Not three digits...That instance.

Back in my youth I was a bit irresponsible behind the wheel. My first car was a 1970 Chevelle with a 4 Speed and my second car was a 1984 red Mustang Convertible 5.0 with a rare 4 speed.

I became smart after a warm July when I got 6 speeding tickets in three weeks. Friday, Saturday, Friday, Saturday, Friday, Saturday. My now wife and then girlfriend got the Mustang and I drove her Honda Dx until I cleared up my record.

Fast Forward to today...I never drive without my V1 hardwired in my vehicles.

I have an entire routine when pulled over. I drive all across Northern California as a Business Development Manager and many of the areas are rural in-between towns. If I get pulled over the first thing I do is find a safe place for the officer so he or she is not standing in a dangerous place near traffic. Second thing is I turn down my visor exposing all of my paperwork covering my V1 at the same time. If it is night I turn on my dome light so the officer can see inside the vehicle when approaching. I keep both hands on the wheel until the officer approaches the vehicle and speaks. Everything is "yes sir", "no sir" if male. Most important I never lie...They know you were breaking the law so why lie. I'm usually dressed in a suit and tie and I have everything in order and up to date which helps.

In the last 10 or so years I've been pulled over 7 times and been let off 6 of them with a warning. The one ticket came from an officer who let me off the month prior and remembered me. He told me that the first one was free and smiled as he handed me the ticket.

Worst things a driver can do:

Pull over so the officer has to stand close to the road in passing traffic or come to the passenger side.

Reach into the glove compartment for insurance and registration.

Pull over sitting in a dark vehicle with tinted windows at night.

Argue with the officer.

Lie.

The first three put the officer on edge and place him or her in greater danger. They are less likely to be in a good mood if they feel you placed them in a dangerous position.

The last two are just stupid and always lead to a ticket.

1st you need a very good radar detector. Personally, I have a Valentine. If not, just stay less than 10 miles over the limit. At 10+ miles over, they can threaten to take your license. Pick your spots. Are the truckers over the limit? A CB radio really helps sometimes. follow a rabbit (ie, something that passed you), but not too closely. speed is for the open stretches between clumps of traffic, not for weaving in'n'out of heavy traffic with no room for error. DO NOT TAILGATE 18-wheelers!!! They can not see you, if you are too close. I always hang back when 18-wheelers pass each other, until they have completed their pass, THEN I accelerate by. Not everybody has your driving skills and they sure don't have NASCAR (or F1) training. Be patient in traffic and always try to keep a buffer zone between you & the car ahead. Be aware of how much room there is on the shoulder of the road (unless you are in SC where there is no shoulder)

You could also go up to Carson & Reno - spend some time & see some sights?

Also HOLIDAY WEEKEND, troopers will be out enforce, so as the old Florida license plate used to say, "ARRIVE ALIVE".

And just because you are going fast, there just maybe someone out there going faster, so look in the rearview mirror for "new faces".

__________________
Mark _______________________________
2001 X5 4.4i topaz blue/sand Sport, complete Dinan S2 , hitch, V1, tint, BSW Stage 1, Alpine INA-W910BT
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Life is not fair!
You can't protect people from their own stupidity!
Laughter makes life worth living

Thanks all.