When I was a Trooper in the NH State Police, I patrolled I-95 and the Spaulding Turnpike. Both of these highways go through Portsmouth and we had Pease AFB and the Navy Yard which had a detachment of Marines and of course Sailors. I stopped several Service men and woman for speeding and other various Motor Vehicle Violations. All I can say is that if I could give them a break, I did. It all depended on their attitude and the violation for which they were being stopped. All I can say is that if you do get stopped, humility does go a long way.

Let me tell you a story, a true one...

The closest I came to getting a speeding ticket while on active duty came the night before I left home to travel to Vietnam...

I had delayed the departure from my girlfriend to the last minute and was racing home in the middle of the night to grab my bags and head to the airport. My dad was going to drive me there.

I was traveling north on the Jones Falls Expressway out of Baltimore, headed for our home in the county. There was no one else on the road but me and a Maryland State Trooper I didn't see until he started his pursuit.

I pulled over as soon as he lit me up.

Have you ever heard the expression "hopping mad"? Have you ever seen anyone hopping mad? I did and he scared me. He was jumping up and down outside my side window and I was afraid to roll down the window.

When I did his first words were "Do you know how fast you were going?"

I said, "No, sir."

He screamed, "You must know how fast your were going."

I replied, "No, sir. My speedometer only goes to a hundred-twenty and I was pegged."

I don't think I could have stopped him colder had I reached outside and slapped him.

I offered my license and registration before he asked and he began writing on his citation pad with a real flourish. I think he was doing a John Hancock on it thinking that this ticket was going on display in some Hall of Shame.

"Well, you won't be driving for six months," he said without looking up at me.

Maryland had a point system at the time and exceeding 70 (which was the speed limit on the expressway) was worth enough points to earn a six month suspension.

"Hell," I responded, "I won't be driving for the next year."

"You got more points already?"

"No, sir, I got my orders for Vietnam. My dad's taking me to the airport as soon as I get home and change into my uniform."

He looked like he didn't believe me so I reached inside my suit coat and took them out.

"Shit," he said as he read them.

He walked away, paused and then strolled back to my open window scratching in his citation pad. He wrote something else and scratched that out as well.

Then he ripped out the ticket and tore it up. "Get outta here kid," he muttered and walked back to his patrol car.

I started to pull away when he flashed his lights and pulled me over again to hand me a ticket.

"Your right stop light is out. Have your dad take care of it while you're away."

I thanked him and took off for home, spraying a little gravel as I pulled away...

I have been lucky in the world of traffic stops. Couldn't say how many times I have been speeding and either passed cops parked along the road or even passed them on the freeway. There has been plenty of times where they could have nabbed me but didn't. I will say this, having a CB in my car, even in todays modern age has gone a long way. Truckers constantly call them out and they aren't illegal like radar detectors are in some states if you get stopped and they see it.