By Steve Dresselhaus – La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico -September 2025
Whoop whoop whoop. Flashing red lights. Crud. I was caught. I was guilty. There was no way out of what was coming my way. I never text while driving, never. I never answer my phone, even hands free. I never hand hold my phone when I am navigating via GPS. But just this once, just once, for the first time ever, I picked up my phone to visually confirm the arrival of a photo of where I was heading. The first time I had ever done this, and I was not even texting or talking, and whoop whoop, flash flash – Nabbed.
The cop approached me. I have to clarify that I live in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Our local cops have a well-deserved reputation for seeking “supplemental income.” There was no way I could declare my innocence, because I was guilty of what I was about to be charged with. The officer stated, “You know why I stopped you, right?” I know we are never supposed to admit guilt or acknowledge anything prior to the cop actually announcing the offense, but I have never been good around government employees, so yes, like an open fire hydrant on a hot summer day, I spilled the beans and confessed my crime, even before I was officially accused of any wrongdoing. There is a reason I have never been recruited by the CIA, DEA, FBI, or DNC.
The officer then proceeded to gently and respectfully scold me and inform me of the dangerous activity in which I had engaged. He was right and I told him so. He was clearly unaccustomed to cooperative, confessing lawbreakers. His response was, “What are we going to do about it?” He proceeded to tell me that since I was driving on a US license because of my US plated car, he would have to confiscate my driver’s license and that I could not get it back from the police station till after the long holiday weekend, four days later. Again he asked, “What are we going to do?” I knew he was angling for something extra to help him celebrate the upcoming long weekend, but I had long ago decided that if we are ever going to put an end to corruption, it starts with me. He was going to have to celebrate the weekend on his own salary.
I said, “We have to do what is right.” To which he queried, “What do you want me to do?” I told him that I wanted him to do what was right and that there were only two acceptable options. He could issue me the ticket and I would pay the fine to recover my license. The second option would be to scold me, warn me and let me go. It was his choice.
A third time, after reminding me that it was a long weekend and that the fine was a large one, he asked, “What are we going to do?”
I replied that I am the pastor of a Christian church called the Patio. I always tell people that we as Jesus followers must set the example of how to live and that we must do what is right. I then said that “in our church we often talk about how Jesus forgives people their wrongdoing.” “Of course, we all know that Jesus forgives us if we ask him to, but only after he paid the fine we owe.”
He again asked, “What do you want me to do?” I said, “I am willing to pay the fine next week, but I would really like you to warn me and forgive me, just like La Toledo, may she rest in peace, forgave me.” With a jerk he looked up and with surprise asked,“La Toledo forgave you?” La Toledo, recently deceased, was direct, merciless, all business, honest, incorruptible and a just police officer. Yes, she did forgive my traffic violation and let me off with a verbal warning.
I drove away with my license and a verbal warning, justly earned.
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