Yesterday, while driving back from the public library, where I picked up another book, I was, annoyingly, stopped by a police officer.
At first, when I saw the police car behind me with lights but no siren, I assumed that he had made a mistake. “I have on my seat belt, plus I am still wearing my Baby Bjorn,” I said to myself. So, I kept driving, and he kept following. “I don’t think I look threatening. Plus, I have a baby in the back! Surely, he must be pulling someone ELSE over,” I tried to convince myself. So, I kept driving, and he kept following. After about a block of this, he turned on his sirens, and I, now assured that it was me that he was intending to pull over, pulled over.
As I awaited for him to approach my driver’s side window, I said a little prayer. “Nya, please don’t cry.” “Police officer, please don’t tell me that I am wanted for some crime that someone committed in my name (while unlikely, I thought I’d voice this prayer JUST IN CASE). ” In the midst of my prayer, the police officer came to my window, which I had opened ahead of time to not appear that I was hiding something.
Police officer: Can I see your license and registration?
Me: Sure (I say as I reach into my purse for my license and glove department for my registration (yes! It’s in there)).
Police officer: I pulled you over because one of your rear view lights is out. I’ll give you a warning for now, but be sure to get it fixed, as it was hard to tell that you were stopping at that last stop sign.
Me: Really? (I sound surprised, but I am not. That light, I know, has been out for six months now. I tried to get it fixed at Jiffy Lube, but I was told by the mechanic an hour later, that it is too hard to open the break light.) I had NO idea.
Police officer: Yep, so just be sure to get it fixed.
Me: Will do.
Police officer: Give me a few seconds while I go print your warning.
He leaves, and I am left there waiting in the car, annoyed, perhaps un-rightfully so, that I was pulled over for a (not two) break light.
He returns in about 15 minutes. I check often in my rear view mirror to look at his doings. Perhaps I was reading into things, but it seemed that he felt guilty for pulling me over for this issue, considering the fact that I had a baby in the back. Perhaps, he was thinking to himself, “Gee, maybe I should give her a break. It is just a break light, after all. Perhaps, he was thinking, “I am probably wasting this woman’s time. She does have a baby.” “Yep, you are wasting my time,” I said aloud, as if I were conversing with his assumed thoughts. “And, shame on you for pulling over little ol’ me and my baby (who, at that moment, and perhaps to my own detriment, was being unusually quiet).
Police officer: (He’s back.) Here you go. Have a good day!
Me: You too! (I say this in the most fake, cheery voice that I can muster.)
With the warning, I drove home, still annoyed and feeling entitled to get a free pass because I, unlike other criminals, had a little, cute baby in my back seat. I know its ridiculous, but that is truly what I felt.
What about you all? Do you ever feel like you should get a “pass” from police officers, annoying drivers, etc. because you have a child in the car. I used to laugh at people who drove cars with the decal “Baby on Board.” Now, I am considering buying two – one for the right side backseat passenger window and one for the left side backseat passenger window. Just so that no one will be unaware or confused.
About Jessica Jessica (@jessicafhinton)
Jessica F. Hinton is a writer, blogger, and hobbyist photographer living in the DC metropolitan area with her husband and two children. Her writings have appeared in various places on- and off-line, such as The Huffington Post, Babble, BlogHer, The African American Review, Early Mama, Tots 2 Tweens, and Baltimore's Child. She is a senior editor at Baby Gizmo and writes unedited at her other blog, http://shortlittlebits.com.
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Love your blog, thanks for stopping by from MBC
http://www.nycsinglemom.com
Thanks, NYC Single Mom!
-Jessica a.k.a Nya's mom
Last year, I got pulled over because I got into the turn lane too soon!?! But not wanting to make things worse, I just smiled & acted like I was clueless. I didn't get a ticket though.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
ha i get pulled over all the time with my son in my car, but i know all the cops where i live so it's not always bad
and i've never heard of getting a printed warning and i've gotten plenty of warning in my day like doing 75 in a 50, or for texting on my cell phone
WHICH are a bit more serious than a taillight out
Nikki Cupcake: Yeah, I had never heard of a printed warning either. As he made me wait for 15 minutes, I wondered this, too. Isn't a warning a warning, regardless of how it is delivered?
