My first LEO encounter - Good

[JJVP]

Well, it had to happen sometime. On my way home from work I was stopped by a LEO for speeding. My first stop since getting my CHL. Was driving thru a small road (one lane each direction) and was behind a slow moving vehicle. When the road opened to 4 lanes, I accelerated around the car in front, just as I see a white car on the median. Yes, it was a cop. Hoped I was not going too fast, but suddenly I saw it light up like a Christmas tree, turn around and come after me. Darn.

It was a lady cop. After saying “Good Evening” I informed her that I was a CHL holder and was armed. She asked me where it was and after told her she just said “OK”. Didn’t fazed her at all. Told her I was getting my wallet out, did, gave her my DL, CHL and insurance card. She verified my address and phone number, gave my back the insurance card and went back to her car which was parked behind me. At no time I saw her looking back at me while she was on the car computer (could see her on the rearview mirror). Obviously she was not concerned at all that I was armed. A few minutes later, she came back, gave my DL and CHL as well as a speeding ticket. Darn, I was hoping that the CHL would get me out of it, but no luck. Last time I was stopped for speeding was over a year ago, before I got my CHL and was just given a warning. No such luck this time.

Funny part was earlier this afternoon I had read a post on another forum from a cop talking about how to act during a traffic stop. Did everything by “the book”. All in all, other than the ticket, I was a very pleasant and uneventful experience. She was very professional and not concerned at all about my firearm.

[dihappy]

Thats too bad she didnt give you a break for accelerating to get around the truck :(

[chabouk]

Was driving thru a small road (one lane each direction) and was behind a slow moving vehicle. When the road opened to 4 lanes, I accelerated around the car in front, just as I see a white car on the median. Yes, it was a cop.

Wow, what a coincidence that she just happened to be right there, where people start accelerating out of a bottleneck, eh?

[Rex B]

Isn't passing a legal defense to speeding?
Might not apply in this case though.

[Purplehood]

Isn't passing a legal defense to speeding?
Might not apply in this case though.

In CA it is not. I don't know about TX.

[Keith B]

Isn't passing a legal defense to speeding?
Might not apply in this case though.

No, it isn't actually. If it were the case, I could just tell them I had to go 100 mph just to pass all those cars I wanted to get around.

Edited to add: I think what you may be referring to is the fact that Texas Transportation Code states 'reasonable and prudent' in it, and many people try to use that as a means to say they had to speed to get around a slower moving vehicle. It may have worked in some cases, but here is an example where it didn't http://www.6thcoa.courts.state.tx.us/op ... ionID=8706" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (long read.)

[JJVP]

Isn't passing a legal defense to speeding?
Might not apply in this case though.

I was not trying to pass on a 2 lane road. I went to the left lane when the road opened from 2 to 4 lanes. The other car was on the right lane. I just accelerated so that I could go around him and get back to the right lane before I got to the traffic light ahead, since I was going to turn right. Not blazing speed either (45 on a 30 MPH zone). The thing is that this is a new road (about 1 year old) that ties together two major roads. There is absolutely nothing but empty land either side until you get to the light. Never seen a cop there before. Just my luck.

The thing is that I had driven about 10-12 miles from work, every inch of the way at or below the speed limit. The first time I go above the speed limit, for about 200-300 ft I got nailed. C'est la vie.

[PUCKER]

I remember when I first got my license (DL, not CHL) and I was driving a land yacht of a Buick...I was behind a slow-moving vehicle on Davis Blvd. (NRH/Keller area) and I punched it to pass the vehicle, got around them as quick as I could, this was on a 2-lane road. Well, wouldn't you know that coming the other way was a DPS Trooper? He u-turned and lit me up. Pulled over, did the pleasantries, he told me he clocked me at 70 mph in a 60 (or 65 in a 55)...I said, "That's probably correct sir, I passed the slower moving vehicle, I wanted to minimize my liability/exposure in the oncoming lane, I believe in passing and getting back over in the correct lane as quickly and safely as possible, to do so and keep it exactly at the speed limit would not be safe." He agreed with my logic and he let me go without a ticket, which, based from my experience then on, is quite rare with DPS Troopers.