I love the Washington State Patrol!

[Aristus]

Twice in the last few days, the WSP has performed quite nicely in little ways that just make me proud. One of them affected me directly. The other day, I was coming down 167 South from Renton to Puyallup during rush hour, and on the opposite side, 167 North, I saw a WSP patrol car, with lights flashing, stopped by the side of the road. I though he had pulled someone over for speeding or something, but when I got closer, I saw the trooper down on his hands and knees helping the commuter change a flat tire. That may not seem like a big deal to you, but I was very impressed. What a way to protect and serve! This was a busy highway at rush hour. Someone by the side of the road like that is dangerously exposed to all kinds of accidents. I'm sure the flashing lights warned people to stay clear. I got the patrol car's number and then called the troopers barracks sergeant to let him know how proud and impressed I was.

The very next day, I was heading up 167 North to Renton, where I go to school. I was in the left lane, going about 65 in a 60 zone. Not holding up traffic behind me, you understand. When this huge, gargantuan, aircraft-carrier-sized green Ford pickup pulled in behind my little PT Cruiser, and started tailgating me, revving his engine and just being a prick. A bullying prick, at that. I wasn't going slow or anything, What was his problem? I don't like or respond well to bullying, but I had just made up my mind to switch to the right lane and let him by, when he beat me to it. He slewed crazily into the right lane and put on a huge burst of speed to pass me, when just as suddenly, he dropped back in the right lane and disappeared from my peripheral vision. What was that about? I wondered. Then I looked up ahead, and there was a WSP patrol car easing its way onto the high way. He rode the left shoulder for a minute until I passed him. My first frantic thought was: 'How fast was I going?' I passed him, then the Ford pickup, doing a good automotive impression of whistling innocently, nothing to see here, passed the patrol car. And THEN the patrol car pulled in behind the guy and hit the lights! He pulled the shithead over! He must have gotten him for speeding, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, etc. It was beautiful!
My hat is off to the Washington State Patrol for protecting and serving so magnificently! Thanks, guys! :thumbsup:!!!

[cmf]

1. That's awesome!

LOL...when I read your subject line, I thought you were being sarcastic.

I'm glad they're cracking down on aggressive drivers. There are way too many of them here.

[Padraig18]

2. It's my impression that...

... most State Troopers are 'professionals' in the very best sense of the word. :)

[Missy Vixen]

3. They're the good guys (and gals)

Just like any other profession, there's going to be one or two that aren't the greatest, but the vast majority of troopers (and cops,) that we've known have been very, very good at their jobs, and go out of their way to "protect and serve".

Part of my job is to work with our town's police chief. What an outstanding person. He is the most ethical person I have ever met. (Remember the "click it and ticket" program, where law enforcement were awarded the miniature cars for meeting a certain quota? He wouldn't allow our police department to participate because he believed it was unethical.) He goes out of his way to make sure that he and his officers are caring and compassionate individuals, while being tough on the bad guys.

Aristus, I'm so glad that the WSP are taking care of business on our state's freeways!

Julie

[Aristus]

4. Me too!

They're the greatest.

[regnaD kciN]

5. Some of them are O.K....

However, that doesn't include the ************ (count the asterisks, folks), who pulled me over on southbound 169 the evening of 5/9/96. I had been going a steady 50 (actually, tests showed that it was really more like 48.5) in a 50-mile zone when the aforementioned ************ pulled me over, claiming that he had me on the gun going 65. (I have never gone even close to that speed on 169, even in broad daylight with no other cars around, and this was at night in moderate traffic.)

BTW, I won in court. ;-)

[northzax]

8. and maybe his gun was off

radar guns are notoriously fickle things, after all.

[Barad Simith]

6. HI from Puyallup

Meridian Avenue, near the top of the hill.

[Aristus]

7. Hey RegularBrad!

I'm just off Meridian, not far from the Post Office! Heya! :hi:

[Barad Simith]

9. I'm at that post office every day.

I sell media online, and have a box there. What color is your PT Cruiser? I drive a gray '87 Tempo. We should develop a DU signal for situations like this.

[Aristus]

10. Steel blue.

This is cool. I thought I was the only DU-er in Freeper Puyallup!