This weekend, on our way up to Bear Valley, I got pulled over by a CHP officer for the first time in my life. The fact that I have never been pulled over is pretty amazing, since I do so much driving for my job. I was on Highway 4 coming into Arnold and the speed limit changes from 50 MPH to 35 MPH. I was applying my breaks, and starting the process of slowing down, when the CHP officer clocks me at 51 MPH. Once I pulled over, the officer came over to the passenger side of the car. He asked me for my license, registration and insurance. I gave him my license and registration, but for the life of me I could not find my insurance card! While he was standing there watching me fumble through all of my papers, Reyna sat up and stuck her head out to greet the officer. My husband told the officer that we were just going up to take our guide dog in training to the snow. Reyna kept nudging him until he gave her a pat on the head. I has hoping that Reyna was softening him up a little :) The officer explained that going 51 mph in a 35 mph zones was reckless driving and my response to that was "oh...... that's really bad." He also said the the crack in my windshield was a violation.
Well despite my best efforts, I could not find my darn insurance card. The officer asked me for the name of my insurance carrier, and he said he might be able to look it up electronically. As the officer went back to his truck to run my license and check my insurance, I sat there looking at Reyna. Of course, she was her happy, smiling little self. I waited.....and waited....and waited. I waited so long I thought for sure I was going to be arrested for reckless driving. I was sure the officer was calling for backup. I was a nervous wreck! But finally, the officer comes back over and Reyna looks up at him with those sweet eyes of hers. The officer looks at her, then looks back at me and tells me he is going to give me a fix it ticket for my windshield, and a verbal warning on my speed! Can you believe that? He just told me to slow down and that the snow wasn't going anywhere! I took a huge sigh of relief, and I looked over at Reyna and said "Thank you, girl"! Yes, these pups can even work their magic with law enforcement. That's a good thing to know! Thank you, Reyna!
Well despite my best efforts, I could not find my darn insurance card. The officer asked me for the name of my insurance carrier, and he said he might be able to look it up electronically. As the officer went back to his truck to run my license and check my insurance, I sat there looking at Reyna. Of course, she was her happy, smiling little self. I waited.....and waited....and waited. I waited so long I thought for sure I was going to be arrested for reckless driving. I was sure the officer was calling for backup. I was a nervous wreck! But finally, the officer comes back over and Reyna looks up at him with those sweet eyes of hers. The officer looks at her, then looks back at me and tells me he is going to give me a fix it ticket for my windshield, and a verbal warning on my speed! Can you believe that? He just told me to slow down and that the snow wasn't going anywhere! I took a huge sigh of relief, and I looked over at Reyna and said "Thank you, girl"! Yes, these pups can even work their magic with law enforcement. That's a good thing to know! Thank you, Reyna!
Most. Excellent. Story!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love it! Way to go Rayna!!!!
I'm glad the story had a happy ending! Reyna saved you a couple hundred dollars and points on your license. I think she deserves a puppy massage or something special for that! What I want to know is, did you really take a photo of the officer?
ReplyDeleteMimi - Haaaa.....no I didn't actually take a picture of the officer. I do some crazy things to get pictures for this blog, but that is even going too far in my book. I just wanted to get the heck out of there! The photo was courtesy of google images :)
ReplyDeleteI figured that must be the case. I'm with you, I don't think I could muster the lack of self-consciousness to ask a CHP officer if I could take his photo. And especially not while he's trying to look up my insurance and write a ticket! Ha ha, it would have made an even funnier story, though!
ReplyDelete51 in a 35 is not "reckless driving", CHP policy calls for three separate moving violations for a reckless driving charge.
ReplyDeleteWhere this is written "I was applying my breaks,..." it is spelled "brakes" instead of "breaks."
Best regards, Eric C. Retired CHP
Oh, so this guy had a sense of humor and was just messing with me? I kinda like that :) I can see even in your retirement you still feel the need to "correct" people for things."Brakes" instead of "breaks". I love it! I guess it is in your blood and it never really goes away. By the way, are you new to blogging? What is your interest in guide dog raising?
ReplyDeleteLol what with the retired CHP?
ReplyDelete