N.W.A said it best...

I am not a superstitious person or a sign seeker. I do try to find meaning in the mess of my life, but I don't believe that my parents sins fall upon my head. I'm not even sure I believe in Karma. If this was a true principle then life would be very, VERY different for many people. Having said this I have to admit that my "luck", if you will, is very poor in the traffic ticket department. I have not gotten 1, or even 2, but 3 tickets just this last year. Before this last year I had a pretty clean driving ticket. I was cited for an illegal turn about 10 years ago, and that is it. So...I have to ask the question "Why me?" I am an upholder of the law. When I was in high school I got mocked for using the crosswalk and waiting until the light turned green, while all my friends crossed the street nilly-willy. I do not drive recklessly. I may speed a little, maybe 5 or 10 miles, but I don't weave in and out of traffic or cut people off. I am a fairly considerate driver.

Last night, I was in Whittier running a couple of errands when I stopped at the corner of Whittier Blvd. and Painter. I stopped, looked and then continued on up Painter. As I was turning I saw a car about 100 yards up the street with their dims on. I immediately thought it was a cop who was watching over the good citizens of Whittier and keeping the gangsters at bay. A few moments later I saw the lights behind me and was shocked. Maybe I had a tail light out (I was driving my parents Prius), or perhaps I needed to get out of the way while the cop sped after more dangerous criminals. By-the-way, for anyone who has not driven a Prius they are incredibly difficult to speed with. They take their time and don't stop on a dime and so the driver is always extra cautious of this. Anyway-so he pulls me over and asks if I knew why he pulled me over. I honestly did not. He said...I still can't believe my dumb luck....he said that I failed to stop before or at the line and was citing me for it. I told him, but I stopped. I looked to see if there was oncoming traffic and then I proceeded. He said "Yes-well you failed to stop before or at the line." I just couldn't believe it. Perhaps he thought that since I was driving around a $30,000 dollar car that I could afford his $300 dollar ticket. I don't even know how he could have seen the line from where he was parked on the street above.

Anyhow- I am posting this to ask what lesson you think I am supposed to be learning from all of these tickets. And don't say "Follow the rules!" (This means you Chris...) Because I do follow the rules, and am a pretty safe and competent driver. I also wanted to post that the last 2 tickets I got, I fought, and won. The way I did it was through a website called Ticket Assassin. It's awesome and uses the trial by written declaration as a means to help you stop the government from totally robbing you. So use it and good luck.