What is it about driving that turns some people witless?

What is it with people who get behind the wheel of a 5,000-pound vehicle that turns them into imbeciles, totally unaware of traffic rules, courtesy, and responsibility? You need proof? Okay, here are a few examples that occurred here in God’s country – Dorchester, USA:

January 8, 12:50 a.m.
Officers observed the operator of a gray Cadillac illegally go around and pass another vehicle on Washington Street then barrel through a red light at Talbot Avenue without touching his brakes. The officers flipped on their blue lights in order to initiate a traffic stop, but the 47-year-old driver would have none of it, yelling out the window, “Bleep you, I’m not going to jail!” He quickly turned onto Welles Avenue where his car stalled out and died. He was soon in handcuffs and charged with six vehicle violations.

January 9, 4 p.m.
A police officer was driving home from a tour of duty when he saw a vehicle in front of him on Gallivan Boulevard driving very slowly and weaving in between lanes, so he called for assistance. A C-11 cruiser caught up with the car near Hallet Street and put on the blue lights and siren in order to get the vehicle to pull over. It didn’t. They continued to follow the Toyota pick-up into Neponset Circle. It still moved slowly forward while refusing to stop. The vehicle took a right onto the Neponset River bridge with the cruiser right behind him lights flashing and sirens blaring. He still didn’t pull over. Finally a second cruiser joined the slow speed chase and cut the offending car off, stopping it. The 40-year-old driver from Quincy stated to the officers that he had no idea it was him they were trying to pull over even though they were directly behind him for over a quarter of a mile. He was arrested for failure to stop, no insurance, and no license.

March 7, 5:53 p.m.
Plainclothes officers were patrolling the Adams Street area near Centre Street when they saw a 22-year-old daredevil on a Honda scooter, no helmet and no common sense. Also no license and no proof of ownership but plenty of whining. He yelled at officers, “I don’t need a license to ride a scooter.” Wrong. “You guys are always screwing with me.” Poor baby. “I bought this yesterday, I’m gonna call my moms!” Grow up! The poor baby was arrested for disturbing the peace and various other violations. He was transported to C-11 for booking and his one phone call. I wonder if he called his “moms?”

April 27, 11:35 a.m.
I had to read this report twice before I could believe it actually happened. An officer was driving down Bowdoin Street near Norton Street when he saw a 30-year-old local woman walking down the middle of the street causing traffic to stop. The woman then walked up to the front of the cruiser, pounded on the hood, then crawled onto the hood and lay across it on her back. Honest to God! The officer got out of his vehicle and kindly asked the woman to get off his cruiser. The woman replied slowly, “No, I’m sunbathing!” Mel Brooks couldn’t come up with this stuff. She was escorted to the sidewalk but she strolled back to her sunbathing spot and eventually she was arrested for being a disorderly person and nitwit.

On Saturday, June 9, we will be holding our Annual Bike Rodeo from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the McKeon Post parking lot on Hallet Street. Bike safety, free bike helmets, free hot dogs and hamburgers, and a free raffle for a couple of brand new bikes. Children ages 4 to 12 welcome. Hope to see you there. Take care of yourselves.