Faster Than a Speeding Ticket

Whit and Eugene finish a morning of errands in Connellsville after having new tires installed on Whit’s car. Whit enjoys the smoother ride, though Eugene thinks the improvement may be psychological. Their conversation ends when Officer Cliffe pulls them over. His carefully calibrated radar says Whit has driven 56 miles per hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone. Whit does not remember speeding, and Eugene has recently seen the speedometer within the limit, but Cliffe issues a ticket for 125 dollars.

At school, Dr. Hawthorne returns a badly failed history exam to Dwayne. The D is a shock because Dwayne is one of the class’s strongest students and has studied hard. It will also remove him from the honor roll. When Dwayne questions the grade, Hawthorne assumes he simply answered poorly and refuses to discuss it during class.

At Whit’s End, Connie, Eugene, and Tom believe the radar or officer must be wrong. Whit agrees that he does not think he was speeding, yet he plans to pay because he cannot prove his innocence. His friends urge him to contest the charge and receive a fair hearing, but he does not want to make a case he cannot support.

Dwayne examines the failed test and becomes certain it belongs to someone else. The answers are written in pencil, while he always uses pen, and neither the handwriting nor the marked circles are his. His name appears at the top, but Dwayne has often forgotten to write his name on assignments. Whit agrees that something is wrong and advises him to speak directly with Dr. Hawthorne. The teacher has a frightening reputation among the students, but Whit distinguishes cruelty from the toughness of someone who demands good work and refuses excuses.

Connie and Eugene point out that Whit should follow the same advice he has given Dwayne. If he believes the speeding charge is mistaken, he ought to seek a fair hearing too. Whit agrees to appeal. Connie studies Connellsville’s traffic laws and gathers character witnesses, while Eugene prepares elaborate calculations about speed, acceleration, curves, and tire measurements.

Dwayne nervously tells Dr. Hawthorne that the test is not his and offers to prove it by taking the exam again. Hawthorne refuses because Dwayne has had time to study and a retest would be unfair to the class. He does allow Dwayne to improve his grade through extra-credit work. Because Hawthorne’s teaching assistant has resigned, Dwayne begins spending time after school grading papers, inventorying books, and cleaning erasers.

While reviewing Eugene’s calculations, Whit notices that the reported tire radius does not match his owner’s manual. The newly installed tires are larger and wider than the correct size. Their greater circumference has caused the car to travel faster than the speedometer reports. At traffic court, Whit abandons his planned not-guilty plea and admits that Officer Cliffe’s radar was correct. He has been speeding without knowing it.

The judge is impressed that Whit tells the truth even when honesty appears to work against him. Instead of imposing the fine, he orders Whit to return in one week and prove that the proper tires have been installed. If Whit obeys, the charge will cost him nothing.

Dwayne also uncovers a promising clue when an ordinarily weak student named Stuart LaFay boasts about receiving a surprising A. Dwayne tells Hawthorne that their tests may have been switched and insists that he deserves the opportunity to defend himself. His persistence finally leads the teacher to investigate. Both boys have omitted their names, and the former assistant has guessed their identities from a seating chart - and guessed backward. Hawthorne publicly admits his own mistake, restores Dwayne’s A, and praises the respectful way he has pressed for the truth. He deducts only five points for the missing name, leaving Dwayne safely on the honor roll.

Whit and Eugene set out to exchange the tires, only to be stopped by Officer Cliffe again. This time the officer has come to offer an escort because Whit’s speedometer remains inaccurate. Before they leave, however, Cliffe also spots a loose license plate and a cracked taillight, minor hazards he insists must be corrected. Whit promises to have everything repaired at the garage, while Eugene decides that future trips to Connellsville may require a different road.