I’m almost certain it got me a warning once. I was driving home from work and traffic was especially heavy that afternoon. Wanting to just get home, I entered the HOV lane (which requires two or more people to encourage carpooling; driving as a single is subject to a ticket and a fine.) I hadn’t seen the Five-O checking it for a month, so I figured I was good. Wrong. About a mile into the HOV stood in a motorcycle police. As I approached him, he pointed at me, then pointed to the side, and hit his lights. “DAMN IT!!!” I yelled, as I fumbled to get my license and insurance ready. We all know that “adrenaline rush” that happens when pulled over by a police. It felt double for me that day. I rolled down my window as the officer approached. “You know why I pulled you over son?” Forget stringing together words, I couldn’t string together two syllables. All my secondary characteristics flared. Blinking eyes, clinched mouth, head and arm shakes… my embarrassment and frustration skyrocketed. After what seemed like five minutes, I think I got out something along the lines of “Yes, officer. I don’t have another rider with me. I’m sorry. Here’s my info.” He stared at me. “Are you ok, son?” My speech was so bad I sounded like I was handicapped or having a stroke. I struggled to get out “yessir, I’m fine.” He looked at me, looked at my information, and looked back at me with what seemed like pity. “[long pause] Don’t do it again. Against my better judgement, I’m letting you off with a warning.” I promised him I wouldn’t. I had never got a warning before, and I’m 💯 my speech factored in to it.