[BertBeagle]

Had a date with a young lady from a small eastern NC town (Snow Hill). This was a one or two cop town and I had to go right through the middle of town to get to her house which was about 3 miles on the opposite side. It’s winter, late 1969 or early 1970 (can’t remember) and I am in my 442 Olds. It was dusk and I went through the middle of town, at about 70, and on out to her house. The police car was parked in town but no one was in it. 20 min. later we come back through town at the same speed and this time the policeman gives chase – in his pick up truck fitted with a red light and siren blasting. After a couple of miles he calls off the chase and we speed own our way. At about 11 PM we come back through town, again about 70, and he gives chase again – in the same pick up. About 1 mile from her house she suggests that we stop so he won’t pull up in her yard with the lights going - but not to worry she can take care of it. So I pull over and wait. He pulls up behind and walks up to my window. The first thing out of his mouth is – verbatim – I will never forget it - “If my damn truck won’t catch you I got a 440 Magnum Dodge that will”. He was mad as hell but I knew right then that I was not going to get a ticket. He stooped down and looked in to see who the passenger was and said something like (don’t remember exactly) “Oh - hi Janet – you tell this boy to slow down coming through here”. A while later I came back through town for the 4th time that evening at a much faster speed. He didn’t give chase again. I never went back (nice girl but we lived to far apart).

At that time, 1969, changes had occurred and this guy was a rarity. I remember when NC State Troopers were a varied lot, physically, and they were, for the most part very friendly and talkative – after he pulled you over you could engage him in a conversation about anything and usually talk yourself out of a ticket. I have talked my way out many tickets back then. But just to be safe I kept a NC and a Maryland driver’s license (Maryland would give a license to anyone for the asking). It all changed in 1966 / 67 and it seemed like overnight State Troopers were trim, fit, all similar heights and weights, college educated with no “understanding or sympathy”. Courts got tougher also. Times changed.