My Two Hundred And Eighteen Dollar Traffic Ticket

[Ghost in the Machine]

25. NC Troopers are the WORST!! I got a ticket for doing 52mph in a 50mph zone coming through the

Research Triangle Area back in 1997. I was doing a big roofing job in Rocky Mount at the time. It was a Friday afternoon and we had finished up the job that day. I was in a rental van, because the company van had broken down the night before, with my crew of 9 people, headed back to Atlanta. Due to Rental Agreement, the van had no hitch, and I couldn't tow my trailer mounted welder, which also had our gang box with all of our tools and our ladder on it. I had to get my crew home, jump in MY personal truck, haul ass back to Rocky Mount, get the trailer and be back in Atlanta and ready to leave out to Orlando, Florida Sunday night!

Trooper asks me "where ya' going in such a hurry, Harley Man?" (I was wearing a Sturgis '96 hat & shirt). I told him the above story and he says "well, it don't sound like you're gonna be slowing down any then, huh Harley man?" I said "probably not, but that's the game we play. I drive fast, and you try to catch me. Looks like you won this time, but are you *REALLY* gonna give me a ticket for 2 miles an hour over the speed limit??" He said "we got a zero tolerance for speeding in North Carolina, Mr. Harley man". I asked "how much is the ticket?" he says "it'll be $100.00". I pulled a wad of money out, peeled off a $100 bill and said "can I just pay it now?" He says "oh no,no, NO! I can't take money! You can come back and fight it in court, or just mail it in". I said "well, I'll have a money order in the mail Monday morning then." He just smiled and said "ok Mr. Harley man, but watch your speed and be safe. Good luck on your way back and making it back to Atlanta again by Sunday". I took the ticket, said "thank you, sir... and hope I don't see you early in the morning!"

He followed me for a good 10 miles, then turned off an off ramp. When he did, I dropped the hammer and said "fuck it! If they're gonna get me for speeding, it might as well be worth it!" I dropped my crew off in Atlanta about 9PM, drove to my house in Douglasville, went in and got my keys to my truck, filled up my tea glass and hauled ass back to Rocky Mount and got my trailer. I was back home by Saturday evening with enough time to take my folks and kids out to dinner, then went home and slept for about 12 hours... 9pm til 9am... spent the day with my kids, picked up my crew that evening, and was sitting at the job in Orlando at 6:30 Monday morning!

Ok, that was a long story just to say FUCK NC STATE TROOPERS!!! $100 for 2 miles over the speed limit! ASSHOLES!! /rant

Ghost