Yesterday as I was pulling out of a Home Depot parking lot (I wasn't out of the lot yet) I noticed I was not wearing my seatbelt, I reached over as normal and attached the safety harness before hitting the main road. As I pulled to the light I noticed a Broussard City Cop next to me, thinking it was someone I knew (small town) I turned to wave but he just starred at me. I accelerated and went on to drive back to work without knowledge of the cop following me. Approximately 2 miles later, I was being pulled over by the same cop from earlier, perplexed by this situation I acquiesced and went through all respectful motions. The cop approached my window in a very polite manner and requested my driver's license and insurance both were produced with haste. Turns out we did know each other, well we had met once before at a bar with mutual friends. He said he'd run my license and I'd be on my way...
The cop returned 15 minutes later (always a bad sign) he informed me that my insurance had expired 3 days ago but I had renewed and was in good standings but needed my card or he would have to tow my car. Then he proceeded to tell me that my license was suspended. You could imagine my facial expressions upon hearing this news knowing full well that the state law for a suspended license is immediate arrest. I asked what the citations were that indited me in such a way, "speeding tickets" he responded hesitantly, there were 2, hence the plural of ticket being used. He was very cautious in his next words as they proved heavy for him to say given our previous knowledge of each other. He leaned in to the car and very quietly, as though someone close by was listening, "Tim, I'm sorry but my hands are tied, I have to take your license, and you cannot drive this car. Can you call someone to drive you home or pick it up?" He leaned away. I was verklempt, undone, silent, void of reality and the current circumstances. It felt like an eternity that not a word was spoken. The silence was indeed broken by his radio which he quickly turned off. The only thing I could muster was, "seriously?" To officer Soileau's eternal credit, he looked down at me and my car and said, "Have a good day sir," and walked away, which to that I quickly said, "seriously?"
My boss retrieved me from my location, before I was at my desk (a mere 2 miles away) I had spoken to the Chief of Police of Broussard and explained my dilemma. Understanding he told me the necessary steps to take to get all this crap expunged, but first I had to find someone to drive me around, and not close either, the first stop was in Welsh, La, then Opelousas, then the DMV in Carencro. The chauffeur, my mom.
Liz picked me up at 7:30 am in St. Martinville, we travelled to Welsh and arrived at 8:45 a.m. The people there were extremely nice although when I arrived I was told I needed cash or a money order ($164.00), went on to Opelousas City Court, nope you need to go the Parish Court ($220.50). Now to the DMV, ticket number E348, waited all of 5 minutes I'm up, "that'll be $200.00" Sorry we don't take checks was the next thing I heard. Go to the bank to make a withdrawal, "driver's license please?" My response, "give me this money and I'll bring it to you..." Luckily the teller understood, laughed, asked me a few questions and paid me. Went back to the DMV where the lady told me that all was clear, all that was left to do was to return to the Broussard PD, hand them these papers, and they would give me my license back. So I traveled back to Broussard and did as told only to be told in response, "Sir, we mail all suspended licenses back to the DMV, you need to go there and get a new one!"
"I was just there, she told me to come here! Mrs. Rhonda, please understand that this had been a difficult situation for me, I have had quite the cumbersome morning, please help me!!" Was my pouted response. She walked away and returned with a stack of envelopes. We went through each one until we found my license. She ran the number and after it was cleared she gave it back to me and let me go.
This entire situation lasted from 8:0 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. I was spent, so I went got a new Android phone, the HTC Inspire, detailed report on satisfaction to come. The night got better, but I'll save the details for a later date.
The cop returned 15 minutes later (always a bad sign) he informed me that my insurance had expired 3 days ago but I had renewed and was in good standings but needed my card or he would have to tow my car. Then he proceeded to tell me that my license was suspended. You could imagine my facial expressions upon hearing this news knowing full well that the state law for a suspended license is immediate arrest. I asked what the citations were that indited me in such a way, "speeding tickets" he responded hesitantly, there were 2, hence the plural of ticket being used. He was very cautious in his next words as they proved heavy for him to say given our previous knowledge of each other. He leaned in to the car and very quietly, as though someone close by was listening, "Tim, I'm sorry but my hands are tied, I have to take your license, and you cannot drive this car. Can you call someone to drive you home or pick it up?" He leaned away. I was verklempt, undone, silent, void of reality and the current circumstances. It felt like an eternity that not a word was spoken. The silence was indeed broken by his radio which he quickly turned off. The only thing I could muster was, "seriously?" To officer Soileau's eternal credit, he looked down at me and my car and said, "Have a good day sir," and walked away, which to that I quickly said, "seriously?"
My boss retrieved me from my location, before I was at my desk (a mere 2 miles away) I had spoken to the Chief of Police of Broussard and explained my dilemma. Understanding he told me the necessary steps to take to get all this crap expunged, but first I had to find someone to drive me around, and not close either, the first stop was in Welsh, La, then Opelousas, then the DMV in Carencro. The chauffeur, my mom.
Liz picked me up at 7:30 am in St. Martinville, we travelled to Welsh and arrived at 8:45 a.m. The people there were extremely nice although when I arrived I was told I needed cash or a money order ($164.00), went on to Opelousas City Court, nope you need to go the Parish Court ($220.50). Now to the DMV, ticket number E348, waited all of 5 minutes I'm up, "that'll be $200.00" Sorry we don't take checks was the next thing I heard. Go to the bank to make a withdrawal, "driver's license please?" My response, "give me this money and I'll bring it to you..." Luckily the teller understood, laughed, asked me a few questions and paid me. Went back to the DMV where the lady told me that all was clear, all that was left to do was to return to the Broussard PD, hand them these papers, and they would give me my license back. So I traveled back to Broussard and did as told only to be told in response, "Sir, we mail all suspended licenses back to the DMV, you need to go there and get a new one!"
"I was just there, she told me to come here! Mrs. Rhonda, please understand that this had been a difficult situation for me, I have had quite the cumbersome morning, please help me!!" Was my pouted response. She walked away and returned with a stack of envelopes. We went through each one until we found my license. She ran the number and after it was cleared she gave it back to me and let me go.
This entire situation lasted from 8:0 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. I was spent, so I went got a new Android phone, the HTC Inspire, detailed report on satisfaction to come. The night got better, but I'll save the details for a later date.
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