While driving one of my normal dog trails to Big Willy, I noticed that I am traveling over the speed limit and try to adjust my driving accordingly. In San Antonio, the freeways are littered with frontage roads that vary in speed levels between 45-55 mph. They are kind of random and you have usually about a few seconds to notice. Unfortunately, a sleek silver sports car also was aware of the inappropriate speed I was going and decided to reveal his true identity.
Cop lights blazing, I am hailed to pull into a grass field over a loud intercom system. The police officer mosies on up and gives me a chance to tell the truth. I admit that I noticed I was going over the speed limit, but that I honestly thought that it was 55 mph. He let me know that I was going a whopping 57 mph. He then proceeds to ask me if I was in a hurry to get anywhere. I was more then a bit baffled about the question. So, I repeat the facts of how the frontage roads are usually 55 and when I noticed this one was 45, I started to hit my breaks. It wasn't that the presence of the police officer was known and I was hoping not to get caught. I truly was trying to go the speed.
Really, he didn't even care. After 15 minutes of him sitting in his car, I get a ticket for $176. He kindly lets me know that I can take a defensive driving course for only $107 and then it wouldn't go on my record. Instead I would have to waste a day in court and waste another whole day doing the course.
What irks me to no extent is that I am being punished for trying to be a good driver. There have been plenty of times that I am being reckless and going at least 20 mph over. I would have no problem pleading guilty and going to defensive driving. So, do I appear in court and hope for validation or suck it up and take the ludicrous ticket?
