Tattletale
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Tattletale
Topic Author: Penny Moss
Posted: 4:25 PM Mar 10, 2009
Replies Posted: 18 comments
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 I called 911 on my way in to work this afternoon.

I think I've only done that one other time, and that was to report crashing my car (that we'd only had 4 days) when I was 6 months pregnant with Claire (I broke a little bone in my wrist but we were otherwise fine, thankfully.)

So anyway, it was a car full of teenagers acting crazy and scaring me half to death! Of course my immediate thought was -- My children will never ride in the car with a teenager! But, um... well, they will be teenagers someday and their friends will be teenagers, and what on earth is a mother to do?

I was getting on the interstate in Charleston when I noticed a teenage boy hanging out the back window of a car... it looked like he was yelling at the car behind him. It's pretty unsettling following behind something like that -- was it road rage or just a kid goofing off? 

I kept my distance as the car swerved all over the road -- at first I thought a second kid was hanging out the other side of the car, but as I got closer I could see there was only one person in the backseat so he was going from one window to the other. A boy was driving, and a teenage girl was in the front seat. They ended up taking the same exit as me. I kept thinking, what if they kill themselves or someone else? So yep-- I called the cops.

I was hoping when I got into work that I would hear on the scanner they'd been pulled over, but I didn't hear any more mention of the black Jetta.

I know teens have that feeling of invincibility -- I can remember feeling that way too. I just hope if/when it's my kids in the car, someone will do what I did -- try to scare them a little, remind them not to do that to their mother!

 

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  • by glenna on May 5, 2009 at 05:28 PM
    I agree with you 110%. As s mother of three, ages 19, 24, and 25. I've prayed first, sat up half the night at other times, and have been blessed all the times my children have been out in traffic. I don't even want to think about how the 19 yr. old acts when I'm not around. But this one thing I know for sure. If you do right by other peoples children like you did, and love and be kind to other peoples children, God will watch out for yours or He always has mine. I feel as if when I'm doing right by other people's children, I'm investing in my own children's future. Think about it!! God Bless.
  • by Jane on Mar 22, 2009 at 08:53 PM
    HOORAY FOR YOU PENNY I WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING TEENAGER THINK THAT NOTHING WIIL EVER HAPPEN TO THEM. I AM SURE THEIR PARENTS WOULD THANK YOU.
  • by Mandy on Mar 21, 2009 at 05:14 PM
    TO ASHLEY: I did not mean the teenage comment as an insult. However, you do seem as if you may be one.
  • by Whiley on Mar 20, 2009 at 11:29 AM
    Years ago just after I graduated from Nitro, I was riding around with some new friends and the guy very cooly passed a car by using the breakdown lane. As a wimpy driver who rarely went over the speed limit, I was impressed with his bravado. That day ended with the four of us in the hospital after my new friend swerved off the road and ran us into a tree. The guy next to me left a few teeth in the rearview mirror and eventually lost his college track scholarship due to a back injury from the accident. Now when I see someone driving crazy, I know that it is just a matter of time before if catches up with that driver. Calling the police could mean that the driver does not end up hurting someone else that day. Majalo.
  • by Debbie on Mar 19, 2009 at 11:40 AM
    Penny I saw 2 adult idiots playing a very dangerous road rage game on Rt 60, I was in the turn lane waiting to turn when one of them tried to pass in it, and they nearly struck 3 other vehicles as well, then they turned on Mall Road heading for the interstate, Being concerned for other drivers and the idiots themself, I called the police, thing is, they acted like so what? What do you want us to do? The lady who tried to pass in the turn lane had 2 small kids in her vehicle. I hope you got a better response than I did. At least you tried.
  • by Brandy on Mar 18, 2009 at 03:14 PM
    Good for you Penny! I have done the same thing when I see those young boys on those crotch rocket style motorcycles. I am not so old (30) that I dont remember being careful but now that I am a mother I think about some poor mom sitting at her desk and the State Police showing up to tell her that her "baby boy" is splattered all over I-64. My precious daughter is only 2 1/2 but I pray there will be concerned drivers like yourself on the road when she is a teen. Keep up the good work! I also have been known to call the police for idiot adults not having their precious children properly restrained! Remember, you can dial *SP from any cell phone provider to reach the WV State Police.
  • by Sandy on Mar 17, 2009 at 09:05 AM
    As a mother, I would want someone to 'watch over' my child as you did. As a driver on the byways, I would want someone to report the dangerous driver (one cannot know whose life they may save or alter just be caring). So thank you for being an involved member of society. You did the 'right thing'!
  • by Penny on Mar 16, 2009 at 04:16 PM
    Ashley, with all due respect... really? If a puppy were in the middle of the road and a car was coming, you wouldn't yell to alert the driver and try to get the puppy out of the road? If a child were being abused, you would watch out for "numero uno" and turn and walk away? If your baby were about to touch a hot stove, would you let him? That's not the way I live my life, and I am thankful most people don't. I for one will always watch out for a child's welfare, and I hope others will do that for my children as well.
  • by L-A on Mar 15, 2009 at 09:13 PM
    OF COURSE you should get involved, I can't imagine someone not caring about the safety and welfare of others!! You see bad things and you try to stop them - period!!
  • by kelli on Mar 14, 2009 at 11:14 PM
    I would call the cops if I saw that. Anyone who says thats wrong needs to take a look inside themselves and find a better person. I'm sorry but if I didn't call and those kids wrecked or killed someone else I couldn't live with myself!
  • by ashley on Mar 14, 2009 at 09:47 PM
    I'm rethinking my comment, and your comment Mandy, and I have come to the conclusion that if anyone hit and killed my family I could do nothing about it. I cannot control anyone Mandy, if something bad, or good, is going to happen it will happen regardless of anyone's intervention. That is what I mean when I say that maybe it was not meant for those kids to be shown the danger in what they might have been doing that particular day. And I am actually well beyond my teenage years mam, I did not know if you implied that as an insult or if you really believed that that statement was true.
  • by Mandy on Mar 14, 2009 at 10:30 AM
    TO ASHLEY... you must be a teenager!!! You said if the police officer was not around it was not meant for them to get caught that day!! Perhaps you would feel differently if they hit and killed your family. You may want to rethink your comment.
  • by ashley on Mar 13, 2009 at 11:03 PM
    Thats not right, I know for a fact teenagers can be flat out stupid, but, I believe that we all need to mind our own business. If a police officer was around to see then he would have pulled them over, but maybe it just was not ment to happen that day. And if something is potentially hazardous to you then just stay away from it. Just watch out for "numero uno" because we cannot control anyone else and we also should not involve ourselves when it does not involve us.
  • by KYgal on Mar 12, 2009 at 12:03 PM
    GOOD FOR YOU!!! My son is 15. Next January, he will bug us to death to get his learner's permit. I know that we will have a year before he actually drives by himself but I do hope that we have someone like you to report on him.
  • by Amber on Mar 12, 2009 at 11:34 AM
    That is scary, driving on 64 makes me a nervous wreck, just to get to the mall, I honestly don't know what gets in the mind of some kids they are not invincible, and neither are the other drivers. Maybe you should do a story on it and mention the black jetta, maybe that kids mom will be watching.
  • by kristen on Mar 10, 2009 at 10:15 PM
    some kids are just insane drivers!! -be careful out there, especially on i-64 thats where you find the worst of the worst!!!
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