The other day, I drove my own car to Gemikonağı to film. All along the way, I said to myself, “Oh, my beautiful country…” I love Cyprus at this time of year.
At this time of year, nature is so generous to this country that it’s impossible not to be impressed. Nature displays every color known to humankind with such generosity…
And seeing the lands that look yellow in the summer months become a flawless green cleanses the heart.
As almost every oncoming car flashed its headlights at the entrance to Güzelyurt, I was jolted out of the dream world these beautiful sights had carried me into.
Because it was a warning; with their flashing headlights, the cars were practically shouting, “Hey, driver, wake up—there are police up ahead!”
At that moment, I remembered an article I wrote last year titled “Dissenting Headlights.”
In that article, I wrote about how the previous government, having run out of money, had sent police onto the roads in an effort to raise revenue, but drivers flashing their headlights on the roads were getting in the way.
With these thoughts in mind, we continued on in a CONVOY, together with the cars in front of and behind me. Meanwhile, my eyes began searching for the police… As I muttered to myself, “Good heavens, where are the police?” I suddenly saw an officer in front of me, telling the cars ahead to go on. Just as I was thinking, “There must have been a tip-off, and they’re checking,” the officer in front of me gestured for me to pull over.
I pulled over and rolled down the window, and a female police officer asked for my driver’s license. Thinking it was a routine check, I handed it over. The officer looked at my license and said, “Mr. Cem, you were caught by the radar. You were doing 82 km/h in a 65 km/h zone. Your fine is 123 lira, and you’ve received 5 penalty points.” I was completely dumbfounded… “What do you mean?” I said… “What’s special about the cars in front of me and behind me?” I asked… The lady wasn’t listening to me; she just kept writing. I was practically begging her. “Where’s the radar?” I asked. “Up ahead, by the buses,” she replied… Then, in good faith, I explained that I was a member of the press, that I’d come to the area for work, that there were cars in front of and behind me, and that if this was about speed, it was impossible—how could they have detected only me? The officer showed me the figures she had written by hand on the paper she was holding… In her view, this was evidence… It was impossible not to lose your mind! I told her she shouldn’t be doing this and that there was no radar warning sign. Then she pointed to the speed-limit sign. Just what I needed—another problem… I fell silent and said, “Write it down”… She asked me to sign, and of course I refused. Although, what difference would it make if I didn’t sign in this country? Anyway, I finally said, “I guess your salaries aren’t enough, so you’re making us pay for it,” and continued on my way…
That’s what happened!
I don’t think I was speeding, but I can’t prove it.
The funny thing is, the police can’t prove I was speeding either.
What’s even funnier is, when we’re driving with cars in front of and behind us, how is it that only I get caught by the radar?
The tragicomic thing is that, like our other citizens in this situation, I’ll dutifully go and put this money into the treasury’s coffers…
Father State knows its citizens well…
As I said in the headline;
We’re SUCKERS, we’ll pay…
See you on Friday…
Pay attention to your surroundings, keep them clean, and please be respectful on the roads!