Today, I'm going to tell you how to get out of a traffic ticket. Seriously, totally, and absolutely free, with no strings attached.

First, let's get to some of your questions:

Matt W. from Washington DC asks:

"Scott, your emails are very interesting and thought-provoking, I feel like I can learn alot from them but I'm not quite sure how yet. And why do you constantly push your Martial Mastery DVDs in them? It's a little distracting"

My answer:

"Hi Matt. The way you can learn from the emails is to ask yourself 'how can I apply this information to what I want to do?' and 'how can I use this?' Remember Matt, that's it's not just 'information' I'm giving you here, but also a more effective and strategic WAY of thinking. Start THINKING like this, and you'll soon 'understand the flow' Make sense?

Now, the way my clients TRULY benefit in a BIG way is by GETTING all of the secret tactics and strategies I teach in my DVDs.

And the only way you'll GET THOSE DVDs is if I give you information about them, and enough OPPORTUNITIES to GET THEM. Sometimes we all need a little motivation to do something, even if it's something that will change our lives, and especially if it's something TOTALLY NEW. Is that fair?"

Now let's talk about getting out of a traffic ticket.

Years ago as a teenager, I remember a time I was riding with my brother and the 'ol red lights came on in the rearview mirror. "Damn!" my brother said as he slammed the dash and pulled over.

He looked so agitated and his face turned red. He clearly was "expecting" a ticket. Yet from the passenger seat, I had a totally different and objective view.

I said "Bro, relax. You don't know what's up yet. Why don't you just see what he wants? Maybe you just have a tail light out or something."

To which my brother curtly replied "just shut up!" So, the cop came to the window and my brother thrust his drivers license, etc right at the cop with a scowl.

The cop said "you know how fast you were going back there?" My brother said "no" in an impatient tone. The cop said "you were doing 40 and the speed limit here is 30." My brother only scowled. The cop said "I'll be right back" and proceeded to write him a ticket, JUST AS MY BROTHER EXPECTED.

It may sound like an old cliche, but you really do get what you expect. My brothers vocal tone, his attitude, and the very energy he was putting out was one of "Damn it, I'm gonna get a ticket."

In fact, his body, energy and feelings were all indicating that he ALREADY got the ticket, even though he hadn't yet.

And so, he did get the ticket. A few weeks later lo and behold there are the red lights in the rearview mirror, and this time, I'm driving.

My heart jumped, as it does with most folks, and in that moment a crucial thing happened - I remembered back to my brothers incident, and I DECIDED to take the objective approach.

So I WILLED my heart to slow down, and I took a few deep breaths and relaxed. And I "chose" to "keep cool."

The cop asked "do you know how fast you were going?"

Now remember, the cops are used to one of two things when they pull you over - either you fess up, or you try to BS 'em. In their line of work, they're good at detecting a BSer, so it's best to just look 'em in the eye and tell the truth.

Also, this "breaks the pattern" of expectancy. It's automated by their experience with all the people they pull over. In that pattern, they are very used to writing a ticket, so by breaking the expectancy pattern, you in fact break the automated ticket-writing pattern.

So I said "ya, I was going a little too fast. I'm sorry about that, I wasn't paying attention. Could you give me a break?" He said (to my total surpise and delight), "OK, but watch your speed" and he handed back my drivers license.

Being a teen driver, I got pulled over lots and did get a few tickets, but MOST of the time, even as an adult and more times than I can count, I got a break. One was just last year.

Here's why: Some cops will give you a break, and some won't. They're people too and in spite of what you think, they aren't always looking for ways to screw your day over.

But if you have a PRECONDITIONED REPSONSE that says "cop equals ticket" or "cop equals bad day" - then you will send off that kind of energy. And since, ultimately, we're all made of energy - the moment you go into "ticketed mode," the cop goes into "ticket writing mode."

Make sense?

Remember, the cop who WOULD give you a break, WON'T if you're casting off a negative energy. So just look em in the eye, tell em the truth, and ask for a break. And you may find, more often than not, they give you one!

The reason why is that MOST people they pull over don't ask, and even if they do ask with their words, their energy is too whining or agitated. Don't whine. Don't beg (no one likes a fake or a butt-kisser) Don't get agitated. Just simply ask.

Another thing you can say (if it's true) is "Officer I am a good driver, I just spaced out for a minute. Can you give me a break? I really don't want my insurance rates to go up, and I promise you I'll really watch it."

That has worked for me on a few occasions, because it was true at the time (and is in fact true now), and because cops don't get paid much and can understand the weight of putting someone under additional financial strain.

So, remember: It's like they tell salesmen "AAFTO" - which means Always Ask For The Order! Always ask for a break, but only if you are sincere and have control of your energy and attitude.

Next time you get pulled over, try it, starting with control of your own reactions to the red lights! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Until next time,