First LEO encounter – Young County
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:35 pm
My wife & I were on our way to Wildcatter Ranch Resort (just outside Graham in Young County) for the weekend on Saturday, 10/17/09 when I was pulled over by a Deputy Sheriff on Hwy 16 around 9pm. I was cruising between 65-70mph (speed limit was 65 at night) so I was a little surprised when I saw the flashing lights in my rearview mirror. I immediately pull over, 4 way flashers on, windows down, dome lights on, and killed the engine. I pull out my DL & CHL and have my hands where the officer can clearly see them. I was carrying my pistol on me and had another in a backpack. We both had open containers in the center console of non-alcoholic beers (mine a Coors Cutter & hers an O’Dule’s) but we weren’t concern about them any due to their contents.
So the nice officer comes up to the truck window and kindly states his name and that he’s stopping me for doing 75 in a 65. I act surprised, but non-argumentative and hand him my cards. He looks at my CHL with the new design and states that it’s the first time he’s seen one of the new ones. He asks me where we’re heading and I told him. Then he says, “I see you have an open container in the vehicle. Have you been drinking tonight”? I tell him, yes sir, but they’re both non-alcoholic and I show him my bottle. We laugh about it and then he asks me if I’m carrying my gun on me tonight and I say yes sir I am. He then says ok wait just a minute and he walks to the rear of the truck where he and another deputy, who unbeknownst to me has been carefully observing from the right rear of the passenger side, confer. They return, each on their respective side, and he says, “Sir, can you please show my partner that bottle. He’s never seen that brand before”. So I do and he says ok, and we all have another laugh about it. The first officer then says, “How ‘bout slowing down a little bit through here, there’s a lot of deer out these ways at night”. I say yes sir, shake his hand and he leaves. What a great experience. My wife was in shock how well it all went. She asked me why I thought it went so well and I considered several things.
1. I am retired Army and have Army, NRA, and POW/MIA stickers on my rear window. I also hang my retired dog tags from my rearview mirror. Perhaps he saw these items and was a Pro-military guy.
2. I also posed no threat to him as he approached the vehicle by making it easy for him to see me. Plus, I had my DL & CHL ready for him. (He never asked for my proof of insurance or ran my DL#).
3. I put up no argument about being stopped – even though I am quite sure I was not doing 75mph! Never pays to argue with LEO’s.
Regardless the reason why he was so nice to me I am just glad he was. I really appreciate the tough job these guys have and value what they mean to our safety. Chock this up to some great Deputy Sheriffs in Young County. May God bless & protect them.
So the nice officer comes up to the truck window and kindly states his name and that he’s stopping me for doing 75 in a 65. I act surprised, but non-argumentative and hand him my cards. He looks at my CHL with the new design and states that it’s the first time he’s seen one of the new ones. He asks me where we’re heading and I told him. Then he says, “I see you have an open container in the vehicle. Have you been drinking tonight”? I tell him, yes sir, but they’re both non-alcoholic and I show him my bottle. We laugh about it and then he asks me if I’m carrying my gun on me tonight and I say yes sir I am. He then says ok wait just a minute and he walks to the rear of the truck where he and another deputy, who unbeknownst to me has been carefully observing from the right rear of the passenger side, confer. They return, each on their respective side, and he says, “Sir, can you please show my partner that bottle. He’s never seen that brand before”. So I do and he says ok, and we all have another laugh about it. The first officer then says, “How ‘bout slowing down a little bit through here, there’s a lot of deer out these ways at night”. I say yes sir, shake his hand and he leaves. What a great experience. My wife was in shock how well it all went. She asked me why I thought it went so well and I considered several things.
1. I am retired Army and have Army, NRA, and POW/MIA stickers on my rear window. I also hang my retired dog tags from my rearview mirror. Perhaps he saw these items and was a Pro-military guy.
2. I also posed no threat to him as he approached the vehicle by making it easy for him to see me. Plus, I had my DL & CHL ready for him. (He never asked for my proof of insurance or ran my DL#).
3. I put up no argument about being stopped – even though I am quite sure I was not doing 75mph! Never pays to argue with LEO’s.
Regardless the reason why he was so nice to me I am just glad he was. I really appreciate the tough job these guys have and value what they mean to our safety. Chock this up to some great Deputy Sheriffs in Young County. May God bless & protect them.
