What Happened at the Traffic Stop?

Just about the most adrenaline-inducing thing a driver can see in his rearview--flashing lights behind you, chasing after you, ahead of an impending  traffic stop.

It was my fault and I deserved it.  So it shouldn't have sent me into a panic or made my adrenaline race along with my pulse and blood pressure.  I was speeding, plain and simple.  And it was dumb.  And next came the flashing lights (No, not like the Kanye West version)--and I got pulled over for it.

Often, however, there are takeaways from such experiences as traffic stops.  I may have had six or so non-accident traffic stops in my adult life-- over the last 40 years or so driving.  And I've had a mixed bag of outcomes.  

The police in Missouri gave me a warning in 2010.  As did the Highway Patrol officer in the middle of nowhere Texas (just West of Ft. Stockton on the I-10) in 2007 and as did a Pensacola Police Officer when I was pulled over by him about five years ago on an early Friday morning on 12th Avenue.

The Parish Policeman in Louisiana, however,  wrote me a ticket in 2013. As did the San Diego PD officer when I got pulled over there in 1992 and as did the San Diego Sheriff's Officer when I got pulled over there in 2003.

So you never know which way one of these will go.  I didn't know how last night's stop would go, either. Lucky number 7--the wrong kind of luck though. 

So, what happened at my traffic stop last night?  

After getting to the center divide of a four lane road, I pulled out making a left in what I thought was enough room so as not to cut off traffic quickly coming up on my rear.  I went all the way over to the slow lane, the right lane, and I stepped on the gas in an attempt to match the speed of the traffic coming up behind me.  In my rearview, I saw what looked like a truck speeding up in my lane then quckly moving into the fast lane to pass me.  But by this time I was up to speed so I thought that was odd.  And there's where the mistake happened.  I saw this, and thought to myself--"Wait---I'm not slowing this guy down, he's not even going to catch up to me--what was that abrupt lane-change about?"  A glance back, and he was gaining on me and I sped up a bit more to out pace him.  Dumb mistake.

Because, at that moment,  he pulled back into my lane and flashed his lights.  It wasn't a truck, it was a police cruiser.  And I was being pulled over.

"Dangit!" I said loudly in my truck cab as I waited for the officer to come to the window. (well, that's not the word I actually used.... but similar, LOL😜)  I shut off the ignition, engaged my flashers, rolled down the driver's side window, and put both hands on the wheel....

The officer approached, identified himself, and then asked if I knew what the speed limit was on this road. (I'm not saying what department the officer works for or precisely where this