why haven't I used it more?!)
Quite the shortcut eh? Don't worry, I only take this shortcut when NO ONE is around (I've done it only a couple of times)... but this time I slipped up. I was looking in my rear view and side mirrors and noticed cop-like headlights. There was also a truck right behind me, so I was debating risking it and going or playing it safe and obeying the traffic laws. The decision had to be made instantly and there was a break in the oncoming traffic! I went. As soon as I turned I just had that gut feeling that there was a cop car behind me. Sure enough, I looked back in my rear view mirror only to see those red and blue lights flick on. I pulled over right away... BUSTED. The cruiser must have been right behind that truck! I sat there in despair, the one officer strolled up to my vehicle. Here is the account of our conversation:

Officer - "You know that you can't turn left there, right?"

Manny - "Ya I know, it's just a shortcut I take, I just live down the street." (Keep in mind that I was flippin' nervous; and this answer implied that I turned left there ALL THE TIME)

Officer- "Okay... (I can't recall exactly what he said right after my excuse) license and registration please."

Manny - "Ya for sure..." *I'm stumbling to open up the glove box, I get out the whole insurance package, I fumble trying to get the registration out, then fumble trying to get my license out. I ended up giving him my health card by accident too.*

Officer - "It says here that you live on Kingston Row... that's not just down the street."

Manny - "Oh sorry, ya this is just a faster way to get to my house... sorry."

Officer - *He hands me back my health card* "Ya... you can keep this. Hold tight." (At that point, I didn't even realize that I gave it to him. It was just attached to my license).

A few minutes later... *I'm just blank, staring at the flashing lights. I couldn't believe this moment finally came.*

Officer - *He strolled back up to my window* "...We actually have two problems here."

Manny - "Really? Umm, what?" (I didn't know what to say!)

Officer - "Well, you are apparently driving with an invalid license."

Manny - "What? Really? I thought I renewed it! I could have sworn I did."

Officer - "Well, you probably did on February 2nd of 2009, but you haven't yet this year! We are connected straight into the MPI (Manitoba Public Insurance) system, and their records say that you didn't renew your license, so it looks like you haven't."

Manny - "Wow, ya, I must have just totally forgot! I'm sorry, I just assumed that I did! Sorry. Ya, wow, I just can't believe that I wouldn't renew it. I mean, it's been two months!" (I apologized profusely!! My license was expired for TWO MONTHS and I didn't even know! UNREAL)

Officer - "Do you have someone you can call? Because we're going to have to get your vehicle towed if you don't."

Manny - "Umm ya, hold on." *I took the life-line and dialed home.*

15 minutes later... *I'm still staring blankly down the street, ashamed. The cruiser's still sitting behind me with those guilt wrenching, flashing lights. My mom and sister FINALLY pulled up. I wasn't sure whether or not I should move/take my seat belt off/get out of the car! But I finally motioned to the police that my ride was here and I got out of my car.*

Officer - "Alright, come over here." *He motioned my mom to come too.* "Alright, I'm going to give you a cautionary for the left turn you took, but I need you to sign here *pointing to a pink report sheet* and you'll have to show up to court between May 3rd and May 17th and a judge will determine your fine. You can plead not guilty or guilty, but it's pretty straight forward, you committed the offense of driving with an invalid license."

Manny - *I signed the sheet* "Thank you sir. Ya, I just totally forgot to renew it."

Mom - *Laughing nervously* "And that is the truth!" (Thanks mom).

Officer - "Well, the best thing to do then, would just to be open with the judge and say that this is your first time doing this, and maybe they won't reprehend you."

Manny - "Ya for sure." (As I nodded and agreed profusely)

Officer - "It is actually a good thing we caught you now! If you got into an accident, you would have been responsible for everything. It's better to pay a couple hundred dollar fine now than paying ten grand later! (I was just agreeing with everything he said, and was just grateful that he was such a nice guy!)

Manny - "Okay, thanks again!"

Officer - "You bet, take care." (Okay he didn't say "you bet", but he was such a nice guy!)

So there you go! Wow, the fact that my license was expired probably distracted him and made him feel more sorry for me! I mean, I have a very clean record; no speeding tickets (though a couple close calls) and this was my first pull-over too. But ya... I renewed my license the next day. It's about time I stated another life lesson...

Life Lesson: Always be aware of when your license expires, never discard that three month in advance notification, renew your license RIGHT AWAY, and be absolutely sure that you've renewed it!

I just can't believe that I didn't get a ticket for that turn!!