[mitchntx]

I am cruising, putting easy miles on my new motor when the DPS trooper I meet hooks a U and lights me up. When I saw him, I knew it was gonna happen ... 2 lane hiway, no traffic ...

I immediately pull over, right tires just off the pavement in some weeds. Gonna make it tough if he wants to look at the exhaust.

He walks up and sees me sitting, hands on the wheel and seat belt still on.

<not exact words, but close enough>

He says,
DPS trooper, sir, do you know why I've pulled you over?

I respond,
Well, I wasn't speeding, no traffic to follow too close to, I know my lights all work because I just replaced a couple of lamps and I had my seat belt on. It must be the front plate that you didn't see.

Him,
Yes, you must display a license plate on the front and rear of the car.

Me,
It's up there, just really low. (I have it attached to the air dam)

He walks about 15' in front of the car and says,
It needs to be visible.

Me,
Standing, 15' in front of the car it isn't visible, I understand. But sitting in your car 50' in front of me, it's perfectly visible.

Him,
But I can't read it.

Me,
Really? You should be able to read 4" tall letters from 50', sir. And you also said visible, not legible.

Him,
I'm just gonna issue you a warning, no violation citation.

Me,
Thanks. I've read very closely that statute with an attorney and it is so loosely written, it can be interpretted many ways.

Him,
It sure can

Me,
And I realize driving a car like this, I'm a target. And anything questionable will give you an excuse to pull me over.

Him,
That is true.

Me,
So when you profiled the car, did you expect an old man to be driving it?

Him,
<silent>

Me,
<silent> (I figured I had pressed my luck far enough)

He asked me a few more qustions about where I was headed and why I needed a roll cage in the car ...

I took the warning, said be carefull and have a nice day and then drove away.

Oh well ... it was 3 minutes out of my life and maybe it will cause him to think a little next time. That makes 4 times in a year. Does anyone else keep a file of the warnings received?

Now, the funny thing is, as I was sitting there and the trooper running my 28/29, an Eclipse w/ the typical coffee can out back came by and revved me and the trooper. I snickered.

I laughed out loud when I saw the Eclipse pulled over about 3 miles down the road. It was hard, but I resisted a rev back at him ....

So, in the grand scheme of things, everything worked out just fine!
:gruffy:

[00 SS]

I actually got a ticket for no front plate. I was on a 4 lane highway with next to no traffic. I see a cop following a small brown car very closely comming up the on ramp. I slow down and set the cruise at 73 (70 mph limit). I very slowly drive by the cop and the brown car. The cop pulls out and hits his lights and pulls me over. He actually asked me why I was speeding. I explained that I didn't know I was and had the cruise set at 70. He said he was doing 70 and that I passed him. I told him I knew he used his radar gun because the detector went off as I passed him and asked how fast I was going. He said somewhere between 73 and 75. I said the cruise control must need to be recalibrated. Not being a very technical person, the cop bought it. He then asked why I had no front plate? I said I do, it's right here and I pulled it out from under the passenger seat. He didn't like that. He asked why it wasn't on the front of the car. I told him I didn't get a bracket when I bought it so I never put it on. He gave me a $15 ticket and let me go. I figure I can afford a $15 ticket now and then, so I will not be installing the front plate.