PANIC MODE

When student drivers get pulled over, reactions range from tears to fears

Ava West | Sports Editor

Sophomore Elena Hill was driving a golf cart when the brakes stopped working. She was coming up to a stop sign and had a decision to make: run the stop sign or get hit by a car. She chose the first option, but little did she know that car was a police officer.

Hill had recently gotten her learner’s permit, so her mom let her drive the golf cart they rented in New Smyrna. The officer pulled her over after seeing her run the stop sign and had some choice words for her.

“He called me an idiot while I was uncontrollably crying, even after I explained the situation,” Hill said. “I had no idea what to do and I was panicking because I only had my permit.”

The officer could have ticketed her for not having a license, no seat belts and reckless driving, but only chose the latter. Ticket prices for any of these can range from $100-$400.

“Most people are scared when they get pulled over for the first time and that is completely understandable,” school resource officer Milton Gil said. “Most officers will always try to calm you down, we are never just aiming to penalize you.”

Instead of a golf cart, however, it is more common to get pulled over in a car. But no matter