Abuse of power

So, I don't make it a practice to use this as a forum for complaints.  I try to keep the negativity to a minimum because I know that it can get carried away. 

BUT. 

This morning, I had just exited the expressway to a three lane road.  I was in the right lane.  Traffic was pretty busy and I had about a mile to make my way over to the left lane so I could turn. 

Now, I'm not saying I always go the speed limit, but traffic was going about 45 mph in the left two lanes and the limit was 50.  So I went 50 in the right lane until I could get over to the middle lane.  I didn't cut anyone off, just eased over once there was enough space. 

And I am not a tailgater AT all.  I am big on plenty of space between me and the car in front of me (and behind me, but that's not exactly up to me).  So I am very aware of space when I have to change lanes, too.

Then I had to move over into the left lane and there wasn't a ton of extra space, but I put my signal on, and then eased into that lane.

Yes, I knew that it was a BSO car that I was in front of.  But I felt that I was making a proper lane change, so I wasn't worried. 

WRONG.

Blue lights started flashing a moment later.

Him:  [Asks for my license]  Just because you put your signal on doesn't make it okay for you to cut someone off.  You must be late for work.

Me:  No, I'm not late.

Him:  Did you even realize--  I mean if you would cut me off, then you're cutting everybody off.

Me:  Well, I apologize [what else do you say to a cop who is holding your license?], but I didn't think I was cutting you off. 

Him:  What did they teach you when you learned how to drive?  [looks at my license] Well, you've been driving for a while, so...

Me:  Well, I learned that it was safe to move over once you can see the head lights of the other car in your mirror, and that's what I checked for.

Him:  I didn't speed up before you changed lanes.

Me:  I'm not saying that you did, I just thought that there was enough space.

Him:  You're supposed to have one car length for every ten miles of speed before you pull in.

[I didn't remind him that this is South Florida and if I waited for five car lengths of space, then he probably would've pulled me over for holding up traffic while I was stopped in the middle lane waiting until midnight for traffic to slow down.  I also didn't point out that he had not allowed that distance between his car and the car that was in front of him before I moved over.]

Me:  Okay, I was wrong.

Him:  Well, you were driving aggressively to begin with, coming up the right side of traffic.

[Notice he didn't say I was speeding?  Since I wasn't.  Clearly, he didn't notice or care that I was on the right side because I had just gotten off the highway, not because I was trying to be Danica Patrick.]

Me:  Okay.

Him:  Obviously you're used to driving this way.  I'm just trying to get you to modify your behavior.  I don't know if it can be done with a conversation or if it's going to take a ticket.  The ticket is $140.  At Christmas time...

[Who would say, "Give me the ticket?"]

Me:  Well, of course, I would rather not have to pay that at any time. 

Him:  [Hands me my license]  Have a good day.

What is it with these BSO cops (and Fort Lauderdale, too) that they think they can drive any kind of way and then this one pulls me over to just complain that I had the nerve to pull over in front of him in his lane?  Apparently I should have treated him as royalty and waited for him to pass by. 

I have had enough of BSO driving recklessly - without lights on. 

I have seen numerous police cars run red lights.  I even saw one approach a red light, then put his flashing lights on just to get through the intersection, and turn them off once across.  They speed constantly.  The neighborhood where we used to live was 15 mph and gated.  Police use it as a short cut and enter at one end of the property then fly until they got to the exit. 

I just read an article that police in our county are cracking down on aggressive drivers, but who is keeping an eye on them?

Comments

[Becky]

Way to hold your tongue! My mouth alone probably would have had me $140 poorer right about now.

[Becky]

Also, you should send this to the newspaper. I mean I know the Sun Sentinel is not the most stellar of newspapers but still, I'm sure many, many others feel this same way and it's time the BSO knows it.