There's a Criminal on the Loose - and it's Me!

Today, I was minding my own business while driving down the main street of my small hometown. A quick peek in my rear view mirror revealed the flashing blue lights of a police car. Assuming he was on his way to thwart a major crime, I pulled over to give him plenty of room to pass and he pulled up right behind me.

I ran through my possible list of traffic infractions quickly - did I run a stop sign ? run a red light? fail to yield? was I speeding?

The office got out of the car carrying a large contraption which he placed on my car. Was it a breathalizer? did he think I was drunk at 10:00 a.m.?

He asked for my license and proof of insurance and called in to headquarters to verify my identity --- still no clue what I had done wrong -- but then came the moment of revelation!

"The reason I pulled you over, ma'am, is that I think your windows exceed the tint limit."

WHAT ?????

I explained that I had not had my windows tinted but that they were that way from the Volvo factory - same windows that were in the car when I purchased it new three years ago.

Another line of questioning ensued --- where did I purchase the car? how long ago? blah de blah de blah ???

The aforementioned contraption was then placed on my windows - "Ah ha" the culprit is caught!!!! The allowable amount of blackage in Alabama is 32 and I have 28!

So, my choices are: (1) trade cars, (2) have all the windows replaced, (3) spend a go-zillion dollars having the tinting removed or (4) drive only at night and hope another cop doesn't notice me! This cop said he would let me go but the next cop probably wouldn't be as lenient!

Let's see --- this month in my hometown there was an armed bank robbery, a murder, two rapes, a kidnapping, three meth labs busted, and a cock-fighting ring broken up --- oh yes, and a woman stopped for having her windows tinted!!!

Boy, our cops are on their toes!