Be cool. Go to traffic school.
I’ll begin this story with the end.
The cop, while shaking his head, told me, “Now that you’ve brought a child into this world, you have to start acting responsibly.”
What did I do you ask? Why was a cop in Anaheim lecturing me? Did I punch Mickey Mouse?
Lucy, Babs, and I were driving down to Orange County for “Dinner for Schnooks.” We were in two different cars. Lucy and Babs were heading back earlier, and I was going to an Angels game that night with my brother-in-law, and star of Dad Camp.
The plan was to park my car near the stadium, and then drive with Lucy and the baby the rest of the way. When driving south, it didn’t even cross my mind that I shouldn’t be in the carpool lane, being a solo driver. Totally my fault. When I got pulled over, I had no idea what I had done. The copper approached me like I was a criminal.
He walked up, and said, “Looks like you’re driving all by yourself…why were you in the carpool lane?”
I pointed at Lucy’s car, and said, “I’m so sorry, we have our baby in that car, and I was just following my wife, it didn’t even cross my mind.”
The copper chuckled, and said, “Well, I’m going to have to write you a ticket anyway.”
He did, which gave me a point on my license, and a court date. When I asked him if there was any leeway for a new dad, following his 5 month old baby in the carpool lane, he delivered this gem…
“Now that you’ve brought a child into this world, you have to start acting responsibly.”
Everybody listen up. We can not let this happen without putting up a fight. I need you all to show up in that Anaheim court room and stand up for the truth. Tell everybody that you know that it is the State of California vs. Life of Dad. Do you believe in your parents, or do you believe in your country? Put on your formal attire, grab your picketing signs, and come to the court house to fight for fatherhood.
Actually, I’m very guilty, so I’m just going to pay the ticket over the phone. But I have learned a valuable lesson.
“Now that I’ve brought a child into this world, I have to start acting responsibly.”