While rolling through Knoxville at around 9 or 10 pm, at the traffic's pace of around 80 or 85, in my mirrors are a set of police lights. I pull over and place my hands on the mirrors to put the officer at ease, (a move an old criminal on a red America taught me.) As I pull my helmet off, it's apparent I'm wearing earphones hooked to an XM Radio, and there is a shiny Valentine One bird dog barking on my handlebars. The officer politely says "Your tailights are out." I ask if he would remain behind me on the highway's shoulder with his lights on so I can check things over. He cordially agrees. After a minute or two of pawing at the wires and fuses, I find the problem. The officer suggests I motor slowly down the shoulder, and that there is an auto parts store up off the next exit. Bear in mind my license plate is from 800 miles away from Knoxville, making for an easy guilty plea ticket.
Now, had that happened in CT, I can nearly promise you that:
A - I'd have gotten pinched for speed, earphones, and no lights.
B - I would have gotten towed for no tail lights, if only to absolve the officer of liability.
I was pre-occupied with planning my light repair issue, and later wished I had gotten his name, so that I could have sent a letter of praise to his superior officer outlining only the part of the story about the officer's competence and professionalism. I owed him at least that much for perhaps saving my life, and giving a rider far from home a break. Hopefully we'll meet again some day, and I can do a solid for him.
