I am a used car dealer, in and out of different vehicles. Twenty years ago, early morning on sunny day, smooth two-lane blacktop in a Pontiac Trans Am six-speed, slow truck in front of me…I pass the truck, getting into 6th gear. The Trans Am in 6th at light throttle would ease along at about 80.
I wasn’t in a hurry, just enjoying the summer morning. I noticed a deer on the left. Shortly I came to a four-way stop in town. The limit is 35 mph and I’m going exactly 35.
I notice in my mirror a state-trooper motorcycle on my tail. I thought he must have turned in behind me at the intersection. He pulls me over. He seemed irritated, says “Do you know why I pulled you over?”
“No.”
“You were doing 80 mph back there.”
“Where?”
“Back there by Wyckles Road.”
Oh, yeah. Wyckles Road was where the deer was on the left. He must have been on the right. I owned up. I think he thought I was trying to run away, but I just didn’t see him.
He stared piling on the charges: speeding, seat belt unfastened, tinted windows, no front plate. Negotiation time. I have a CDL license, no tickets, no accidents. I’m thinking, let’s do a warning on the speeding and tickets on the non-moving violations.
Nope, no negotiation, all four tickets, 800 bucks, six months supervision. I’ve been running a V1 ever since. No stops.
Larry Gramley
Goodyear, AZ