The Henderson Police Traffic Stop And Other Imponderables Of Life

There are many unanswered philosophical questions that have plagued humankind's greatest thinkers from the dawn of man and the spawn of woman. Like, when does life begin, how did life begin, what is the meaning of life, is Life a magazine, or is life just a bowl of cherries, or is a bowl of cherries life? --- especially when you add milk and Quaker Life cereal --- the kind that Mikey likes. ( Or, is Obama really a naturally born US citizen, but that is a question I will have to leave for the political bloggers. )

But I digress ...

The ageless question I am pondering tonight is why I was stopped by a Henderson police patrol car at Horizon Ridge and High Mesa last night around 12:30 AM, a few blocks from where I live.

I was not speeding, I had not been drinking ( I don't drink ), but I was in the end of the intersection as the light changed to red. Using a horse race analogy, it would have had to have been a photo finish to prove that I actually went through a red light, and I think I would have won that race.

But this patrol car follows me for a block and when I make a left turn off of Horizon Ridge he puts on his flashing lights and of course, I immediately pull over. I am nervous, not because I have anything to hide, but because I realize that a red light violation in Henderson is going to set me back 250 - 300 dollars, and a day at traffic school. I already had my share of marginal speeding tickets this year and I did not have the energy to dispute them or another stupid ticket.

After safely pulling over and stopping the car, and putting on my 4-way blinkers, I also knew the wisdom of rolling down the window and placing both of my hands on top to the steering wheel in full view of the officer to allay any of his fears of my being crazy or reaching for a weapon. He looked around the car, checked out whether my eyes were bloodshot or dilated, and put his head close enough to mine to sniff for the smell of alcohol or pot or whatever. So I maintained eye contact and smiled at the officer as he told me that I had raced the red light, and that I should be "more careful" because there are "drunks out here" who would possibly run a light and hit me. I was not asked for ID or proof of insurance, which I thought was SOP for checking to see if I had prior arrests or outstanding warrants. He asked me where I was headed and before I could even say a word he answered for me that I lived near here! Then I sincerely thanked him for the warning and said "I know you are only doing your job." So now I realize he probably ran the car on the computer for stolen status, I do understand that part. Or maybe he is my neighbor and I don't know him.

The strange thing was that just before he let me go, he asked me "Just out of curiosity... why are you out so late ? " I was beginning to get somewhat paranoid, because here I am in the greater Las Vegas area, where casinos and just about everything else are open 24 -7. So I honestly answered "I was at a casino". I should have asked him why he even asked the question, but I was so ecstatic that I had not been issued a traffic ticket, that I was just anxious to close this episode and go home to bed. But, today, thinking about it, I wonder why he asked that question and did not even ask me for an ID or proof of insurance?

Maybe some police personnel reading this can explain what was going on? I mean, what if I were crazy enough to answer with a joke such as "I just got back from robbing your house." Would the officer have shared my crazy sense of humor? Or would his next command be "Sir, please step out of the car!"

---

When things go wrong this always happens to me
And I never get no answers
Or sympathy
They just say
Oh woah that's tough

One time in school I failed in history
Said to the teacher 'Why'd this happen to me'
It couldn't be my fault the test was too rough
She said
Oh woah well that's tough

What's tough
Life
What's life
A magazine
Well how much does it cost
It costs twenty cents
But I only got a nickel (a nickel)

Woah oh well that's tough

Then I was cheating and my girl saw me
She said that she was gonna set me free
I said 'Don't put me down now it's you I love'
But she just said
Woah oh well that's tough

What's tough
Life
What's life
A magzine
Well how much does it cost
It costs twenty cents
But I only got a nickel (a nickel)
Woah oh well that's tough

And then I got a call from Uncle Sam
Waiting in town to see the tax forms man [went into town to see the draft board man]
I thought if I told him of all my luck
But he just said
Woah oh well that's tough

What's tough
Life
What's life
A magazine
Well how much does it cost
It costs twenty cents
But I only got a nickel (a nickel)
Woah oh well that's tough

Is that all you're gonna say to me
(Well that's tough)
Won't anybody ever listen to me
(Well that's tough)
You're all against me all of you why don't you say so now
(Well that's tough)

- Lyrics to "That's Life ( That's Tough" )by by Gabriel & The Angels ( 1962 )