Article posted Thursday, June 11, 2015 10:06am

Dear Mary Pat,

My friend and I were driving on some backroads and he was going pretty fast. Before long, he was pulled over. When he saw the police lights flashing behind us, he was not happy. He started swearing and getting all worked up. I told him that he better calm down before the policeman got to his window. He didn’t seem to hear me and when he was asked for his license and registration, he was rude and sarcastic (as if he had nothing to do with being pulled over). He was told he was clocked going 16 over and then the policeman told him to wait in the car and went back to his squad car.

After a little while, he came back with the ticket and said to my friend, “Since this was your first offense, I might have considered giving you a warning. However, since you were disrespectful, I don’t think you deserve a warning. Slow down and be safe.” Before I could even say, “I told you so,” my friend launched in on what a jerk that guy was and shifted all the blame off of himself. I wonder if he would have given him a warning. Guess we will never know. Why don’t some people know when to keep their mouths shut?

Signed,

He Fought the Law and The Law Won

Brussels, Wis.

He Fought the Law and The Law Won,

Your friend didn’t use his best judgment. No one is happy to see the rollers behind them in the mirror, but when you are speeding, have a broken taillight, keep your brights on, swerve over the line, etc., that’s what can happen. Most of the time, you are being stopped in the name of safety. It’s not like the police get up in the morning and think to themselves, “I wonder if I can ruin someone’s day today.” They are there to enforce our laws and make sure people aren’t going to cause harm to themselves or to someone else. So if you get caught doing something you shouldn’t have, please be polite and respectful to those in authority. Considering the great risk women and men wearing a uniform face on a daily basis, that’s the very least they deserve.

Good luck,

Mary Pat