JEFF ZERINGUE
MANAGING EDITOR / THE DAILY IBERIAN

It’s been a long time since I’ve been stopped by a police officer, but on my way home from work late Saturday, a state trooper decided it had been long enough.

Most people I know get a feeling in the back of their throats that quickly moves to the pit of the stomach when the flashing lights are seen in the rear view mirror and they quickly realize it isn’t someone else the police officer is chasing.

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I was surprised, to say the least, but as I pulled over on Main Street after midnight, I wondered what I should do. Should I get out? No, I remembered someone telling me that they were fussed at by an officer when they got out right away. My registration and proof of insurance were under the seat, should I get them? No, reaching under the seat might look like I’m reaching for something else. A quick vision of “Gilligan’s Island” flashed through my mind when a parrot tricked the castaways into thinking there were gangsters on the island. “Shoot foist and ask questions later,” the bird said. No, that’s just too many movies, too much television as a child.

So, I rolled down my window and watched the flashing blue lights in my rear view mirror. It wasn’t long before he asked me to get out of my truck. When I approached the officer between our two vehicles, I had to ask why I was pulled over.

“You didn’t use your turn signal when turning off of Lewis Street,” the trooper responded.

What?, I immediately thought, is he serious? I see more Iberia Parish people every day who don’t use their turn signal than those who do. But I can’t be a smart-aleck. Mom would be disappointed, not to mention it goes against Rule No. 1 when stopped by law enforcement: “Don’t be a smart-aleck.”

“Sir,” I said, “I was in a forced turn lane; I had to turn. I thought I didn’t have to use my turn signal.”

“You should always use your turn signal,” he responded.

“OK, I didn’t realize.”

Before I go on, let me say that Louisiana State Police troopers are some of the nicest folk you can encounter. I got a seatbelt violation ticket about 20 years ago — the last time I was stopped — and I actually thanked the officer for it. This officer was just as respectful.

After the brief exchange about my lack of turn signal use, the trooper asked for my registration and proof of insurance. Now I could reach under the seat. As I returned to the driver’s side door, the officer walked on the other side of my truck. I opened my door and when the dome light came on he checked the cab of my truck. Pretty clever, I thought.

After he saw that all my paperwork was in order, he gave me a warning — a polite one, of course — and sent me on my way.

As I got home that evening and into the next day, I tried to assess what happened. Saturday night was a busy night for law enforcement. With the fais-do-do going on and folks in the mood to party, I gave the trooper the opportunity to stop me when I didn’t use my turn signal. Because of the atmosphere of the weekend, he probably was looking for people on the road after a day of partying. He was doing his job.

It’s strange how surprised most folks were when I tell them I was pulled over; I guess I lead a boring life. But it is difficult to complain. This trooper had his job to do. In his judgment, I wasn’t a threat to be on the road and he sent me on my way. Thank goodness he didn’t ask my wife about my driving.

JEFF ZERINGUE is managing editor of The Daily Iberian. He can be reached at iberianedit@bellsouth.net.