Recently a routine police patrol parked outside of a
bar in Melcher , IOWA . After last call the officer
noticed a man leaving the bar so intoxicated that he
could barely walk.
The man stumbled around the parking lot for a few
minutes, with the officer quietly observing. After
what seemed an eternity in which he tried his keys
on five different vehicles, the man managed to find
his car and fall into it. He sat there for a few minutes
as a number of other patrons left the bar and drove off.
Finally, he started the car, switched the wipers on
and off--it was a fine, dry summer night--, flicked
the blinkers on and off a couple of times, honked the
horn and then switched on the lights.
He moved the vehicle forward a few inches, reversed
a little and then remained still for a few more minutes
as some more of the other patrons' vehicles left. At
last, when his was the only car left in the parking lot,
he pulled out and drove slowly down the road.
The police officer, having waited patiently all this
time, now started up his patrol car, put on the
flashing lights, promptly pulled the man over and
administered a breathalyzer test. To his amazement,
the breathalyzer indicated no evidence that the man
had consumed any alcohol at all!
Dumbfounded, the officer said, "I'll have to ask you
to accompany me to the police station. This breathalyzer
equipment must be broken."
"I doubt it," said the truly proud "drunk". "Tonight, I'm the
designated decoy."