Today I drove back to Elkford from Calgary via Highway 22. Just as I turned off of Highway 22 onto the Crowsnest Pass, an RCMP vehicle drove past me heading the opposite direction. Unphased, I continued driving. Suddenly the RCMP vehicle pulled a U-turn on the highway and approached my vehicle from behind. At that point we were driving in an area with a passing lane. I was driving in the right lane, the RCMP officer was driving in the left. As it approached my vehicle, I slowed down, but kept driving, assuming that the officer was simply off to an emergency of some sort. Eventually the RCMP vehicle came up beside me and the officer inside waved her arm towards me a couple of times, signaling for me to pull over. She cut in front of me and stopped as I pulled over, unsure of what I could have done wrong in the three seconds I had been on this new highway for. The vehicle in front of me pulled over as well. So here we have three vehicles sitting on the side of the highway: some random dude in front, then the RCMP officer, and then me. The officer sat in her vehicle for a few minutes, like they always do... most likely trying to make us pee our pants as we wait to hear the dirt they have on us. At last she got out of her vehicle and walked to the guy in front. As she did so, it occurred to me that I had no idea where my vehicle's registration information was kept. I tore the inside of the vehicle apart looking for it as inconspicuously as possible. Eventually I realized that what I thought was an airbag was actually a glove compartment that opens from the top. Weird. So I found the registration info and sat back in my seat and waited. At this point I noticed my heart was pounding. I had no idea why I had been pulled over. Did one of my friends report this vehicle as stolen as a prank on me? Did the officer have me mixed up with an escaped convict? Was I dragging a cow behind me? The possibilities were endless. Perhaps an angry truck driver radioed the description of my vehicle to the police because he was jealous that I could get to my destination faster than him. What a jerk!
The officer returned to her car as the first guy pulled ahead and off the road more. She pulled her vehicle ahead as well. Confused, I pulled my vehicle up as well. At this point I wondered if those two were playing some prank on me. I've seen Super Troopers, I know how this stuff works! Soon the RCMP lady would drive off and leave me thinking that I was off the hook. Just as I were to pull away, she would come roaring back and arrest me. Not today! The RCMP lady got out of her vehicle a second time and approached my vehicle at long last. I casually opened my window and tried to put on the best confused face I could.
She asked, "Is there something I can help you with, sir?"
I raised an eyebrow and replied, "Uh, no... I don't think so."
At this point she says, "So what are you doing pulled over here, then?"
This time I raised both of my eyebrows, "You were telling me to pull over, were you not?"
Her answer was, "No, I was telling you to move out of the way so I could pull this other guy over. You should always come to a stop when a police officer approaches you from behind."
"Oh, ok."
"Have a nice day, now."
"Ok, bye."
So I drove off, fifteen km over the speed limit.
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3 comments:
Whew! I was on the edge of my seat! That was a close one. At least she was kind enough to come talk to you. She could have left you sitting there for days without further notice and you could have starved to death or something; knowing full well that the moment you moved a SWAT team was ready to take you down for some crime you still did not know that you had committed and trying to escape.
Funny how my most devoted reader is my roommate.
i've had experiences like this too. those fun-hating cops can really get our hearts going, even when we haven't done anything wrong. that time. i had one of those moments the first time i ever drove by myself on the highway. i was sixteen heading home with my first car (austin mini 1000). i saw the flashing red and blues behind me and very nearly crapped a brick. when i finally realised that i should just pull over, the cop car zoomed passed me at mack10.
another time more similar to yours i was riding my motorcycle. i only had my learners licence and i wasn't permitted to be on the highway, or go over 60km/h, or even be riding alone for that matter. i rode with these restrictions for 5 years or so. just pure lazyness and procrastination being the reason. my only fear being pulled over. this happened twice while i had my learners licence. i was going close to the speed limit only because i was stuck behind 5 cars on my way to cranbrook. a cop jumps out from behind a bush along the highway and flags us all to pull over. as the cop is going from car to car collecting licences and registration i was freaking out asking myself if i should just bolt (there was no way that they could catch me- gsxr1100- fast bike). the cop walks up to me, unable to se my sweat under my helmet, and says, "you're alright, you can go". "thank-you officer!" woosh.
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