to let (someone) off

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 591: Handling a Traffic Stop.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 591. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.

Our website is eslpod.com. Consider becoming a member of ESL Podcast to help support us, or you can make a donation by going to our website. This episode is called “Handling (or taking care of) a Traffic Stop,” when the police stop you in your car because you’ve done something wrong. Let’s get started.

I was having a great day until I saw the police car behind me with its loud siren and lights flashing. I pulled off the road and waited for the officer to approach my car.

Officer: May I see your driver’s license, proof of insurance, and car registration, please?

Lindsay: Let me get them out of my glove compartment. Here they are. What did I do wrong, officer?

Officer: Didn’t you see that stop sign back there?

Lindsay: Stop sign? What stop sign? I didn’t see any stop sign.

Officer: Sit tight and I’ll be right back. …

I guess he was running my driver’s license