Monday I made my first appearance ever in traffic court. Suffice it to say: Whatever state you live in, do a google-search for the state statute regarding yielding to a funeral procession. I can tell you that it is NOT printed anywhere in the Minnesota or Georgia driver manuals.
Back in March I encountered a funeral procession, my first one since moving to Georgia two years ago. I followed the lead of the half-dozen other cards around me and pulled over as it first approached and passed us (going in the opposite direction we were headed). After a bit, the drivers around me pulled back into traffic and drove very slowly as the funeral procession continued in the opposite direction. The funeral procession eventually began to thin out, and a few drivers made right-hand turns off the road while others continued on. I noticed that there were about 3-4 car lengths until the next vehicle, and old pickup, and it was not operating headlights or flashers or carrying a funeral procession pennant, so I turned left - across the road - and continued on my way. About a mile down the road, I looked up and saw the blue and white lights filling my rear-view mirror. I pulled over and was informed that I had illegally cut through a funeral procession. The statute calls it failure to yield to a funeral procession.
The police officer was gone for a long time with my license, and when he came back I asked him how I am supposed to know that the procession is over. He replied that there would be a police car at the front and the end. He also told me, "We take respect very seriously down here," an apparent reference to my main driving record being from Minnesota - a Yankee state (where we don't take respect seriously at all, right?). He also said he didn't know how much the fine would be.
It turned out to be $250!! So I checked the online version of the statute (my wife made the initial discovery), and it said the fine should not exceed $100. Now I was starting to get suspicious. A check at the local clerk of court showed that the patrol car at the beginning and end is not actually part of the local ordinance or the state statute; it's a local preference. I decided not to pay the fine.
Monday morning, my wife and I arrived for our "educational field trip," as she called it, at 9 a.m., having been warned to get there early. The clerk at the city office said they start taking names at 9:15 and just go on down the list in the order they come in. We were not first in line - we were about 20th - for 10 a.m. traffic court. Eventually they crammed about 90 of us into the courtroom with about 65 mis-matched chairs. What a great place to people watch! And all cross-sections of life. People from all walks break traffic laws.
When my turn came, I pleaded No Contest, and the judge asked me to tell what had happened that day. I told him what I told you - minus the "respect down here" comment, which I was saving for later.
I also told my wife to be prepared to launch into a song from our upcoming Vacation Bible School, complete with hand motions, if it looked like things were going badly for me!
The judge heard me out and then said, "Have a nice day, Mr. Zimmerli. Case dismissed." Keep in mind: I was guilty. I had cut through a funeral procession. The judge showed mercy because of my driving record and because there is no way to know the exact law unless you break it once. No fine needed to be paid. In our case with God, Jesus paid the fine already, so the verdict will be the same: Case dismissed. What a relief.
Don't be anxious for anything. God is in control. Shape your worry into a prayer, sandwiched between praises and give it to God and leave it there.
I love how fresh that Scripture is from The Message: Philippians 4:4-7 ...
"4-5 Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in Him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!
6-7 Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."
I'm trying, and each victory makes me trust Him more, but "Do as I say, not as I do ... most of the time!"
Postscript: Driving to work today (Wednesday, 2 days after traffic court) I came upon a funeral procession just leaving the funeral home. I had to wait for the entire procession to pass, but at least there was no question when it was done, since there was a police officer blocking the road for traffic coming toward the funeral procession. I found it funny to be stuck there, and thanked God for His sense of humor and for reminding me that I received mercy instead of judgment when He forgave me in my sin and continues to forgive me and lead me daily. -- MKZ
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