Years ago in Anchorage, Alaska I got tagged in the "Caution changes to
Red while in the intersection" bit. Choice was $50 fine and a mark on my
record or $50 Defensive Driving School Fee and nothing on the record. I
chose the latter. It was taught by a real pro, and was worth every cent,
though I had been driving for years.

After the day long school, graduation, receiving my cerification as
satisfactorily passing a defensive driving program, I drove away. it was
raining. As I pulled away, driving a 1968 VW bus, I had no choice but to
drive through a reather deep water puddle that had collected in the
entrance to the road.

I went on down the road and several miles away was cruising along at the
speed limit when I came upon a rise in the road that then suddenly
turned into a good down hill grade. Ahead was a stop light at a 4 way
intersection. The road to the right was residential, one car at the
stop. The road to the left was a well used road, and traffic was backed
up in two lanes several cars deep. At the very front of that lineup of
cars was a police car waiting to turn the direction I was going.

I could see that the light was old and began to put the pressure on the
brakes to slow down. The caution light came on - the light was about to
change. Applied more brake pressure .... nothing.. Pushed VERY hard -
solid pedal - but no speed reduction. I sat on the horn and held it
down, at the same time practically standing on the brake... Still
nothing.  The light had changed to red just as I got to it.

I stayed on the horn and tromped the gas to the floor. Not a car had
moved when I blasted through the intersection. The cop was right on my
tail. I had seen heim and was already pulling over to stop. He had not
even had time to turn on his lights and siren before I got stopped. I
was getting out of the van and looking under the at the wheels when he
walked up. I got the usual scrutiny, driver license thing, tag check.
etc. I told him about discovering the rubber plugs being ou of the back
plate on the wheels, that I had gone through the puddle, the brakes
apparently were soaking wet and had not held, and that there was no way
I would intentionally run that red light as I had just graduated from
defensive driving school (grabbing my certificate off the seat and
shoving it at him) , and would he please hurry as I had dribbled my
shorts in that intersection.

His final word ...  "Get that damn thing fixed, Sonny!"
and I got no ticket!

I did just that.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver