Posted on 02/14/2019 3:21:46 AM PST by servo1969
||While driving through Arkansas I had a run-in with law enforcement . . . which showcased professionalism and the benefits of mutual respect.||
I've been driving cross-country across the southern U.S. and it's been a lovely trip. For the past many years, barring one summer trip to Civil War battlefields, my trips have been to Europe and Southeast Asia. They've been great trips and I've seen wonderful things. I don't regret those travels at all.
Nevertheless, I really enjoy traveling in my own country. I like how vast America is. I like how friendly Americans are. I like American architecture, from the cheesiness of the roadside attractions to the charm of classic American houses, schools, and churches. I like the comfort of an American fast food place where I can get a cheap, reliable meal and a clean bathroom. I like that, with the chain motels, I can always find a clean room, in towns big and small. (Currently, Best Western is my favorite, just as it was when I was a child in the 1960s and early 1970s as a child traveling with my family.)
But this post is about entering Arkansas, for no other reason than that I want to tell the story. Within twenty miles of entering the state, I saw flashing lights in my rear view mirror, and it was clear that the Arkansas highway patrol officer wanted me to pull over. I did so responsibly and carefully and kept my hands on the steering wheel because I've been taught well.
I was baffled, though, as to why he stopped me. I'd been signaling nicely when I changed lanes, wasn't weaving, and had my cruise control set to 72 in a 70-mile zone. In California, speeding is ten miles over the freeway limit. Moreover, I was in the slow lane, so I wasn't the fastest car on the road.
So, as I said, I pulled over, lowered the window, and kept my hands visible as a (to me) young officer walked over to the car and politely introduced himself. Then,
"I tracked your speed for over a mile, Ma'am, and you were going 74 miles the whole time in a 70 miles per hour zone."
At this point, my California brain says, "Wow, they really do pull out-of-state cars over for things like that." My mouth, however, was both sensible and polite.
"Oh, dear! I had my cruise control set to 72." I didn't say more than that because clearly even my cruise control beat that 70-mile rule, but at least I made it clear that I wasn't trying hard to speed.
"The speed limit here is 70 MPH, Ma'am."
"Oh." (What more could I say?)
"May I see your license, registration, and insurance, please."
"Of course."
He takes the documents and walks away to check his database.
He comes back and asks why I'm driving through Arkansas and where I'm going. I answer with brevity and specificity.
He looks at me, hands me my papers, and says, "Just remember that the speed limit here is 70 MPH on the freeway."
I say thank you, and the interaction ends.
The officer was never anything but polite and professional and, as far as I was concerned, the whole interaction ended well. Also, unless Arkansas really is OCD about speed limits (and you can bet that I'll assume that it is for the rest of my travels through this state), I wonder whether he saw my California plate and thought I might have been a drug runner - which, once you see me, I quite obviously am not.
It was a weird experience and left me a little shaken, because I prefer to obey laws and not have to interact with law enforcement. It was also a reminder that, if you treat people with respect, they tend to reciprocate that respect. He was polite to me, I was polite back to him, and all's well that ends well.
***and had my cruise control set to 72 in a 70-mile zone.***
BINGO! I’ve had my cruise control on the actual speed limit in two states and got pulled over both times. Due to a very clean driving record I was only warned. Now I set it at two miles BELOW the posted limit.
Must be some other reason to get pulled over, speed being the excuse. When concerned with radar, etc., I’ve limited myself to 62 in 55, 72 in 65, 75-77 in 70 zones and have NEVER been stopped. My last stop was something like about 60 in 45 zone on 4 lane roadway going downhill with a 6% grade. Got a warning.
Almost every car sold in the US has a speedometer that reads 2mph FASTER than your actual speed. I think it is to keep the mfg. from being sued for speeding tickets. I seriously doubt that you were going 74.
So you should have told the cop, “While my cruise was set at 72, that actually is 70 mph - so I thought I WAS obeying the speed limit exactly.” - but check the accuracy of your speedo with a GPS to see if what I am saying is correct. Or, use an app like Speed Box.
In most states on interstates they will allow you 8-9mph over the limit, “One to nine, you’re fine. Over nine, you’re mine!” is the saying.
Sounds to me like a cop that just wanted to bug an out-of-stater.....
I am reminded of the SPEED TRAP TOWN of JOHNSON ARKANSAS! Low speeds through town, cops hiding every where giving everyone they can a ticket.
