Q/A: How Do You Avoid Being Pulled Over By a Cop?
I like to begin class with a Q/A. A Q/A is a question or an idea to be explored. Here is an example:
Q/A: How Do You Avoid Being Pulled Over By a Cop? Any ideas?
BE INVISIBLE
According to Retired Chief Charles Sewell:
1. “Traffic cops see vehicles as mere traffic and rarely pay attention to particular vehicles unless the drivers do something to bring attention to themselves.”1
2. “ The odds of being pulled over by a police officer are more about driver habits and less about officer observation. A driver who is obeying the law is as likely to be involved in a traffic stop as getting hit by a locomotive in a swimming pool.”2
Q/A: How many of you believe this? I’d be interested in your opinion, or your expeience.
Anecdotal information: I have never been pulled over, my husband was pulled over because of a burned out taillight at 11:30 PM, my kids have never been pulled over. It is possible to drive without ever being pulled over. (The funny thing about my husband’s experience was, the policeman looked at my husband, his license and asked “Isn’t it a little late for you to be out driving?” My husbanded thought about telling the policeman, “NO, he had a permission note from his wife.” )
Q/A: What says, I want you to stop me and give me a ticket, citation or check me out?
Anything that makes you stick out.
A car with every body part painted a different color or bumper stickers all over
Broken windshield
Cool modifications that are not legal
Burned out headlight or taillight
Exceed the speed limit
Weaving in and out of traffic
Vehicle holding up traffic — a car that is in disrepair (leaking fluid, engine smoking etc)
Distractions: loud music, people hanging out the windows, yelling
My advice: stay in the right lane, drive the speed limit and don’t change lanes unless it is necessary. Granted, it’s boring, may take you 5 to 10 minutes longer, your friends may give you a hard time, but you will arrive at your destination. All those cars flying by have a far greater chance of being pulled over by a cop. If it raining hard, slow down, you will pass the speeders who hydroplaned off the road. Tickets are expensive, accidents are expensive, your insurance will go up and your parents may take the car keys.
I like to begin each class with what I call Q/A. I use it for:
- A way to get the students in their seats, on task and thinking.
- Time for me to complete tasks necessary for each class-roll etc.
- An activity that is a smooth transition into the day’s lesson or a review of previous material.
- It’s 10% of their final grade.
Wisdom from Columnist Chief Charlie Sewell, Avoid being pulled over by a cop.
