Well it had to happen. Yesterday I was on my way back to the Seattle area and had just cleared Lookout pass. Going past Wallace, ID I set the cruise at my usual speed limit plus 4 putting me at 69 miles an hour. This has always worked pretty well for me and the troopers are always passing me at these speeds. As I was approaching the area where I believe Chellepoo's husband was arrested I check my mirrors and guess who? Yep, you guessed it, Idaho's finest and the blue light special.
And I had just been thinking about the story of her husband and the problems that started for him last summer. What a coincidence!
So I pull off and stop and this guy walks up and greets me (they sure are trying to be nice these days aren't they?) and then he asks "Do you know why I pulled you over today?" Even though I am inclined to smart ass comments and my first thought is "Yeah, I'm a mind reader like Kreskin, and I know exactly why you stopped me!", I know the best way to play these things out is to just be nice and say "No sir, I sure do not". Never heavy with the "sir" business but use it just enough to show sincere respect.
So I do and he says "Well a ways back I saw you and you were going about 73 and by the time I got turned around and started coming after you I was up to 95. But I'm not going to write you a ticket for it though".
So my next inclination is to say "I don't give a rip how fast you think you had to drive to run me down, that is your choice", but I just shrug and tell him "I had my cruise set at 'around 66, 67' so the truck might have crept up a bit going down the hill back by the Mission". He mentions again that I won't be getting a ticket today and says that "I notice you have a new set of drivers and I have seen where that can sometimes cause speedometers to read low".
Great. Not only have I drawn a generous and sympathetic cop, he also thinks he has some mechanical inclination. Yes he is right that larger diameter tires will turn fewer times per mile resulting in lower speedometer readings.
I am not going to try and debate this with him, that's for sure.
He asks for all the usual paperwork, and immediately notices something and asks me for my diabetes waiver. "My what?" I ask. "I need to see your diabetes waiver. You have to take insulin, don't you?" "No sir, I don't have to take insulin" I said, "diabetes doesn't run in my family". "Your medical card has this box checked" he says, pointing to the last line that says I am qualified per 49 CFR 391.64 "and I see this a lot where doctors don't read the regs and check this box by mistake. You'll have to go to your doctor and get this fixed".
When I am handing over my log book I mention to him I am using software on a laptop so the current day won't be in there. "O.K." he says, "but you have today's log active and current?" "Why of course Officer", I say pointing to the laptop waiting patiently on the Jotto Desk near the dashboard. He asks if he can climb up on the step and have a look and I say "Yes sir, please do". "Boy that sure does make things a whole lot easier and neater" he says. "Um, yes sir, sure, you bet", I say.
"Well I'm not going to write you a ticket today" he says, and off to his cruiser he goes with all of the papers and books and all.
Shortly he returns and starts handing me stuff back in what appeared to be a preplanned order.
First he hands me the 2 page printout of 391.64 Grandfathering for certain drivers participating in vision and diabetes waiver study programs. "I took the liberty of printing this out so you can discuss this with your doctor", he says.
Next he gives me the bill of lading.
Then I get the registration.
Then my license.
Then my medical card.
Then my log book. "That looks real good, I didn't find anything out of place", he says. Of course not. I am a professional.
Then he hands me 2 pieces of paper that look to me to be a ticket and a copy of the ticket. "I thought you weren't writing me a ticket today?" I asked. "I didn't" he says, "but you need to sign one of these and have your boss sign it and then mail it to this address" he points to the paper. So I say "If you aren't giving me a ticket then how come it is being documented?" He points out that "You don't have to pay a fine and there will not be any points against your record"
"But I still have to tell my boss" I said.
"Well you shouldn't speed" he says, "Have a nice day."
He got back in his cruiser and drove off and I continued on my way to the wet side of the nation.
I should have asked him to give me a file cabinet for all the paper he gave me.
When I get the full name from my husband, I will post it.
