Ask the officer Ask the officer (April 20, 2005)

Menlo Park police officer Glenn J. Raggio answers questions about the police and law enforcement. Call 330-6396, or e-mail: asktheofficer@menlopark.org. Q. What are some of the great or not-so-great explanations people give when stopped for traffic violations?
A. On Willow Road many years ago, I came up behind a vehicle swerving from side to side in the lane. It was after 2 in the morning, and my first thought was that this was a bar patron making his or her way home from an evening of imbibing.

I applied my lights; the car screeched to a halt and then jerked forward a few feet, coming to rest partially on the sidewalk. I cautiously approached the driver's door.

The window began to lower awkwardly, the driver clearly having trouble with the handle.

What began to appear as the window lowered was the face of a 10-year-old boy. The headrest had hidden the fact that the driver's head was well below it. Before I could say a word, he said, "I know I'm not doing so well, but this is my first lesson!"

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