Two times I deserved to get SLAMMED but didn't.
1. In Mexico City I was driving at night in the rain on their "Periferico"--freeway. I ALMOST missed a turnoff and in doing so DRENCHED a motorcycle cop.
He came after me and had me follow him to a dark, quiet part of the city. Yikes. I WAS scared.
The first mistake I made was LYING about not speaking English. After that I said to myself: I was wrong 100% and I'm just going to EAT it.
But I decided that I wouldn't use tears. He was the one in the right and I wasn't going to try to "cry my way out of it" like some women do.
So I agreed with him and said I was sorry in Spanish umpteen times. No tears and all apology. He yelled and threatened. I nodded and apologized.
FINALLY he yelled: ¡VAYASE! or Get outta here!
Yep, he let me go, no bribe (mordida), nothing. Whew. I dodged a very big, dangerous bullet.
I sometimes think that I got out of it BECAUSE I didn't try to cry my way out of it.
2. In my neighborhood I cut off two pedestrians trying to cross the street. A local cop stopped me. I asked what I did wrong. He told me. I had NOT been paying attention.
I apologized profusely--noting my stupidity in my own neighborhood, that he was right and that I deserved the ticket.
He said: "You've been so nice. I can't tear up the ticket because I already wrote it. When your ticket turn to pay comes up I will show up and tell the judge that I made a mistake."
TWO months later I showed up and so did he. He kept his word and walked out of the courtroom. I JUMPED out of my chair, charged out of the courtroom and yelled: "THANK YOU, OFFICER!!!"
He kept walking but raised his hand in acknowledgement.
Another bullet, less dangerous, dodged.
Rethinking my history, I realize there WERE a couple of times I probably should’ve been arrested...but wasn’t. Cops let me off. I won’t give details, although I’m pretty sure the statute of limitations has long since expired. I’ve gotta say “thanks” to those officers.