Police Stop

A week ago Friday  I was leaving the office and pulled up to the stop sign at the corner of T & K Towing (across from State Farm Insurance). I was turning left and at this time of the day (4:30 p.m.) traffic can be very busy. I was shaking my head in slight frustration as a sheriff's deputy passed me headed south toward the stop light.  I was thinking to myself, "Maybe I should have gone up to the stop light, waited for the light and then turned left".

Finally there was an opening. I took a left turn and suddenly heard a screeching noise like someone had really slammed on the brakes. I looked around and saw nothing.

I saw flashing lights in my rear view mirror and pulled over. A sheriff's deputy approached me and asked if I knew why he had pulled me over. He said I was not wearing my seatbelt. He saw me shaking my head as he passed and maybe figured I was not belted in.

Anyone who knows me knows that I religiously wear my seatbelt. It's one of those routines I never forget. Never!

The young man was courteous and I repeatedly said I always wear my seatbelt. While running a check on my license I scrambled to find my proof of insurance, which was a temporary one because we had just switched insurance companies. Couldn't find it. "Great, that will really help my cause," I thought to myself.

I received a verbal warning for the seatbelt issue and one for not having proof of insurance in the vehicle.


Had I been issued a ticket for no seat belt I would have gone to court, but I did not receive one and I think he did believe me, I hope.

What bothered me a little bit is the screeching tires. I figured he must have pulled a u-turn in a high traffic area near the stop light to follow me. I stopped back at the office, the door was open and after explaining what happened to one of my employees she said she had heard the screeching tires.

Now if I had just robbed the Kasson Liquor Store I can see the reason to come after me like that. I was driving 30 miles an hour north on Mantorville Avenue for gosh sakes.

I did not realize law enforcement went after suspected seat belt violators the same as someone who has committed a felony. I would have liked to have seen his maneuver.

I was shook up and upset, but I controlled my emotions and had to keep telling myself he was only doing his job. I did not realize seat belt violations were worthy of such pursuit. My heart got a workout.