Speeding in PV

I got my first speeding ticket in PV on Thursday.  I really have not excuse, I was speeding.  I was going 48 km in a 40km zone, however I was on an 25 foot long off ramp from a 60kg lane.  I calculated it in miles and I was going 4.97 miles over the speed limit.  The real reason I was pulled over was because I was driving a gringo mobile, my suburban.  I made a critical mistake in the whole process. I made eye contact with the young officer as he ran down the road after my car.  I couldn't keep myself from stopping, it is programmed into me.

Thank goodness for gringo friends........We had just been talking about "la mordita" or the bite, and what to do if you get pulled over.  (Thank you Martin and Heather!)  I truly did not expect to ever have to use this wise advise, silly me!

The young officer came to my window and explained that I was speeding and that I had been clocked doing 48kg, amazingly he spoke wonderful English.  He asked for my drivers license and explained that it was No Problem and that I was only getting a ticket.  I could pick up my drivers license at the police station the next day, 'No Problem'.  I ,not so politely rather firmly but with an amused smile, explained to him that he could not take my drivers license and that I did not need a receipt for my payment.  Of course, this was 'No Problem'.  I was afraid to ask how much it would cost me to take care of this 'No Problem' so I handed $20 US dollars out the window.  My foul, he got fairly agitated at my blunder.......I guess this has to be a covert kind of payment.   So he rested his arm over my window and I stuffed the $20 bill in his hand.  All seemed good and he handed me my license and smiling left on foot.

Looking back, I realize that my biggest mistake was pulling over. It never occurred to me to not to stop, until I was watching him, in my side mirror, run down the road after my car.  I guess you treat police officers like any other vendor out to make a little money from the gringos.  You have to be willing to speak to them like you know they are just bumming 20 bucks and it's sorta funny.  Lots of smiling and 'No Problem-ing' going on.

All in all, it wasn't a horrible thing, and knowing what to do in the situation makes all the difference.  It sure beats speeding tickets in the states.