My First and Hopefully Last, Run In With The Law

A few Tuesdays ago, I had a training conference for Izabella's (and soon to be Spencer's) school in Portland. Since Tygh couldn't get the time off, I figured I would just take the kids with me to my parents and take advantage of my free babysitting service. Dozer Days also fell on the Saturday before so we ended up making an extended trip. (Dozer Days were the best and I promise to post some pics later).

Now I need to get down to the real story behind this blog entry... At age 30 for the first time in my life, I got pulled over.


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I was returning home from my parents at 10:30 at night when I saw a set of flashing lights behind me while I was climbing Satus Pass. I knew I wasn't speeding because I set the cruise control for the actual speed limit (I hate going fast in the dark on the mountain pass). So I figured I wasn't in too big of trouble.

My heart still started to pound as I pulled off to the side of the road. Lucie started to wake as soon as the minivan slowed in order to remind me that she needed her late night feeding. By the time the deputy made it to my window she was screaming.

I nervously admitted that this was my first time being pulled over. He told me that I had a burnt out headlight that was all. I told him I hadn't noticed because I was driving from Portland and I just assumed it was darker because I wasn't in the city. I am such a ditz!

He kindly then asked me for my license which I could find quickly, but then he wanted my license and registration. Seeing how I've never had to find them under pressure with a crying baby right behind me, I fumbled through the glove box. He asked me if the car belonged to me and my husband and he was about to call that good (I think just Lucie crying made him feel bad enough) when I found the green registration paper which he took back to his car.

I needed to nurse Lucie, but I wasn't sure if I could move to the back seat with out telling him first -so I walked back to his car to tell him I'd be in the backseat nursing my baby. When I left the car, it woke up Izabella so by the time I got back in the car I had two screaming girls.

Izabella will tell you that Tygh's job is to get kids out of jail so I think in her mind she saw the flashing lights and just assumed I was being hauled off.

I was able to calm Izabella down by the time the deputy made it back to my car. He opened up my door in order to talk to me. Now there is nothing like nursing a baby to make some men uncomfortable really fast and this deputy fell into that category. He didn't dare look back until I told him that I was done and I held up Lucie for him to see. I asked him if he could explain to my 4 year old that we weren't really in trouble and he was just trying to keep us safe.

He explained to Izabella that he was just stopping us to let us know that we had a headlight out and he was worried that a we might hit a deer. I told him that we were safe this year because their Daddy hadn't shot any of Bambi's friends so we were on the good list this year. He chuckled and then Iz started to cry for fear that the deer were going to start ramming our car. (She was really tired and hysterical).

When Izabella started to cry, to his astonishment he noticed Spencer sleeping in the car seat in the back. "3 kids!" Yup. Izabella dutifully did her usual introductions of everyone and their ages while Lucie got in a good loud burp.... followed by a huge poop. To which, the deputy's eyes got really wide =)

The deputy told me that we were safer being pulled over on Satus than anywhere in Portland and to feel free to take my time getting back on the road. He then quickly set the paperwork on my seat and got back in his car and drove off.

When I finished changing Lucie and calming down Izabella, I hopped back in my seat. When I put the paperwork back in the glove box I noticed that the insurance card I handed him had been expired for 5 months! (We have a more current one somewhere in that messy glove box).

That poor deputy, I'm sure he hasn't run across such a domestically comical pullover like ours ever.

Oh and Spencer who is now into police men as well as firefighters, slept through the whole ordeal.

So if you don't want to get drilled when you get pulled over, have a few crying kids, use the words nursing and blowout, and you'll be on your way before you know it!