When I was moving to Starkville, I had my truck loaded with stuff, and exited at the MS12 exit off of US82. I was tooling down 12 going past the Palmeiro Center, at the same speed as several other vehicles, when the blue bubblegum lights came on behind me. I pulled over just past the Comfort Suites, pulled out my registration, proof of insurance and driver's license. I had no idea why I was being stopped. I got out of my truck, and waited by the door, while the SPD officer did his license plate check. The officer came out of his car, and told me to get back in the truck, which I did. He then walked up to the window, and handed me a ticket. I asked him what I had done, and he said "you were clocked at 66 in a 45 zone." I then said, "but I was slowing to 45." He then said in a menacing voice, "are you arguing with me?" I said, "No, Sir, just explaining I wasn't familiar with the speed limit, because I am just moving here, and had slowed to the flow of the traffic." He then said, "I don't think you have the things in the back of your truck properly secured. Are you sure you want to argue with me? " I said, "No Sir." He then said, "I didn't think so. You have the choice to pay the ticket or go to court on the date at the bottom of the citation." He then walked back to his car #32.
In four decades of driving, I have never been treated so curtly or felt so threatened by police like I did that day. I later asked some local friends about this, and they said my experience was not unsual.
