15 years a fugitive

My Thanksgiving holiday came this year as it has forty three times before in my life. I was expected holiday to deliver the typical car ride to a relative’s home where we I would be allowed to over indulge my disturbing love affair with Turkey, bread stuffing, Pillsbury dinner roles, mashed potato with gravy and butter. I was looking forward to once again becoming a slow land animal participating in an over indulgent food orgy, what I didn’t expect was to have a run-in with .

Thanksgiving fell on a Thursday November 27th this year and because I was leaving the country for two weeks that same weekend after I decided to work a little late on Wednesday. At some point I concluded that I was ready for my trip so I headed home to begin my three day holiday before leaving. On my way home I decided that I should have a little spending money with me as I would be traveling and feel more comfortable doing so with cash in my pocket. The bank I use is less than a two minute drive from my home and so I decided that I would set a way-point and use their drive through cash machine.

When I drove up to the cash machine I tried to lower my window and it was only then that I remembered it stopped working more than a week earlier. My forgetfulness can only be attributed to the cold weather we have had making lowering the window unnecessary for some time. With some embarrassment I continued through the cash machine lane then making a sharp right turn toward home. I’m not sure if it was the previous embarrassment or the thought of getting home that pushed me to accelerate past the now obvious police car on my right, but stupidly accelerate I did. Then as the officer approached my Window I raised my voice a little and with great embarrassment told him the window was broken.

“No problem.” he said and opened the driver’s door. “I stopped you because we have a lot of complaints about speeders on this road.” I admitted that I have probably been one of those who have complained and continued about my situation at the cash machine hoping my temporary insanity plea would help.

I was surprised that my explanations seem to have a impact on the officer who having gathered the necessary papers was now walking back to his car to verify them and (I assumed) write the ticket. From previous experience I expected this to take no more than ten minutes. After fifteen minutes I started to wonder if there was something else going on and when a second and third police car arrived and I was certain.

After what seemed like twenty minutes the officer again opened my driver’s door and said, “Mr. Bobel, I have some good news for you. I am going to give you a written warning for speeding so you are not getting a ticket from me today.” He continued, “Now I have some bad news for you – I have a warrant for your arrest.”

I was speechless.

I am sure seeing my face go white also had an impact on the officer and he quickly continued “Did you get a ticket in 1994 for an expired car registration?”. My reaction to his question must have only confirmed his assumption that I was just some poor schmuck, not Al Capone, and I genuinely did not know about the ticket.

“Now I will give you a little more good news – if would not sleep well tonight if I took you to jail for a fifteen year old ticket on the start of the thanksgiving holiday. You will certainly have a lot to be thankful for this thanksgiving.” he said smiling. I was incredibly thankful. The officer went on to explain that clerk told him that the 15 year old ticket could still be paid after which the arrest warrant would be cancelled. The officer then provided me with a business card on which my case number and contact details for payment were written. As he turned to walk back to his patrol car he stopped and turned back and mentioned had known he someone who had a past due ticket that cost $3000 to resolve and that he wasn’t positive that the $140 written on his card included late fees or interest. I thanked him again and drove home.

Thursday, Thanksgiving day, I was up at 7:00am and on the road by 7:30am to pay my debt to society.  The previous night my father begrudgingly agreed to drive me down to the court avoiding the chance I get pulled over again and sent to the slammer for the weekend. Fortunately, he knew exactly where to go since only weeks before he also had to resolve an unpaid parking ticket and in fact he had taken my children with him to show them the finer workings of the Columbus court system. As it was a holiday there was absolutely no wait required and so my $140 fine was paid resolving the entire matter.

One question lingered – why no after 15 years. My guess is that the city needs money and so when an officer has the time they make a call to have older records searched. Thank goodness the officer I met used good judgment and discretion for the best possible outcome and I am truly thankful.