Drive safe..

After another strange run-in with the police, I thought it might be an interesting post.. Driving home last Thursday night I saw the familiar blue and red strobes flashing behind me in my rear view mirror. I knew I had been pushing my luck long enough with my registration and knew it was a matter of time before my car was towed and impounded.. Being on the merge point of I-80/I-15 I pulled over as far as possible to keep my civil servant from walking in the same lane as 80mph traffic.. Rolling my window down the conversation goes something like this..

Officer: What are you doing rolling around in a car with tags that expired 10 months ago?
Me: It didn't pass safety.
Officer: You know that car is coming with us right? You know its getting towed tonight..
Me: Yea, I figured it was about that time.. How do I get my car back?
Officer: You pay the tow fee, the impound fee.. you pay to get it registered and you pay the fine.. you're looking at about $800
Me: Ok..
Officer: All that because you didn't want to register your car...
Me: I tried.. I have my emissions certificate right here. The state would not pass safety because the highbeam glass is cracked.. The headlights work fine and this car is safe..
Officer: Look.. (mumbles what sounds like 'drive safe')

The officer walks back to his truck leaving me confused.. Did he say drive safe? Is he letting me go? Or just going to call the tow truck? I'm confused until I see the red and blue strobes extinguish.. Traffic clears and the officers car calmly drives away.. Lucky? Who knows..