Roadshow: Scofflaw drivers explain their wicked ways

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jan 25, 2009 | by Gary Richards

Why do some people cheat in the carpool lane, speed, fail to use their blinkers and disregard other rules of the road? Today and tomorrow, we hear from motorists who have no chance of winning Roadshow's Dream Driver contest. These are the Darth Vaders -- for they have gone over to the dark side.

Q I commute to Palo Alto, and driving Highway 17 isn't the hard part. It's northbound 85. What began as a quick fix one morning when I was running late quickly turned into an addiction. I got a rush out of cutting in front of all those suckers in the regular lanes, and the heightened sensation of constantly checking around for cops proved too great a thrill to resist, and I haven't been caught yet. It's been more than a month of constant cheating, and I've grown bored with my addiction. I need to amp it up somehow. Should I start texting? Throwing litter indiscriminately out my window? I must be stopped.

C.G.

A I should think so.

Q I confessed my dirty deeds to a co-worker and she said the price of the ticket isn't worth it. I vow to stop my behavior, to get up earlier in the morning and slog through that horrible stretch of 85 from 17 to San Antonio Road with the rest of the law-abiding citizens. Or, should I just wait it out until I get caught? Only problem is, I never, ever see cops patrolling that area. Seems there are plenty of scofflaws like myself, just waiting to make money for California. This is a cry for help. Please, please, to the Highway Patrol out there, stop me before I cause more damage! P.S. I'm in a dark blue Honda Civic hybrid. If you should publish my letter, please use only my initials. I really do hope to stop before I get caught.

C.G.

A This Darth Vader adds: "Getting up earlier to avoid cheating is hard, but it's happening. Obama's new 'era of responsibility' helped me Tuesday to do my part and not cheat!"

Q I know this is bad, but the funny thing is I don't drive fast on the highway. But on neighborhood streets, 40 mph is my comfort zone. Then, after getting the fourth ticket, the same officer stopped me a fifth time. I pleaded with him not to give me another ticket. His name is Steve Grisenti and he had been featured in an article in the Saratoga News. He said: "Nina, Nina, Nina," as by now he recognized me. I said: "Please, we're moving to Arizona, plus my co-workers plastered about 20 pictures of you on my desk." So he followed me to Sacred Heart School, where I worked at the time, his big motorcycle boots going "clunk, clunk, clunk" in our office. When he saw his pictures on my desk, he autographed one, took some licorice and away he went.

Nina Walker

A Before we think Nina was lucky, consider that her insurance company dropped her and she had to get a much more expensive policy. She has returned from Arizona and has avoided any speeding tickets in the past few years, but she did get nailed for failing to stop at a stop sign in Los Gatos. And a word of caution, Nina, if you are in Cupertino: Deputy Grisenti is now on patrol in that city.