Perhaps it was inevitable....

If any of you ever get to visit us here in Japan, you'll notice two things on the ride from Narita Airport to Yokosuka - 1) you'll know what it's like to be illiterate, because all of the signs are in Kanji (Japanese writing); and 2) the speed limits are VERY slow.

This particular blog entry will focus on #2, I'll delve into #1 next week.
The freeway speed limits are 80 kph, or 49 mph in U.S. terms. That's it.

So for those that know my driving habits back in the states (where my bloved Camaro sits in a garage, driven semi-weekly by dear old Dad), you know that keeping below 70 mph is difficult for me. There's just something about cruising along in that 6th and final gear that gives me a feeling of peace.

Well, I'm lucky to have a wife that let me buy another sports car while we're here; that partiucular car is coveted by many in the States, b/c Nissan doesn't sell it there...so Cicely and I decided to go for a drive last weekend like we used to in the Camaro back home.

We were planning on driving to Saitama (another prefecture, or in U.S. Terms, anoter State). It was about a 100 km drive by highway, or about 60 miles. As I got on the freeway, I was in the left lane (which is the slow lane here) and was stuck behind a row of about 5 cars - so I decided to pass them while going through a tunnel then move back over in the slow lane. As I was passing them, I reached about 120 kph (74 mph). At that point, I heard a familiar sound. A siren. As I looked into the rear view mirror, I saw the red lights and for an instant of relief, thought it was an ambulance....but then I remembered, there are no blue lights here - just red ones. So I moved back over, and the cop pulled in front of me and made me follow him to the side of the road and pulled over. Yes, that's reversed from the U.S. where he would've followed me instead.

So the police officer stepped out of his car and came back to my window, while his partner set up flares behind me (keep in mind is in the middle of the day). I rolled down my window, and he asked me in English, if I spoke Japanese. Now, as an aside, U.S. Military over in Japan have special license plates that tell you immediately that we're anything BUT Japanese. I think this guy was thrown off b/c as I rolled down my window, I smiled and said 'Konnichiwa' to him - sorry buddy, I only know that basics. Fortunately, as with most Japanese, he was much smarter then I, and spoke decent English. He proceded to point to my speedometer and clarify that I shouldn't let the big red needle go past the '80' and that he clocked me at 107. 107? I thought 'man, he must've gotten me as I was slowing down' - what luck! Cicely and I noticed that he was very friendly, smiled the whole time, and generally treated me like a mildly retarded child. It was very refreshing - Virginia State Troopers and Va Beach PD can learn a thing or two from these guys.

Anyway, it looked like I was gonna get off with a warning, until he opened my door and asked me to step outside. Hmmm....back in the states, I would be worried, but I thought I'd just see what was going to happen before making any unnecessary comments...so he motioned for me to walk towards the patrol vehicle. As we reach his car, his partner opens up the back door and orders me to sit inside. At this point, I'm seriously worried. Am I getting arrested? Seriously? It was just speeding, and not even really all that fast! If they take me away, what's Cicely supposed to do? Drive home? Follow them? If I do get thrown in jail, will I still be able to go the Mid-East in a few weeks? Crap. This has potential to really mess up my life in too many ways.

I mentioned the fact that my wife was still back in my car, hoping that communicate my concern for the present situations potential to the police officer, but that didn't work. He just smiled, and closed the door on me. As it turned out, I wasn't being arrested, they just wanted me to be in their car while they wrote me the ticket b/c it was too cold to keep my window open in my car while I waited for them. I will say that the car was very nice - spacious, and very nice leather.

So they gave me the ticket, and the fine - 18,000 yen. And one week to pay it, or go to jail. So I paid it the next day. I suppose I could be really frustrated that I had to pay $180 for going 62 mph, but the cops were so nice, even Cicely wasn't mad at me. And besides, my American insurance company will never know ;o)