I'm on the road with the significant other and two of the three dogs. (The third hasn't outgrown the peeing-when-excited thing, so I had to kennel him while we visit friends.)
We were westbound on Interstate 40 in Arkansas this morning, speed limit 70. I had the cruise control set at 70, but would apply gas as needed to keep speed on the uphills when they were steep enough, or as needed to pass semis without blocking overtaking traffic.
We topped a hill, and started down, when I noticed a state trooper's car in the median. I thought nothing of it, since I thought we were doing the speed limit.
Shortly thereafter, saw the cruiser pull out, and thought, "that's odd..."
Figured he was after somebody else in the queue, but moved to the right to let him by. Next thing I know, he swings in behind me and hits the lights. Well, good....
Pulled over onto the shoulder, then pulled a bit further over, almost entirely off the breakdown lane and into the grass. The advantage of a 4x4; plus, I didn't want the guy to be stuck on a thin ribbon of shoulder as he approached.
Got out the DL and CWP, as recommended by my instructors and many TFL members.
Officer comes up to the window, and the big dog in the back barks. She has a big bark. Officer jumps about a foot; good thing I cleared that extra space.
I said, "Sorry about that..."
He said, "I saw the little dog in (my lady's) lap; I didn't see the big dog in the back..."
Ok, now for the bit about the weapon. He looked at my DL and CWP, and said, "I guess you have it on you?"
I said, "yes, sir."
He said, "Ok, just keep it where it is, and I'll go run this."
He also told me he'd clocked me at 79 coming down the hill. I hadn't thought we were that fast, and told him that, very nicely, but acknowledged that I could have gained some unanticipated speed from the slope.
He asked if I'd had any speeding tickets, and I told him yes, but not in the last few years.
So he took the DL, and asked for registration and insurance, and went back to his cruiser. A couple minutes later, he came back up with what looked like a ticket book.
To my surprise, he said, "This is only a warning, but I need you to sign it. Be careful, and have a safe trip."
Morals of the story:
1) Be polite.
2) Make the situation as safe for the officer as you can. It's the right thing to do. Also, he may notice, and appreciate it. (But even if he doesn't, it's the right thing to do.)
3) Be polite.
4) Get the right officer.
Cheers,
M
We were westbound on Interstate 40 in Arkansas this morning, speed limit 70. I had the cruise control set at 70, but would apply gas as needed to keep speed on the uphills when they were steep enough, or as needed to pass semis without blocking overtaking traffic.
We topped a hill, and started down, when I noticed a state trooper's car in the median. I thought nothing of it, since I thought we were doing the speed limit.
Shortly thereafter, saw the cruiser pull out, and thought, "that's odd..."
Figured he was after somebody else in the queue, but moved to the right to let him by. Next thing I know, he swings in behind me and hits the lights. Well, good....
Pulled over onto the shoulder, then pulled a bit further over, almost entirely off the breakdown lane and into the grass. The advantage of a 4x4; plus, I didn't want the guy to be stuck on a thin ribbon of shoulder as he approached.
Got out the DL and CWP, as recommended by my instructors and many TFL members.
Officer comes up to the window, and the big dog in the back barks. She has a big bark. Officer jumps about a foot; good thing I cleared that extra space.
I said, "Sorry about that..."
He said, "I saw the little dog in (my lady's) lap; I didn't see the big dog in the back..."
Ok, now for the bit about the weapon. He looked at my DL and CWP, and said, "I guess you have it on you?"
I said, "yes, sir."
He said, "Ok, just keep it where it is, and I'll go run this."
He also told me he'd clocked me at 79 coming down the hill. I hadn't thought we were that fast, and told him that, very nicely, but acknowledged that I could have gained some unanticipated speed from the slope.
He asked if I'd had any speeding tickets, and I told him yes, but not in the last few years.
So he took the DL, and asked for registration and insurance, and went back to his cruiser. A couple minutes later, he came back up with what looked like a ticket book.
To my surprise, he said, "This is only a warning, but I need you to sign it. Be careful, and have a safe trip."
Morals of the story:
1) Be polite.
2) Make the situation as safe for the officer as you can. It's the right thing to do. Also, he may notice, and appreciate it. (But even if he doesn't, it's the right thing to do.)
3) Be polite.
4) Get the right officer.
Cheers,
M