It’s winter up here, and although we’ve been in the midst of chinook weather for weeks now, it’s still not rideable, and won’t be for the foreseeable future. Thus I am inclined to be riding the web in search of diversions. I came across this article in Car and Driver:

What to do during a traffic stop:

• Pull to the right at the first safe opportunity, then turn off your engine.
• Stay in your car with your seat belt fastened. Roll down your window. Turn off the radio. Don’t even think about touching your cell phone.
• Place your hands on top of the steering wheel and sit quietly. Ask passengers to remain silent.
• Retrieve license, registration, and proof of insurance only when asked to do so.
• Answer questions succinctly. Avoid arguing, cursing, or interrupting when the officer speaks to you.

That all sounds about right to me.

I must admit that I’ve been pulled over numerous times, but I’ve (almost) never received a ticket*.

Lucky? Perhaps. But smart too. (I hope.)

I keep my hands in plain view. I talk nice. I act nice.

When the officer asks for my license, I tell him where I’m going to put my hands to retrieve it.

If  my wallet is in my saddle bag, I tell  him, thus giving him an opportunity to place himself where he can see what I’m doing.

If I’ve been in the saddle for the better part of the day when the stop occurs, I try to treat it as a break from riding, and after the business is done, I attempt to engage the officer in conversation removed from his job. I call that de-stressing — for both of us. I’ll ask him about a decent place to eat or an inexpensive place to stay down the road. Usually he’ll take the time to engage in the banter, sometimes not.

By then, of course, it doesn’t matter.

I can get back on the road with no ticket.

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*Except for that one time north of Valentine, Nebraska back in ’72 while on my way to Vegas. I talked myself into that one. Story to follow.