Hey Tsikoters. First time here, first post. Goon Squad HQ intrigued me because as a motorist myself, I feel that I can share and benefit at the same time from this part of the forum. It also feels good knowing that some people can share the same sentiments about driving in Manila.

A few weeks ago, I made a left turn on E. Rodriguez coming from the street McDonald's/KFC were on. I am not entirely sure of the name, but it's the one beside Quezon City Sports Club. I am not even sure that it is running a red light. I was already in the middle of the intersection when the light switched from yellow to red. Anyway, if I knew there were guys in yellow (usual color you'd see along E. Rod), I wouldn't have made the turn. There was a big vehicle in front of those officers so I never really saw them.

One of them flagged me down and this is how it went:

Me: Tawagan ko na lang po si General Razon (Now there is a real Gen. Razon out there, but my uncle told me he could use that name and call him instead so he could pretend to be the real Razon)
Yellow: Ah, si General Razon.
Me: Kilala niyo po?
Yellow: Oo (First option has now been exhausted since he knew him after all). Bakit, sinabi ba niya na umano ka ng red light? Traffic violation lang naman to, wala naman to. So ano gagawin natin dito, Starbucks na lang?
Me: Mahal dun. (At this point he has my license)
Yellow: Di ko naman kukunin lisensya mo eh, titiketan lang kita.
Me: Boss wala po akong oras kumuha nyan sa city hall. Abala lang po yan. Araw-araw po pasok ko, Monday to Saturday. Hanggang 4pm. (Of course I was lying, it's only until Friday)
Yellow: Ayoko naman sabihin mo na hinuhuli lang kita para makakuha ng pera.
Me: Eh boss wala naman ako sinabing ganyan eh. Ikaw nagsabi nyan.
Yellow: O sige, naging estudyante rin naman ako eh. Alam ko naman yan. Pero pag-graduate mo sa nursing o doctor..
Me: Ako bahala sayo boss. Libre check-up.
Yellow: Wala naman ako balak magkasakit.
Me: Check-up lang. Malay niyo diba? O paano po? Pang-Starbucks? (I wasn't serious about Starbucks lol)
Yellow: Ah eh mahal naman dun. Kung ano lang magaan sa loob niyo.

P50 and off I go. It did help that I was still wearing my uniform and I showed him how thick my book was.

Anyway, I was wondering how to deal with this sort? I knew that the light has turned red when I was in the middle of the intersections, but I don't think it was red when I made the cross.

Sorry if my first post is so long. I hope it's okay.