He thought he’d found the ultimate spot — the kind of hidden curve where no driver could escape his radar.
Every long weekend, he’d park there in silence, confident that speeding tickets would practically write themselves. But this time, something felt off. The highway was strangely quiet, every car creeping by at exactly the limit. It was as if someone had warned them… but how?
Officer Daniels prided himself on knowing all the best hiding places for catching speeders. His favorite was a subtle bend in the highway — perfectly secluded, invisible until it was too late for any reckless driver to slow down.
Each holiday weekend, he parked his cruiser there, radar gun in hand, ticket pad ready. Usually, it was easy work: a few hours, a handful of hefty fines, and another day’s success.
But this Labor Day was different.
For half an hour, he watched the road in disbelief. Every car passed at the exact speed limit. Not one slipped over. Some even honked or waved cheerfully, like they were in on a joke he didn’t know.
Puzzled, he muttered, “What’s going on here? How are they all being so careful?”
Curiosity got the better of him. He stepped out and walked up the shoulder, scanning the road ahead.
Then he saw it.
A boy, maybe ten years old, stood by the roadside holding a big, homemade cardboard sign. In thick black letters it read:
“RADAR TRAP AHEAD.”
The officer groaned. “Well, that explains a lot.”
But just as he turned toward his car, he noticed something else a little farther down the road. Another kid, about the same age, stood smiling beside a bucket and a sign of his own.
This one read:
“TIPS.”
And inside the bucket? A small fortune in cash and loose change.
Conclusion
What started as a foolproof plan for catching speeders became a lesson in clever thinking — just not his own. Officer Daniels’ “perfect” hiding spot had been outsmarted by two quick-witted kids, who turned his sting operation into their own little business. Sometimes, it’s not the badge that wins the day, but a bit of creativity and a cardboard sign.