This sounds all too spookily similar to an experience of mine ten years
ago in Sydney (Australia).
I was travelling along a busy three lane road when I noticed traffic
slowing and I spotted a cop car ahead. Everyone was slowing to the
speed limit (just 60kph (35mph) on this beautiful stretch of road) as
they saw the cops. I have always thought how frustrating it must be to
be in a police car with everyone slowing down when you come into view.
The cops in this case were doing as they normally do, travelling at
almost 70kph and doing a little weaving to get around the slowing
vehicles, so I just dropped in behind them and followed through the path
they made in the traffic. My thought process was that they generally
don't nab you unless you are over 10kph over the marked limit (allowing
for speedo innacuracies etc.) and besides, this was the speed *they*
were travelling. They didn't have lights and siren going and obviously
weren't in a tearing hurry.
Soon they turned off to the left into a side street and I carried on
over a hill at the same slightly elevated speed.
Next thing I see in my mirror is the silhouette of a cop car coming over
the hill behind me. Now the common thought is that you don't hit the
brakes because they will see the brake lights and go for you, but my
thinking was that they would not have had time to 'radar' me or to
'track' my speed, so I hit the brakes and slowed down to the speed
limit... but as soon as I hit the brakes they turned their lights on and
grabbed me.
They got me for doing 71kph in a 60kph zone... and said they had
'tracked' me at that speed... matched speed and clocked it. I said they
couldn't have and he just handed me the ticket and said he would see me
in court if I wanted to fight it.
With no witnesses (I didn't grab car rego numbers from around me) and my
word against the cops... and for a pretty paltry fine, I decided it
wasn't worth the time, expense or effort and just paid the fine.
I regret fighting it (or at least having my say in court) to this day.
grrrrrrr I am certain he was just peeved at me following him, at speed,
through traffic and that he had pulled of the road only to come in
behind me to catch me.
I love all coppers... really... except the bastard ones :-)
Have your day, and your say, in court!
Eric
'68MGB MkII
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