When I-49 first opened the speed limit was still 55 MPH, and one small section passed through a corner of Johnson. Every cop was out on the interstate giving everyone they could catch a speeding ticket for violating the town’s 25 MPH speed limit.
The Governor of Arkansas had to issue a CEASE AND DESIST order to the town.
Now the speed limit is 65-75 MPH.
Reminds me of 1973, Tucumcari New Mexico, when the Interstate speeds were dropped from 70 to 55 to “save oil”. Almost immediately every cop in town was out pulling over anyone now “speeding”, including ME!
As an Arkansasan I would say it was the fact he followed her for a mile and didn’t slow down at 74 mph. I have found that while speeding in AR don’t slam on the brakes that indicates you knew you were speeding or not paying attention at all. merely coast back down to the speed limit and they let u go, they seem to check it multiple times before stopping someone, unless they are 10 plus over.
The big difference is that if we assume they are good and they are bad, we end up with a ticket or a bad scolding. (No one likes dealing with a cop with attitude)
If the cop assumes we are good and we are bad, he could get dead.
Are there bad cops? Bunches.
Are there good cops? The vast majority in my experience.
Are there good people? Bunches.
Are there bad people? Probably the majority. (After all bunches vote democrat, or are liberal leaning, or are perverts, or are moslems. Lots of evil people out there)
I have no problem cutting them some slack and being extra respectful in 'confrontational' situations. I'm only fearing for my insurance rates. They are fearing for their lives (as they should be)
Shame the cops don’t have anything better to do than knock someone over for doing 72 in a 70. Back in the day when we would sit radar we set it at 10 over then took a snooze.
I avoid Johnson Arkansas to this day. I’m sure most of the offending officers and judges have retired/died but their legacy lives on in my memory. They get mo business from me.
On a turnpike I was pulled over for “speeding”. The limit was 75 MPH, my cruise control set at 75. Just got a warning.
On the way back on the same turnpike, I knew of a straight stretch with mile markers, so slowing down to 60 MPH, with cruise control on, watch in hand I timed myself between markers. It took exactly one minute to go one mile, so my cruise control was accurate. Since then, I drive about 2-3 miles below the posted limit on interstates.
Once during the Clinton years, we decided to have a family reunion in NE Arkansas. They rented trailers and canoes at a very reasonable rate and had a nearby market for food. People around town were intrigued by our crazy Yankee habits like getting up very early to go canoeing and fishing and buying FRESH food at the market.
I'd refer to Clinton as "cousin Bill" who couldn't make the reunion because he was busy in Washington and my sister would have a hissy fit and let the locals know "He's NOT our cousin!" while I'd just enjoy the reaction. Hey, that's what little brothers are for, right?
It was a LOT of fun. What was even more fun is that a few years later, I discovered our mother was, in fact, Bill Clinton's 7th cousin through a common ancestor in Colonial North Carolina with the surname of Diffee.
We took our nine-year old daughter to Arkansas this past summer because she wanted to go to the Diamond Park there. We didn’t find any gemstones but the memories of that trip are priceless.
Sounds like you were at Hardy, most people are friendly, but there is a small element in that part of the state who consider sheets clothing and not bed linens. I was in a small shop there during that time frame and was surprised by the openness of it and I have lived in AR my entire life. That shop has since closed but it was a lesson I never forgot. I make no secrets of my support of dividing the country peacefully, but I hope my screen name confuses no one, it’s about politics not race. At times i wish i could change my screen name as i am a long way from 25 now anyway.
As to autos underreporting speed; DOT regs give leway to +5% -0% to obtain certification. Most manufacturers aim for +2.5% as the easiest way to pass that requirement. All the new autos that I’ve checked with GPS all read slightly faster than actual speed for that reason.
IF you drive thru Wisconsin, they don’t allow ANY excess.
I got a ticket for going 56 when the limit was 55 across the country.
I was driving my Dad’s car. NO EXCEPTIONS. Got the ticket for 1 ONE mile over the limit.
I don’t remember the exact cost of that ticket, but it wasn’t cheap, either.
You need to get yourself some help...serious help.
IF I exceed 60 in either of my vehicles, my mileage goes down by bout 10%. That is significant enough to stay below 60.
Would a tire change make that difference?
That was a dope stop and the writer didnt know
Priceless
They can pull you over for any reason and will
Its usually changing lanes improperly
Thats not true folks in Arkansas drive same as everywhere
They speed and you get the usual ten mile leeway or better
This was a drug stop
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