Laura: Lucky you!Yeah, the clueless act usually works!
Thanks for reading and following!
-Jessica a.k.a Nya's mom
I never had a printed up warning before. I will tell you this…when I was young and single…I cried twice and got out of a deserved ticket. Oh pick your jaw up off the floor…I did NOT cry on purpose. I just so happened..and I am DEAD serious…I was having a seriously bad day and I was crying anyway. In fact, I was scared I would get a ticket for sure because I thought they would think it was a ploy.
Once my break lights went out…didn't know it…well on my way home I got stopped twice in 15 minutes. Thankfully, I was only warned. I told the second officer that I was already stopped and just trying to get home.
I have not been stopped since I had kids. I have four of them…so maybe that's why? LOL.
Nya…your blog is great! I have not been over to MBC in quite sometime…but you commented on my blog. I am so happy you commented! I love your blog. I also love that you are getting your Ph.D and you worked as a curriculum designer. As a homeschooling mom, I may need some of your expertise. LOL.
LOVE your blog! You are a joy to read. Thank you for bringing quality to the blogosphere!
Thanks for following me! I am now following your blog! Look forward to reading!
at least it was just a warning.
I've only got pulled over once and it was recently, he wanted to look in my trunk and when he didn't find anything he left. it was weird.
following you back!
Blech! I got pulled over once for forgetting my highbeams were on…great, thanks!
New follower!
Amanda
http://www.chasingtwinsinlouboutins.com
Wow, what a great blog! Thanks for stopping by mine. Just wanted to return the favor and follow you!
Blessings,
Dawn
DawnsAvonCorner
I used to have 'baby on board' sign when my son was little.Thanks for stopping by!
Sure do feel that way. I got pulled over on the way to the library with me 3 year old and 5 year old. I got a ticket though!
I enjoyed this post, I don't think I have ever gotten a ticket for my break lights or anything minor, once I got one becaue the "factory tint" on my window was too dar, but I got out of it.
Glad it was only a warning, my guess is he made you wait because he was pissed that it took you so long to pull over!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I'm following you back now!
Mom v. boys: That's weird and scary!
Amanda, Yonca, and Kelly: Thanks for following! Thanks for sharing your story!
Scarlet of Moms Wear Your Tees: I am sorry to hear that you got a ticket. I guess the mom sympathy thing, that I perhaps imagined in my head, doesn't work, or at least not all the time.
Thanks everyone for following and sharing! I really appreciate it!
-Jessica a.k.a Nya's mom
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I am now a follower, and look forward to reading more!
melissa
Thanks for the follow, I'm following you now too. I got pulled over when my son was about 9 months old. It was the first time I had ever been pulled over.
Sometimes I think a free pass would be great. I think most moms are much more careful drivers because of our "precious cargo" so maybe we should get a break.
Oh yeah totally! I had to stop to look up directions on the GPS, but I was in one of those annoying midtown areas where to stand anywhere you need a commercial plate. My daughter was bawling and I was trying to quickly punch in the GPS address. I got a warning from a ticket master, moved on, had to stop again to continue punching in the address and the same woman saw me and scanned my info right away.
GAH! I yelled the bloody Manhattan down at her! How can she expect me to drive, calm my baby AND configure the gps while trying to avoid NYC taxi cabs all at the same time?
I wished the distracted mom curse on her. I felt bad, but I DO want her to find herself in the same position (trying to stay safe in a crazy traffic situation) and get like a 500$ ticket!
Oh and I'm following you too now, lolz, you appeared on the Google Ads on my blog monsterhugs.blogspot.com
Tired Mom Tesa: I totally agree, and I think that's where my outrage (maybe too strong of a word?) at, what I perceived as, the officer's insensitivity came from.
Ayesha: lol. That's so crazy! Thanks for sharing! Oh, and I am glad you found me! I look forward to checking out your blog too!
At least you just got a warning. I have cried and everything and still gotten a ticket! One time my boobs were leaking and I just couldn't get home to my baby fast enough, but the police officer didn't seem to care and gave me a speeding ticket anyways…lol
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