Got a rare free pass from the Popo last night

[madDdog67]

Went our for a little cruise in the Mustang last night. Just had an exhaust & shifter put in, so I wanted to just ride around old school for a bit. There is a stretch of road heading into DC that is considered Federal land (Spout Run Parkway for the locals), so it's patrolled by the US Park Police, who are pretty notoriously for being hard asses.

I had to merge from one part of the parkway into another as it makes a turn, and there isn't very much of a merge lane. So naturally I juiced it a bit, and about 5 seconds later I saw the telltale flashing lights in my rearview, but only for a second. I found a spot to pull over, but the cop never approached the vehicle. After he talked to some pedestrians that were on the side of the road, he pulled up along side of me, and almost seared my retinas with his fucking spot light. He reminded me that the speed limit was 40, NOT 57 (:)), and asked me if I understood him. I said "yes, sir" and he bid me a good night.

I'm guessing he didn't expect a white haired old geezer to be behind the wheel, so maybe just *once* being an old curmudgeon actually paid off. Regardless, I'm happy not to have gotten a friggin' ticket. I just switched insurance companies, and I already got a ticket for a California Rolling Stop ® about 3 months ago.

[Dickarms]

people who give tix for rolling stops are assholes.

[madDdog67]

people who give tix for rolling stops are assholes.

You'll get no argument from me on that score. I've noticed a seriously ramped up traffic cop presence in the area where I park for work each morning over the last several months. I guess the hefty real estate taxes, meals tax, vehicle decal tax, and all the other taxes and fees we have around here *just* aren't enough for them in this hell hole.

[Sasquatch]

handjob?

[marshallnoise]

You did get lucky indeed.

[TurboPablo]

As long as you know how to handle yourself, you can usually get a pass. I'm always respectful and polite, but I never back down. I once got caught speeding on a federal road. Cop starts lecturing me about how fast I was going. I politely asked him how he could have clocked me accurately while he was driving past me the other way. He got all discombobulated and started stammering bullshit about two-way radar detectors and such. To which I inquired how they worked and whether it was using GPS Speed Over Ground to track his speed and then deduce my closing speed from that. Or was it wired into the vehicle VSS/Cruise Control system. He got so pissed, but was well aware he couldn't match wits with me.

For the record, I was going 20MPH over, easily. But, I got no ticket.

If I were him, I would have cuffed me for being a smartass

[clipless bumper]

As long as you know how to handle yourself, you can usually get a pass. I'm always respectful and polite, but I never back down. I once got caught speeding on a federal road. Cop starts lecturing me about how fast I was going. I politely asked him how he could have clocked me accurately while he was driving past me the other way. He got all discombobulated and started stammering bullshit about two-way radar detectors and such. To which I inquired how they worked and whether it was using GPS Speed Over Ground to track his speed and then deduce my closing speed from that. Or was it wired into the vehicle VSS/Cruise Control system. He got so pissed, but was well aware he couldn't match wits with me.

For the record, I was going 20MPH over, easily. But, I got no ticket.

If I were him, I would have cuffed me for being a smartass

sounds like that is what should have happened or at least gotten a ticket - they can definitely clock you whether they are approaching you, moving away, or stationary.

your last statement (in the first paragraph) reminds be of Vizzini in The Princess Bride and the Battle of Wits

[marshallnoise]

As long as you know how to handle yourself, you can usually get a pass. I'm always respectful and polite, but I never back down. I once got caught speeding on a federal road. Cop starts lecturing me about how fast I was going. I politely asked him how he could have clocked me accurately while he was driving past me the other way. He got all discombobulated and started stammering bullshit about two-way radar detectors and such. To which I inquired how they worked and whether it was using GPS Speed Over Ground to track his speed and then deduce my closing speed from that. Or was it wired into the vehicle VSS/Cruise Control system. He got so pissed, but was well aware he couldn't match wits with me.

For the record, I was going 20MPH over, easily. But, I got no ticket.

If I were him, I would have cuffed me for being a smartass

And in this story is a huge nugget of truth: When aggressive people with authority are confronted by people who know their rights/what they are talking about, they back down. So much of a police officer's effectiveness comes from school yard bullying tactics.

I say challenge them every step of the way and get it on video.

[100 watt]

When our County Sherriff was still a Deputy, he was cool about that kinda stuff. We'd go out behind the plant & drag race. There were times when there'd be 100 or so people there..pro-street cars on trailers, etc (like the new street racing "reality" show..but real). If he came up, he'd check us out & make sure no one was drunk & tell us to load up & go home. Others would show up & hassle people, call in other units, etc.