Late last month, I got pulled over by the Florida Highway Patrol for speeding, and ended up with a citation for doing 73MPH in a 55MPH zone. Of course, I was clocked in a 65MPH zone, but that didn’t matter to the trooper.
So, in order to keep my insurance company from brutally assraping me, I’m going through the “defensive driving school” option available in Florida. Basically, it works like this: I pleaded guilty and paid the fine, less a reduction. I also signed an affidavit swearing that I would attend a defensive driving school (which generally costs as much as the ticket was reduced). In return, the state recorded no points on my license. Since I am able to maintain “safe driver” status, my insurance premiums won’t increase much, if at all.
The best part is this: A defensive driving school is available from Blockbuster Video. It comes on videotapes or a DVD; I got the DVD because I have no VCR. After viewing each section, I had to take a short quiz, accessible via their website. (There is a toll free number for those who don’t have regular access to the Internet… but how are you reading this?) There is an examination after the last section with a passing grade of 80%… and I made 100%.
I have been driving slowly since I got the ticket. In fact, I’ve been doing exactly the speed limit; when traffic is flying by at 80, I putter along at 55. Of course, this gets me dirty looks, but that’s what I want: the more people are annoyed by someone traveling the speed limit, the more likely they are to complain about just how low the speed limits are. I’m just waiting to be pulled over for obstructing traffic.
Godspeed, friend…