[downeaster]

I was travelling north on I91 north of Springfield, Mass the last of about a five car "convoy". Leading the convoy was a State Trooper going at the speed limit. After a few miles he exited at an interchange. No one took the bait and we continued at the speed limit. As I passed the on ramp I checked in my mirror and there he was, as I expected, on our tail. He soon saw we were not falling for his tricks and he exited for good at the next interchange.

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by downeaster

I was travelling north on I91 north of Springfield, Mass the last of about a five car "convoy". Leading the convoy was a State Trooper going at the speed limit. After a few miles he exited at an interchange. No one took the bait and we continued at the speed limit. As I passed the on ramp I checked in my mirror and there he was, as I expected, on our tail. He soon saw we were not falling for his tricks and he exited for good at the next interchange.

Yeah. That's a favorite of CHP in California, especially on I-5 through the San Joaquin valley. Some of the exits are such that the cruiser can exit, cross the street and down the on ramp in the same direction without really slowing down. Lots of "Gotcha's" with that tactic. A corpsman who worked for me got a job with CHP and they assigned him to the I-15 corridor from San Bernardino to Nevada Border. The Las Vegas Grand Prix in other words. Lots of business there, especially Friday PM and Sunday evening.

[BogeyBoy]

Originally Posted by mikeod

Yeah. That's a favorite of CHP in California, especially on I-5 through the San Joaquin valley. Some of the exits are such that the cruiser can exit, cross the street and down the on ramp in the same direction without really slowing down. Lots of "Gotcha's" with that tactic. A corpsman who worked for me got a job with CHP and they assigned him to the I-15 corridor from San Bernardino to Nevada Border. The Las Vegas Grand Prix in other words. Lots of business there, especially Friday PM and Sunday evening.

Seems like it turned into a parking lot during those hours.

But to get back to the original topic, my first reaction is letting up on the gas, I used to be a much faster driver and I think it is an old habit. Once I have glanced at the speedometer and see I am close to the speed limit I resume my speed.

Here's another CHP story. Almost 40 years ago I was not in the US when the speed limit on highways was reduced to 55. When I returned I was headed north on Highway 101 near Paso Robles, traveling with family in two cars. The other car got pulled over. I knew we were going about 60, which seemed very slow to me for that highway. So I though he had been pulled over for one of a couple of bad habits he had, tailgating and not using signals. I pulled off on the shoulder to wait. Suddenly there was a rapping on my window. It was the highway patrol officer asking for my license and registration. Mind you, he did not pull me over, I was a few hundred feet further up the road. So of course I asked what I had done. "Clocked you at 62 mph." I protested, "You didn't pull me over, I'm just parked here." He told me I was doing the same speed as the car he pulled over and if everyone in that whole line of traffic would have pulled over they would each get a ticket. Paso always had a reputation for being a speed trap but I thought that was a bit much. I did not attach a check for $50 and mail it in as was an option, I wrote the judge and explained my case. He wrote back and said the CHP and I would have to appear if I wanted to fight the ticket, but he said he would reduce the fine to $10. I opted for the reduced fine rather than drive the 200 miles round trip. Morale of the story: Don't stop unless you are certain the cop is specifically pulling you over. He may need to write one more ticket to meet his quota and you would make his job easier.