Be Careful in Newbury NH

[Fred W]

So, I was returning home from a fine coupl'o days of testing NERDly routes up in the Stowe, Vermont area (and environs) with FJRed on Tuesday thru Thursday, and I decided that rather than slabbing it all the way back down I-89 to I-93 to home, that I'd take one of my preferred two lane routes down Rte 114. I exited I-89 at Georges Mills and ran down along the east side of Lake Sunapee (Rte 103A), to Newbury, then hooked up with Rte 103 headed down to 114.

All was well, until I looked into my rear views and saw the dreaded flashing blues. It seems that the local Newbury constabulary likes to run around in unmarked cars (a Ford Taurus) and was following me for a while before I made a (judicious, IMO) pass on a double yellow. The cop didn't seem to have any radar running as my detector was totally silent (even though I may have been exceeding the posted limits ), But the blues in the mirror are a dead give away that the jig it up.

After fumbling around to find a spot to pull over, I tried to follow all of the advice I've ever learned on handling a mediocre pull over. First I pulled the helmet off to display my gloriously gray hair. I also tried to be respectful, even though he was clearly about 20 years younger than me.

Then when he asked the standard question: "Do you know why I pulled you over?" At first I just did not answer. Then when he repeated the question, I said "No, but I'm sure that you will tell me." (In retrospect, that was not a good answer, as it may have shown too much "attitude" and gotten him riled up. A simple "No." would have been much better)

Next question was the (also completely unnecessary) "Where are you coming from?". I really don't get this question. Maybe they are just naturally curious? But I answered it truthfully and said "Stowe Vermont."

And the third question was: "When was the last time you were pulled over?" Luckily, I was also able to answer truthfully, "A very long time ago." He went back to his Taurus to run my license and reg.

Wait, wait, wait...

"Well," he says on return, "the only reason that you aren't getting a ticket is I don't have any in my car." (really? :blink: BTW, he was the "Chief of Police in Newbury, if the embroidery on his shirt can be believed).

"We have two more of us out here, and then there are our friends in Bradford. So keep it in control until you get way east of us." :blink:

I guess it's OK with him if I speed and pass on DY in Weare or Manchester? This was starting to become a strange encounter.

Anyway, I consider myself very lucky to have escaped the financial penalties they were able to exert. I think being an "older guy" with no previous records is what got me the green light. I'm sure that he could'a got (or had) a ticket if he wanted one. I know that I will always look behind me at the cars (even in the far distance) before I make a DY pass again.

So, Northeasterners, watch out for those unmarked Ford Tortoises in Newbury, NH!! I know that I have buzzed through there on a few occasions in the past.

PS - As I was rolling thru the Newbury/Bradford line just down the road (at near the speed limit), my RD went off .

I couldn't see from where, but I envision my new "friend" was checking to see if I had learned my lesson.

Then I wicked it back up the rest of the way home...

 

[Geezer]

You are a lucky hooligan. Glad you still have all of your money.

Usually, if I know that he knows I was speeding I'll answer 'do you know why I pulled you over' with 'I guess I might have been exceeding the speed limit'. I've never had a LEO hold that against me.

The fact that you were coming from VT, where passing on a double yellow is legal, might have been a positive thing in your favor.

 

[snikr]

And I was thinking of heading that way Sunday on our way to Maine. Maybe not now. Thanks for the "heads up" Fred. And thank goodness he didn't have any tickets :yahoo:

Tom

 

[Dennis in NH]

Interesting. I was in Francistown, NH this morning and the only one on a stretch of hw136 and I spotted a cop. I was probably doing 10 over the limit or less due to bumpy road and nice scenery. He stuck his arm out of the window and pointed/motioned down. I hope it meant slow down because all I did was nod and slow a little and continued on. I turned off the main road just in case I was wrong.

I was on my R6 which just looks like a law breaker. I'm glad nothing more happened as I don't have the luxury of looking older or sporting distinguished gray hair

I think it was just cop day due to exceptionally nice weather today. I'm thinking about installing a radar detector.

Dennis

Ps. Thanks for the heads up on the unmarked cars

 

[CAJW]

You are a lucky hooligan. Glad you still have all of your money.

Usually, if I know that he knows I was speeding I'll and the 'why I pulled you over' with 'I guess I might have been exceeding the speed limit'. I've never had a LEO hold that against me.

The fact that you were coming from VT, where passing on a double yellow is legal, might have been a positive thing in your favor.

+1, Fred, you need to go purchase a lottery ticket as today's your day.

Double yellow passes are legal in VT? I'd gladly trade lane splitting sharing for that any day here in Commiefornia.

 

[SacramentoMike]

Passing on the DY was a surprise to me too. But I had the same lucky break as Fred in my car a few years back in Death Valley. NP Ranger pulled me over for about 20 over.

He told me "This is your lucky day, because I went jetting out of the office so fast this morning I forgot my ticket book. But slow it down, OK?" So I said the same thing you would have said: "OK!"

 

[Fred W]

Usually, if I know that he knows I was speeding I'll and the 'why I pulled you over' with 'I guess I might have been exceeding the speed limit'. I've never had a LEO hold that against me.

You never want to admit to anything, ever. Best response to the "Do you know why I stopped you?" question is: "No", or "Not really".

I think the fact that I did not even admit to passing on a double yellow when he told me I did (I asked him if he was sure it was double yellow) gave him the idea that I might challenge his ticket. He also saw my radar detector so he knew that I knew he didn't clock me on radar.

