By SUE ELLEN ROSS – The Southern Yankee

We have all seen the signs along the road warning us to use our seat belts or else.

For me, the ‘or else’ came true last week.

I usually put my belt on as soon as I get in the car. I always prided myself as a law-abiding citizen and never did like the looks of those unpleasant accident scenes.

Well, it was lunchtime, and as usual, I had about five errands to run. I had just left the drugstore on my way back to work when, lo and behold, what did I see in the middle of Carrollwood Drive? It was a Louisiana State Trooper, the first one I have ever seen since I transplanted from Indiana. I thought there had been an accident or something, no one on the road was going over 20 MPH so I knew I wasn’t speeding.

I thought maybe he saw the ‘Press’ sticker on my car and was going to give me some information for a story.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

He gave me a ticket for not wearing my seat belt. I honestly had forgotten to put in on. You know how it is, going in and out of stores and buildings when you are running so many errands.

I know forgetfulness is no excuse, but I tried it anyway. “But officer, I always wear my seat belt. I just came from the drugstore around the corner and was getting ready to put it on,” I told him. This was the truth, when he motioned for me to pull over, I automatically reached for the belt (maybe a sixth sense or something.)

I’m sure many people have used more lame excuses than this one, so I gave it a shot. But as he began to write me up, I realized that my spending money for the week would be cut short because of this one incident.

I asked the trooper if he was arresting me since I was detained so for long. He said no. I asked him was I being ticketed and what I had to do. He said to read the card he gave me, it would explain everything.

It didn’t.

I had to read between the lines of the barely legible writing to know that my court date was in May. It didn’t state how much money this was going to cost me, or where to pay the fine, it just said ‘Don’t try to pay your fine at a Louisiana State Police location.’

I called the St. John Parish Sheriff’s office and found out the fine is $25, so this guilty driver will do her duty and pay up.

Now if you see me around town, I will always have on my seat belt, and will encourage everyone else to do likewise.

I only have to think of that $25 I was planning on using for new makeup, and I click it in right away.

Sue Ellen Ross is a staff writer for the L’Observateur and can reached at lobnews@bellsouth.net