I can honestly say that I have never received a ticket and I have only been pulled over 2 times…first for having my trailer lights go out and second for giving some drunk friends a ride home on a cold winter night and the police were just targeting people. Anyways… I am a good driver most of the time and when I am not it usually involves trying to keep up with party bus drivers who don’t feel the need to obey traffic laws.
So four weekends ago, I was shooting a incredible wedding over in Oakdale, MN and they had a party bus taking them over to the reception venue in Saint Paul. We were going to stop at parks that weren’t busy along the way to take the fun creative shots. Since the parks in Saint Paul are often filled with other wedding parties, I wasn’t really sure where we were going and in what order. So I needed to stay with the bus at all costs.
Well this driver has a thing for running red lights….not once, not twice, but three times. And on the third red-light-run that I followed him through, I was tagged by a police officer. It’s not the cops fault, I ran the light fair and square. So I pulled over in one of those little corner convenience stores that are rather common in urban area’s and the officer walks up to my car. I quickly explain that I am the photographer for a wedding party that was in the bus in front of me and I really need to get back to them ASAP. I fully expected to get the ticket and I just wanted him to hurry up and give it to me. By this time, the bus was easily a good mile or two down a road that has stoplights every block. Instead of giving me the ticket, he runs back to his car and says he’ll clear the way for me. He then turns on his lights and sirens and we go flying down the road.
So I got a sweet police escort through Saint Paul and I didn’t have to pay a big ticket. Total rockstar move by that guy and easily one of the highlights of my year.
yeah… everyone on the bus was pretty stoked to see me come flying up with the cop.
That cop was so awesome. And to think, that trolley driver drove through at least one more red light AFTER that happened. Love it.
Too bad there aren’t any pics of me tumbling over you and into the bushes, because that was awesome too, haha. Good times.
-Robby