Seat Belts

So, I'm heading home last night about 8:00, cruising on the downtown connector.

Blue lights in my rear view mirror. "Ah, this state trooper wants to get by me", I think, "he certainly can't want to pull me over". So I move over a lane. He follows me and hits his siren. "Crap!". I pull over.

The following thoughts go through my head in a matter of seconds:

• It must be speeding. I was speeding. But, I wasn't go faster than anybody else, slower than some. It's Atlanta, for crying out loud, everybody speeds. Can't be speeding.
• Something fell off the car. Hubcap? Muffler? I didn't hear anything, though.
• Ah, he must be curious about my awesome, awesome car. Yes! That's it.

Then I notice a second set of flashing lights behind the car that pulled me over. There are two state troopers on the shoulder behind me.

• DRUGS! They see me in this pimp-mobile and think I'm a drug dealer. Crap!

The officer approaches my vehicle. "Where's your seat belt?" he demands.

I gesture to the lap belt secured across my hips.

Trooper: "No shoulder belt?"
Me: "No sir, these cars didn't come with shoulder belts".
Trooper: "Let me see your driver's license". Examines my drivers license for about one second.
"Where you going?"
Me: "I'm going home". We've pulled over near the exit to my house.
Trooper, handing back driver's license: "Have a nice day".
Me: "Thank you, sir! Have a nice day!"

I had seen ads on TV about stepped up enforcement of seat belt laws, but never paid much attention because I always wear them. So this was definitely a surprise for me.

Maybe I need to get a bumper sticker that says "Vehicle not equipped with shoulder belts".