You'd think I'd learn

A few days ago I posted about my narrow encounter with the local law enforcement officials, delighting at how I'd beaten the system (thanks to the officer being on his way to a more important call). Well, on Monday I found out once again that you can't beat the house. You can only postpone the inevitable.

Yes, I was popped for speeding, driving North on route 83 in Vernon Hills, which is a known speed trap. Stupid! In my defense I was rushing to get to the high school to pay the athletic fee for my daughter so she could be forced by my wife and me to play softball there. Apparently I had more time than I thought because even with the delay of receiving a ticket I got there in plenty of time.

I will say the officer in Vernon Hills was far nicer than the Mundelein copper I'd run into a few days before. He even commented that he would write the ticket up quickly so I could be on my way to continue my mission. I don't know if he was being amusing in his own way or not, but at least he didn't cop an overt attitude about it. For my part, I knew I was caught so I just took it in stride.

When he first pulled out after I went speeding by him at 60 (in a 45) there was a brief glimmer of hope in my heart that he didn't have the radar gun on, and that he was just waiting to pull out into the street. "Perhaps it's time to head to Dunkin Donuts for a delicious Bavarian Kreme and a hot cup of walnut coffee" I thought to myself. For just an instant I also thought "I wonder if I can find a street to turn into before he catches up so I can lose him" but with where he'd stationed himself and the idiotic traffic that had gotten me all in a tizzy to begin with when I kept getting stuck behind morons yapping on their cell phones and old ladies doing whatever it is old ladies do when they decide to go out driving during the day I could see that wasn't going to happen.

So I owe the State of Illinois another $75. Actually, I'll be paying them $105 so I can once again enjoy the wonders of online traffic school, where they will fill my head with information about being a good driver even though in 30+ years of driving I've never had an accident nor caused one. I will take their quiz, give them the answers they want to hear, and be a good boy. At least for a while.

All of this could have been avoided had I bothered to turn on the radar detector that sits mounted right under my rear view mirror. Of course, it also could've been avoided had I just traveled at the posted limit, but we all know that's not going to happen. Oh well. I'll just fix myself a snack and see if I can beat my previous time in completing the online course.