Red and blue flashes glared in my rearview mirror. Sirens echoed behind me. Ten to 20 minutes later, I was stuck with a $295 ticket for going 37 mph in a school zone.
Technically, if the school zone wasn’t in progress, I would have been OK. Originally going into the speed zone, the speed limit was 35 mph. Coming out of it, the speed limit was 40 mph.
Slight speed trap?
Brilliant, I know.
My parents were furious. I told them I thought for sure the light wasn’t working when I entered the zone. But even if it wasn’t, I didn’t have any kind of case to argue against the ticket. The city probably would’ve said even if the light was out, the times were posted for the zone. Just to be sure, my mother and I climbed into the car and drove to the place I’d become a criminal.
The zone times had changed since last year — they used to start at 3 p.m. Now they blink at 2:45. It was 2:57 p.m. when I was pulled over.
Then we noticed there really wasn’t a visible school within the area. We drove into one of the surrounding neighborhoods and sure enough, it was there too — hiding.
More and more, my case disintegrated.
A couple days later, I was sent on a mission to capture the failed school light on camera and video just before the school zone started. As I looked from my watch to the sign, the light winked at me with its yellow glare as if to tease me. After all that work trying to prove my innocence, I only proved myself guiltier.
As college students, most of us have busy lives. We work one job or two, go from class to class and take on outside responsibilities. But while we rush from one place to another, we tend to become careless and forget the little thing that could mean the most.
Truth — I was too busy rushing that day to get where I was going and didn’t pay attention to where I was.
According to Theallineed.com, two-thirds of drivers speed in school zones. Around 700 children die each year in pedestrian accidents, and 40,000-50,000 others receive injuries related to pedestrian accidents. I consider myself lucky. After defensive driving, I didn’t have to pay as much.
So remember to pay attention. Remember to slow down. Remember if you don’t, it could cost you.
