I got stopped by a Florida State Trooper a couple of weeks ago for 72 in a 55 zone (rural state highway; no traffic). I was comfortable with my speed but not paying attention to it; I say him coming at me, and didn't think anything of it -- until I saw, in the mirror, him jam on his brakes and bury the nose of the cruiser. I looked down at the speedo -- 72.
I waited for him to turn around and indicate he wanted me to pull over. When he approached, I had my hands in plain view and the window down. I had my wallet out already and sitting on the console. He asked for license and registration. I gave him the license, and indicated that the registration was in the glove compartment, and asked his permission to get it. He said, "That's OK, I get the ownership when I call it in." He then told me he had clocked me on radar at 72 mph. My comment was, "You got it dead on. That's exactly what I saw when I looked down, after I saw your brake lights." Then, he asked when I last got a ticket, and I said, "18 years ago."
He went back and ran his wants and warrants, then he came back with a printout from his computer. "This is a warning", he said, "You're getting it because you were honest. If you had tried to give me a story, you would have gotten a ticket."
I thanked him, and said, "This is the most effective thing you could have done. I drive this route all the time. I usually run around 70. Now, I 'm going to have to cut it back every trip, because I never know when I'll see you again, and I know there won't be any more watrnings." He laughed, said, "That's the point", and waved. I've been keeping it under 65 since then, and have seen him a couple of more times. The last time, he waved at me.
