1976, U.S. 54 outside of Pastura N.M. Me in new Chevy, Michigan plates doing 80/55. Middle of the afternoon, nobody on the road except me and a idiot bumper tagging me with a POS pickup.

Broke over a hill, NMSP on the shoulder ahead. I didn’t even miss a beat, just pulled over in front of him as the truck continues past, tailgate down with the license plate bolted to it. Cop pulled up alongside me, motions to follow him as he activates lights and siren. So here I am following him 90-95 or so chasing the pickup.

Pickup finally pulls over, cop between us. Walks back to me first and says “License and registration, wait here” as he goes to the pickup. Has a few words with the pickup driver, makes him put his gate in the up position so the plate can be read and lets him go. I thought “I’m screwed now!”

So while my license is being run he asks me how long I’ve been on the road, where I’m going ( not many out of staters drove 54, bypassing Albuquerque) and how long was I staying. I replied “I can stay for a court appearance for about a week then I have to get back to work”. He started to laugh and said “You’re sure you’re getting a ticket?” I replied “Damn right!”

So after telling him I left metro Detroit the day before he said “55 all the way right?”

Anyhow, he let me off saying “Welcome to New Mexico. No ticket today but I’m going to tell you that there aren’t many of us (state police) here but if I hear your plate being run you can be sure that the officer that stopped you knows you were stopped and given a warning”

That was a long and slow drive at 55 afterwards.