Whenever I see some poor soul pulled over by a local black and white, I can't help but chuckle to myself and wonder what horrendous crime the offender could have committed. I know it's not nice to laugh at the scared individual being reprimanded by a dutiful police officer, but it's like watching your little brother being scolded. You laugh because you're glad it's not you.

Well, I was the sullen face in the driver's seat last Wednesday evening.

I was coasting down Railroad Avenue, in a hurry to get back to my dorm room because I knew a friend would be waiting for me to get changed for a fun-filled night of working out at the intramural center. I made a point to check the speedometer and slow down to the recommended 20 miles per hour as I passed Hale Hall. And it wasn't just because I saw a parked Tech Police car on my right. After I passed the car successfully, I did a little victory dance and made a left turn onto Tech Drive. That's when I saw them: flashing red, blue and white lights in my rearview mirror.

Now, I have always prided myself on never getting a single ticket, except for parking. I've only been pulled over once before, in Bossier City.

Back then I had just gotten my permit, and I was driving home from work with my grandmother just as dusk was approaching. We were about two blocks from my house when a police officer passed us in the other direction flashing his lights. I had no idea what that was supposed to mean so I kept going, unabated. Moments later I knew that it meant something as we pulled into the apartment complex, and I heard that siren. My grandmother and I looked at each other as a blast of white light shot through the car and a loud-speakered voice demanded, "Will the driver please step out of the vehicle."

I almost passed out. Gramma decided she would handle it, but was asked to get back inside the vehicle when she tried to hop out to assess the problem. Trembling and stumbling in my high heels, I got out of the car and walked up to the tall, stone-faced officer.

When he asked for my ID, and he noticed it was merely a permit, a grin spread across his face. Then he reminded me parking lights weren't sufficient for night-time driving. I don't remember what was said after that, but I do know that I didn't stop shaking until nearly an hour after I got safely inside my house.

I handled my most recent brush with the law in a more mature fashion. I didn't even have to turn on the waterworks.

After I saw the lights, I pulled quickly into the parking lot of my dorm and turned off the engine. Then this smiling Tech Police officer waved me out of the car and said, "I thought I'd save you $150 tonight." I looked him right in the face and said, "What?" then followed him to the back of the car where he pointed out that the light above my license plate was out. The engine was off so I couldn't tell if the light was out or not, but I took his word for it and got my fiance to replace the bulb.

Thanks to both of the officers who showed me that justice and karma prevail.

Rindy Metcalf is a senior journalism major from Bossier City and serves as managing editor for The Tech Talk. E-mail comments to rdm018@latech.edu.