I once was able to get my GT out in January, a few years ago - we had not had snow for a while and the roads were clear. So, I thought, why not take the car out and warm it up, to get the condensation out of the fluids, and get some lubricant swished around the seals, etc. So I drove about 8 miles out of town, heading south on US 395, got down to the Airport Road, and turned to the northbound lanes (it's a divided highway, 2 lanes to each side). With no one coming for at least ½ mile, I stood on it as I entered the northbound lanes. I accelerated as hard as the car would go, up to 65 mph (the speed limit) and backed off to 62 mph to cruise home.
In about 2-3 miles, a CHP caught up with me with his gumball machine glaring and spinning. I pulled over easily, and waited with my hands on the top of the steering wheel (they get a little paranoid if they can't see your hands, in case you might have a weapon) as he approached the driver's window. When he could see me, I rolled down the window, and asked what I could do for him. He asked for my license, registration and proof of insurance, and I told him I would have to exit the vehicle, as those items are stored behind the passenger seat. He said OK, and as I went around the back of the car he said " Do you know why I pulled you over?" I said I had no idea, but retrieved the information slips that he asked for.
He said that he heard (rear exit headers) the car and began his chase, and that I could be considered as violating a code which covers "exhibition of speed." I told him what I had done, and stated that there was no one around to exhibit too, and that I never exceeded the speed limit. Furthermore, I said that I knew of no law which defines how fast one can accelerate to the speed limit, when one is totally alone on the highway.
He then asked what kind of car it is (
Ford GT), how long I had had it (
6 years), how fast I had driven it (
179. 984 at The Texas Mile), and a few other meaningless questions about why did I have the car out, etc. He then pointed out that my left rear taillight (I had had my lights on in the daylight) had a number of the LEDs not lit, although the remaining ones were sufficient to see the car and the turn signal.
He said he was happy to see the car, as he had never seen one before, and for me to have a pleasant journey home.
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