Driving is a fluid, chaotic situation where a person must adapt to changing circumstances quickly. If you also must only do so in ways that are approved by moronic legislators to be enforced by moronic LEOs, you are at a disadvantage.
I have long observed how driving ability deteriorates when a cop car (mobile oppression unit) is visible. Yes, people slow down, but they also stop paying attention to other drivers and how they are driving. You can watch your speedometer, or you can pay attention to the traffic and road conditions- you can't do both.
Traffic cops/highway patrol/highwaymen are a public nuisance and a danger to society. As such they need to be eliminated as "career choices" for the mentally-challenged drones who are inclined to choose that path.
Reminds me of something that happened years ago...
ReplyDeleteI was turning onto the freeway entrance ramp with a Ford Bronco behind me. As we pulled onto the ramp, the guy in the Bronco was following me a little close, but not exactly tailgating me. It was just close enough to make me a little uncomfortable.
Whenever I encounter someone riding too close, I let off of the gas to slow them down, then speed up to increase the gap. I find this to be a bit safer than a "break check" where you tap your breaks to let them know to back off.
I did this very action while still on the ramp, then sped up and merged onto the freeway. As I was merging, I had to maneuver around a line of cars in the right lane and continue to merge into the left lane. As I did this, the guy in the Bronco was riding WAY too close, and judging by his hands and facial expressions, he was pissed off and probably in a hurry. He was kinda pushing me...so instead of doing a break check at 75 mph or slowing down to create more of a problem. I decided to just stomp on the gas, pass the row of cars and switch lanes so that this asshole behind me could pass and do whatever it is he wanted to do. I was just trying to get out of his way.
About the time I reached about 100 mph I was even with the first car in the row I was trying to merge in front of. I flipped on my turn signal to let him know I was about to get out of his way...
That's when he flipped on his lights to pull me over. The bronco was an unmarked pig-mobile.
I pulled over, and he pulled in front of me and came to the passenger side window... where the real fun began.
It was basically road rage between me and a cop. I was so pissed off an annoyed, as was he.
We spent the next few minutes yelling, cursing, and arguing at each other until he just got frustrated, said "I don't have time for this shit" ...got back into his Bronco, and sped off.
I had just gone 40 over the limit, got pulled over, cussed a cop out and ran him off.
???????????????????WTF???????????????????
How often does THAT happen?
He knew he was the one in the wrong causing problems and putting people at risk. My driving was fine, he was the asshole, and knew it.
Wow! If that had happened recently you would have been either tasered and kidnapped, or just shot. And obviously you would have been charged with assaulting an officer, either way.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that happened before the US police state was in full swing.
Geez I am off lately. A hectic week and a head cold will do that. Sigh--
ReplyDeleteBrakes, not breaks.
Yeah, I suppose it could have gotten pretty ugly. I think it was either '93 or '94 when it happened. My girlfriend at the time was my passenger, and after he left, we just looked at each other in disbelief. "??Did that really just happen??"
There was never any violence or anything, just arguing through the passenger window. And I WAS arguing a good point to him, even though we were both angry and cursing at each other.
It was kinda funny in a way though. I wish like hell I had caught it on video.
It went pretty close to this...
Cop - WHAT THE PHUK ARE YOU DOING GOING A HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR? I CLOCKED YOU AT A HUNDRED!
Me - WHAT KINDA PHUCKING QUESTION IS THAT!?! WHAT DO YOU THINK I WAS DOING? I WAS TRYING TO GET OUT OF YOUR WAY BECAUSE YOU WERE RIDING MY ASS SO CLOSE, PUSHING ME.
Cop - I WASN'T RIDING YOU THAT CLOSE AND YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE FOR GOING SO FAST.
Me - BULLSHIT. IF I WOULD HAVE DONE A BRAKE CHECK, YOU WOULD HAVE HIT ME AND YOU KNOW IT. I COULD SEE YOU BITCHING AT ME THE WHOLE TIME THROUGH MY MIRROR...SO I SPED UP TO GET THE HELL OUTTA YOUR WAY. I FLIPPED MY TURN SIGNAL TO LET YOU KNOW I WAS LETTING YOU PASS.
Cop - I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS SHIT...
He was being an intimidating driver and somewhat reckless. I would have had a good argument in court. I suspect that is the ultimate reason he dropped the issue and left. Plus, he was obviously in a big hurry. Maybe he really DIDN'T have time for it.
It is a good story to tell though, just one of those odd things.