A Pleasant Surprise

I was driving to Lowes in Easley, heading east on Highway 93. Coming the other way was a state trooper in one of those Camaros (I think) and I noticed them pass me and turn around. Ut-oh I thought. Then the officer gets behind me and the blue lights come on.

When I was working at the Easley Progress and Pickens Sentinel I did an article on what to do when you get pulled over. Thinking back to that 10 inch article, I immediately put my right turn single on to let the officer know I saw him, and turned into a parking lot near the Plez U.

Then I rolled the window all the way down, put my car in park, shut it off, put the keys on the dash. I then put both my hands on the steering wheel and waited. She (not he came up and said), “You were driving 56 in this 45 zone. Was there any reason why you are in a hurry today?”

My initial thought was, I’m not driving that fast. But I said, “No reason”. No chatter, no story, no excuse -- I was speeding. I had a reason, but no good reason like I was about to have a baby or something like that. I was heading to Lowes, and was in the middle of a project.

She then said, “Can I have your license and registration?” Sweet as pie, just doing her job. I said, my wallet is down to my right here in the console and she said OK get it. I grabbed my wallet, and dug out my license, dog bite marks and all from Walter and gave it to her. I then said my registration is in my glove box. She said OK. I gave her the registration and the insurance car.

I know that might run some people the wrong way, asking/ waiting for permission and all, but the cop had no idea at this point if I’m a good guy just speeding to get to Easley or a bad guy on the run with 3 murder warrants in a stolen car. Has no idea if I’m reaching for a gun and going to pull a Bonnie and Clyde or just reaching for my wallet. Especially by the Plez U where I was once told the police get most of their calls.

No warrants, the car was mine, clean driving record and paid up insurance. She came back and said I’m going to give you a warning (see below), we are trying to slow down people on a Friday on this road.

I wished one of my daughters would have been with me. I’ve given them the “what to do’s” when being pulled over lesson, but to see all it real time would have been a good lesson for them.