An interesting evening.

[Wolfman]

Tonight I went to a GM sanctioned test drive event for the new Saturn Astra. To make a long story short, I loved the car. The drive home after this event, was where things got "interesting." Since NTMS is right along my commute route, I was on my normal commuting route to the house. On this drive, there is a section where State Highway 114 merges into US 287, and then exits right back off again. I have to follow this exit to continue home. Prior to reaching this merge, I notice a Local cop running radar. I don't care, as I was driving the minitruck, which had me running 10 mph under the max posted limit. The cop did pull out onto the road after I passed, but made no concerted effort to catch up to me. At that, he did end up settling in behind me, due to my slower speed. I run through the merge, exit routine, and stop at a stop sign to make my left turn. As soon as I make the left, he lights me up. I continue across the bridge to a safe place to stop, which was just long enough to get him to tap his siren.

After I stop, he walks up and states that he stopped me for failure to use a turn signal. I politely question this, as I distinctly remember using my signals, knowing full well that he's right behind me. He insists that I didn't so I tell him pretty much whatever, and I'll take my tax slip. This comment gets him to stop with a "huh?" before simply going back to his car. I don't think I sit on the road for a full minute, when he's back at my window, handing me my stuff back, and telling me that all I'm getting is a warning. The cop then cannot wait to start into 20 questions about my truck. We chat on the side of the road a few mintues, and I end up handing the officer a card with the seller's information for the minitrucks.

It's not everyday that one gets pulled over, only to give the COP a pice of paper. :D

So Jason, if a Rhome cop calls you up with an odd little story about pulling over one of these trucks, and wants to look at one, that was me. :D

[Japan_Car_Exports]

That's a great story. Where you were driving you're allowed on the roads with minitruck?

[Wolfman]

The State of Texas is at current, allowing them to be driven on the roads after they pass the state's basic safety inspection, and emissions test in the counties that require it. As has been mentioned before, this is NOT at the consent of the EPA, so you exporters over there need to continue to install the shifter plates.

[NorthTexasMiniTrucks]

Wolfman,

Thanks for the "publicity"! Glad it worked out for the best, other than a slight delay in gettting home. I imagine the turn signal excuse was just a reason to pull you over to fullly check you out to make sure you were legal (i.e. registration, insurance, inspection, etc.).

[Wolfman]

Nah, no delay in getting home, I ended up diverting to Lowes to look for some stuff to strip the popcorn texture off of my ceiling. I ended up passing out another card to another individual there.

[TetsuKuma]

If I got a couple of bucks for every card I have handed out I would be a dealer myself and just for the business cards alone! I can't believe how fast a handful of cards will just "disappear" in a matter of days or weeks.

[Wolfman]

Yeah. they make good cheap advertisements, though.