I was rushing to catch a movie the other day (yes, I was 'rushing' within my allowable limits and not merrily driving), when the Traffic Police Constable stopped me. I was driving at the extreme right of the road when I suddenly saw the Cop in the middle of the road, hailing me to stop.
"Oh boy" I say to myself, "Now what?"
My experiences with the Traffic Police have never been pleasant, and honest to God, they have been due to no fault of my own. (Yeah, yeah, I know what you must be thinking. It's always the other driver's fault. But honest!) Ok, on with my story.....but don't you think that Cops should be reprimanded from standing in the middle of the road? They could get killed.
So anyhow, I park my car onto the other side, pull down my window and politely ask him what's the matter. He tells me that I have committed a traffic violation by jumping a red light. "What??!!!"
There is a traffic light on that road, but it's a pedestrian crossing which till date has never been used by anyone to cross the road. Somehow, people would only like to cross the road at points away from the official crossing.
I use this road often, and know that the Traffic Police waits at the bend to catch the helpless motorists who ignore this light. (But how can they see whether the light is green or red from where they are?) Hence, I do stop at the crossing. But that day, I did not stop because the lights were definitely not red.
So I politely apologize to the Constable and tell him that I really didn't see a red light. But I guess he was in the mood to swindle someone and he found poor old me. Well, from past experience, I knew what he was up to and wasn't going to let him get his way. However, for some strange reason, my tongue refused to speak in my local hindi dialect, and instead, my strong pseudo-american accent comes on.
I got out of the car, and standing 5'10" tall, I tried to intimidate the short, fat guy. But like they say here in Delhi - वोह भी चौरा हो गया. And we started arguing. He was firm on the point that I had committed a violation, and that I should just pay the fine. I usually don't carry and cash and showed him the empty wallet. Then he insisted on cutting me a चल्लान, but I refused to give him my license.
"Oh boy" I say to myself, "Now what?"My experiences with the Traffic Police have never been pleasant, and honest to God, they have been due to no fault of my own. (Yeah, yeah, I know what you must be thinking. It's always the other driver's fault. But honest!) Ok, on with my story.....but don't you think that Cops should be reprimanded from standing in the middle of the road? They could get killed.
So anyhow, I park my car onto the other side, pull down my window and politely ask him what's the matter. He tells me that I have committed a traffic violation by jumping a red light. "What??!!!"
There is a traffic light on that road, but it's a pedestrian crossing which till date has never been used by anyone to cross the road. Somehow, people would only like to cross the road at points away from the official crossing.
I use this road often, and know that the Traffic Police waits at the bend to catch the helpless motorists who ignore this light. (But how can they see whether the light is green or red from where they are?) Hence, I do stop at the crossing. But that day, I did not stop because the lights were definitely not red.
So I politely apologize to the Constable and tell him that I really didn't see a red light. But I guess he was in the mood to swindle someone and he found poor old me. Well, from past experience, I knew what he was up to and wasn't going to let him get his way. However, for some strange reason, my tongue refused to speak in my local hindi dialect, and instead, my strong pseudo-american accent comes on.
बस, अब तोह यह लड़की गयी. The Constable must have thought that I am some NRI chick driving a fancy car, knowing nothing of the dirty delhi ways.
I got out of the car, and standing 5'10" tall, I tried to intimidate the short, fat guy. But like they say here in Delhi - वोह भी चौरा हो गया. And we started arguing. He was firm on the point that I had committed a violation, and that I should just pay the fine. I usually don't carry and cash and showed him the empty wallet. Then he insisted on cutting me a चल्लान, but I refused to give him my license.
I then remembered to phone call my sister, who luckily for me, is a lawyer. The woman just gave it back to him! She threatened him with a case of harassment. Haahaa!!!!
By then, another constable nearby, joined to see what the ruckus was all about. Luckily, this one was open to reason. I told him that I understood the violation of jumping a red light, and that accidents can happen. Then I mentioned I am a doctor who has witnessed such cases at the hospital.
At the mere mention of 'Doctor', their attitude just changed. Constable no. 2 then cajoled my indicter to let me go.
My noble profession, which I no longer pursue, may have saved me, but my sister later did give me some useful tips that might save anyone of you some other day:
- Only a Head Constable can cut you a चल्लान
- Maximum fine for a traffic violation is Rs. 200
If you really want you can look the other way and not talk about it. The best thing you can do is become relevant with yourself and faithful with your own morals. Generally this will lead to a mistaken and unproductive life.텍사스홀덤
ReplyDeleteIf you really want you can look the other way and not talk about it. The best thing you can do is become relevant with yourself and faithful with your own morals. Generally this will lead to a mistaken and unproductive life.파칭코
ReplyDeleteIf you really want you can look the other way and not talk about it. The best thing you can do is become relevant with yourself and faithful with your own morals. Generally this will lead to a mistaken and unproductive life.슬롯머신사이트
ReplyDeleteIf you really want you can look the other way and not talk about it. The best thing you can do is become relevant with yourself and faithful with your own morals. Generally this will lead to a mistaken and unproductive life.카지노사이트
ReplyDeleteIf you really want you can look the other way and not talk about it. The best thing you can do is become relevant with yourself and faithful with your own morals. Generally this will lead to a mistaken and unproductive life.토토사이트
ReplyDelete