COLUMN: Everybody Calls Me Jana Banana

Thanks to a police officer in Hartsville, I paid $25 for a good life lesson.

The other morning on the way to work, I neglected to put my seat belt on. I had the radio on, had the windows down (I still haven't gotten the air-conditioning fixed!) and ignored the buzzer that reminds you to buckle up … several times. As I pulled onto the bridge to cross Prestwood Lake, blue lights flashed behind me.

And what do you think I did first? That's right, reach over and snap that seatbelt on. I've watched the same commercials you have, warning motorists to "Buckle Up, South Carolina"- I know better, but I just got lazy.

Not knowing quite what to do when pulled over on the bridge, I eased over to the right side next to the walkway, only to hear a loudspeaker call out, "Ma'am, pull into the parking lot ahead."

Wow, not only was I blue-lighted, even more attention is drawn to my boring white mommy-van!

I am not proud to admit this, but I used to have a lead foot. Driving fast should be left to racecar drivers, and after many speeding tickets, I have learned my lesson. But, on the path to reform, I had learned that being charming sometimes will garner a warning and not speeding ticket.

As the young officer approached my car, I figured, "worth a shot!" and flashed him a Jana Banana smile and said, "Good morning!"

Nothing doing. The officer was kind and polite but firm. I received a blue ticket for a seat belt violation (apparently they can see you fasten it even over a bridge) and was instructed to pay my fine at the magistrate's office.

And what does any good Facebooking girl do when she does something stupid? She posts it on her status. And boy-oh-boy did I get a keyboard lashing! My dearest friends not only reminded me how bone-headed it was, one dear friend reminded me that posting a photo of the blue ticket was even dumber. Ah, I love my friends.

For future reference, the fee is $25 and you must go there between 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. … it took until Wednesday to finally get there before closing time. While I stood at the window to pay, I felt really embarrassed. Here I am, a parent who won't let my children dare ride without being in a car seat and later seatbelts on - the sister of a man with a traumatic brain injury due to a car crash and myself a woman that wants to live to be over a 100 years of age -risking her life because she was too lazy to fasten a seat belt?

So, thank you officer. Thank you for lawmakers that err on the side of safety. Thank you to my friends for reminding me how dumb I was. And thank you for the chance to remind my friends and family to BUCKLE UP.

According to the Buckle Up South Carolina Website, www.buckleupsc.com, "Safety belts should be worn at all times, even on short trips close to home. Three out of four fatal crashes occur within 25 miles of the crash victims' home. Most crashes causing death or injury occur at speeds below 40 miles per hour."