Wrong road

HWY 231 South -- from Google Maps Streetview

Somewhere around 1988

I have a minor errand to run and had to drive from Montgomery to Troy and meet someone for work. It's Sunday and my day off but still my job. I've a few points on my license at this point and don't want to get in any more trouble. I head south on 231 going 55 MPH.

A few miles down the road, another car zips by me going around 65 so I press the gas and follow him.

A few more miles down the road, a car with a couple of girls in it and Florida plates on the back, speeds by around 75-80. Well, I'm single at this point and interested to say the least, so I speed up and follow them.

This is all well and good and we are getting closer to Troy (much faster than I had planned). No big deal, except I remember I always see a state trooper when going to Troy. 

We had just gotten to a very straight section of  231 where you could see a mile down the road when I spotted the trooper car headed north. The girls spotted him too and hit their brakes.

Not me, I hit the gas. My rule at the time was if you didn't see a law officer signalling you to pull over, you weren't avoiding them. So as my speed got into three digits, I didn't see the trooper any more.

I went a few miles at this clip and decided that maybe it would be nice to investigate a side road. Not the first one, not the second one. This one looks good, so I slowed and turned right. Well, 50 seemed slow at the time, but physics said otherwise. I think I spun a complete 180 before getting reoriented and heading off to the right (west).

I went a little ways and the road turned south. No problem, I was still headed to Troy (and way ahead of schedule). Next thing I knew, the road turned sharp left (east) and I was at a stop sign at the bottom of a hill and the trooper was coming down. lights and siren going.

It was over...

Then... he went past me and pulled over the girls from Florida. I got onto 231 heading south again. He had them pulled over on the right shoulder.

I got to my appointment VERY early (right beside 231) and parked my car at one end of the parking lot and I went to the other end to hang out. About 15-20 minutes later, I see the trooper headed south with the Florida car following close behind it. I got the feeling they were headed to the same place and somewhere I didn't want to go.

No one ever came for me, although I was certain they would.

I pretty much drove the speed limit after that.

At least for a while...