Actually, when he told me he didn't have any tickets, so just slow down till I cleared his jurisdiction, I replied with a big "THANKS!"

 

[lonerider]

I think the fact that I did not even admit to passing on a double yellow when he told me I did (I asked him if he was sure it was double yellow) gave him the idea that I might challenge his ticket. He also saw my radar detector so he knew that I knew he didn't clock me on radar.

And, if he is the chief, he probably would prefer not to have to show up in court for a traffic citation. That's what underlings are for.

 

[RaYzerman19]

Those first couple of questions are all about establishing superiority and who's in control. And.... you don't believe that "I forgot my ticket book" line do you really? He had it, just didn't wanna use it.

 

[Fred W]

Those first couple of questions are all about establishing superiority and who's in control. And.... you don't believe that "I forgot my ticket book" line do you really? He had it, just didn't wanna use it.

That was my initial reaction, which was why I thanked him, for being an OK guy and not giving me the ticket (that I rightly deserved).

Today on our NERDS breakfast run and ride, I didn't pass on a double yellow even once.

Wanted to several times, but SWMBO was on the back. :lol:

 

[BkrK12]

Fred, I wanted to double yellow pass that Quebec guy, hauling the trailer ( as we got to WRV ) so badly I was itching. One look in the mirrors though, told me we'd never all make it.

Dan

 

[Fred W]

You'd be surprised, Dan, how many FJR guys can get around a slacker on the road. And being in VT, it would have been completely legal!! Yeah, I'd have passed him.

But it was a Fine Day Out! The air was clear and fresh. The views along the CT river were (nearly) delicious. Nothing could mess that up...

We did stop for lunch at the Hungry Bear Pub, even though nobody was all that hungry after the late (and big) breakfast. I am most appreciative that everyone made that supreme sacrifice as I wanted to include the Hungry Bear as a lunch stop on one of the NERDS routes but had never eaten there. It's a keeper. (Bison Burger was delish!)

After lunch, the six of us (four bikes) rode across Rte 25 to 25C (a bit bumpy) to 25 again then down Rte 3A past Newfound Lake. We split up in Franklin with George abd Tony heading west on 104 and Alan an I continuing down 3A and 3.

All I can say is, if I could just have just a few more days like today in my life, I could die a happy man.

 

[MarFJR]

Being the tail guy, I did use some of the DY when we passed. At one pass I saw it was unsafe to get pass the last car of the 4 we where trying to get in the rear view and started to bring it back over to the right.

The funny thing is the car in front of me went to the right, giving me room to gun it past him. I didn’t take the shot at the time being uncertain as to his intent. And I didn’t want him to think I was playing from a different road rules book than him.

But it was nice to be seen and the guy giving me room to get left or jet past him.

+1 to the cager

 

[MarFJR]

PS

I was hungry at the bear

 

[Nikk]

I need a map I can'g figure out where you were. Since I'm heading through there end-Aug. I was trying to figure it out.

I never knew it was legal to mass on the double yellow in any state, I need to look that up!

 

[Fred W]

Sorry about that, Nikk. Since I posted this in the Northeast section as a warning I figured the locals would know exactly where I was talking about. Wasn't thinking about visitors.

Here's the exact location: Click for link to GoogleMap

I came down rte 103A from along Lake Sunapee and got onto Rte 103 east. That intersection is in a little village area. Out of town, down 103 a ways was where I got pulled over by the unmarked car that had followed me out of the village.

And, yes. It is not illegal (that makes it legal) to pass on a double yellow line both in Vermont. and in Pennsylvania. The reasoning behind that is (supposedly) that there is so much sharing of the narrow road with agricultural equipment.

In both states, No Passing zones have to be marked via signage (not just double yellow painted lines) and there are also clauses in their regulations about not passing without a clear view for a reasonable distance.

In New Hampshire you are not allowed to cross any unbroken center line (yellow, white, double or single). With the following exception:

"In case such driver has an unobstructed view and can see the end of the said unbroken painted line."

There are many places where you can begin a pass prior to the part that is actually dashed, so long as you can see far enough ahead to see the dashed part and the road is clear ahead.

 

[road runner]

You never want to admit to anything, ever. Best response to the "Do you know why I stopped you?" question is: "No", or "Not really".

I think the fact that I did not even admit to passing on a double yellow when he told me I did (I asked him if he was sure it was double yellow) gave him the idea that I might challenge his ticket. He also saw my radar detector so he knew that I knew he didn't clock me on radar.

Actually, when he told me he didn't have any tickets, so just slow down till I cleared his jurisdiction, I replied with a big "THANKS!"

Yes, you always have to watch what you say. They can put what you say on a supporting deposition, and that goes to court. Don't ask me how I know.

 

[Fred W]

Yes, you always have to watch what you say. They can put what you say on a supporting deposition, and that goes to court. Don't ask me how I know.

As a very wise person once told me: "Once you say something, you can't unsay it." (that was my Dad)

Of course this doesn't stop me from sticking my foot in my mouth on a regular basis...

 

[Pepperell]

My favorite answer is "I was travelling at a speed that was resonable and proper for the conditions that prevailed." I beat a ticket I got in front of the Nashua police station when it went to court using this line plus taking notes of everything he said and all the conditions, plate number of the cruiser, badge #, the amount of time the officer took, etc.

But really, how can you argue with that statement...

Edit: I was just thinking about this; it was in the '80's; I was driving an '84 Dodge Colt Turbo twin-stick...