No, that's not the main theme of the thread. :whistling:
It's the event that lead to the main theme of the thread.
So, I'm driving into town in a 60mph zone following an SUV about 5 car lengths behind when a semi went by (2-lane rural highway) and the SUV swerved to the side of the road. The driver corrected, then accelerated rapidly. We had been going around 64mph and the SUV accelerated to around 75mph.
Odd behavior, and being around 8pm on a Saturday night, possibly DUI related. So I accelerated to keep up with the SUV and observe if there was any other erratic behavior. I caught up and stayed a few car lengths behind and the SUV slowed to around 70mph, but no further evidence of impairment.
At that time, a county deputy went past, did a U-turn, and pulled me over.
He clocked me at 70mph and I explained why I was speeding. He let me go with a warning and was perfectly professional.
I continued into town and stopped at a Subway where a State Trooper car was parked out front. I went inside and the trooper was a friend of mine. He kidded me about being pulled over, said he heard my info go out on the radio, then told me that the officer that stopped me wasn't certified and couldn't have issued me a ticket, anyway.
He said that the county hires new guys, they go through an FTO program, then go to POST, then come back to the department and undergo further FTO training. My friend was not happy about that; said if I had been a DUI, then he would have had to go assist the deputy and be sidelined for hours.
How common of a thing is this in other agencies? The idea of a department letting guys go out and run traffic with no certifications seems a bit risky... :dunno:
It's the event that lead to the main theme of the thread.
So, I'm driving into town in a 60mph zone following an SUV about 5 car lengths behind when a semi went by (2-lane rural highway) and the SUV swerved to the side of the road. The driver corrected, then accelerated rapidly. We had been going around 64mph and the SUV accelerated to around 75mph.
Odd behavior, and being around 8pm on a Saturday night, possibly DUI related. So I accelerated to keep up with the SUV and observe if there was any other erratic behavior. I caught up and stayed a few car lengths behind and the SUV slowed to around 70mph, but no further evidence of impairment.
At that time, a county deputy went past, did a U-turn, and pulled me over.
He clocked me at 70mph and I explained why I was speeding. He let me go with a warning and was perfectly professional.
I continued into town and stopped at a Subway where a State Trooper car was parked out front. I went inside and the trooper was a friend of mine. He kidded me about being pulled over, said he heard my info go out on the radio, then told me that the officer that stopped me wasn't certified and couldn't have issued me a ticket, anyway.
He said that the county hires new guys, they go through an FTO program, then go to POST, then come back to the department and undergo further FTO training. My friend was not happy about that; said if I had been a DUI, then he would have had to go assist the deputy and be sidelined for hours.
How common of a thing is this in other agencies? The idea of a department letting guys go out and run traffic with no certifications seems a bit risky... :dunno:
I got pulled over...
