I was driving to work this morning after 530 and traveling 100 km which was the posted speed limit, despite what I totally admit were not ideal conditions. I saw and passed 2 CPS vehicles that were in the center lane and going less than the speed limit.
Shortly after, my wife was awoken at home with a phone call from a private number and a male simply asking "(wife's first name), who is driving your vehicle?" She initially thought it was our neighbor and was confused due to the very early wake up call. While processing the question, the caller said "this is the CPS. Who is driving your (year, make, mode)l vehicle."
Because she didn't know who the caller truly was and initially thought it could be a scam, she said "I don't think so." The officers reply was "fine, if you want to play it that way" and my wife hung up.
A few minutes later, I was pulled over, I turned on my interior lights, and gave them license, reg, etc. The officer told me that he thought I was traveling too fast for the conditions and specifically mentioned that he was tempted to give me a ticked based on the way my wife spoke to him on the phone. I didn't know about the call at that time. He asked if I noticed the 2 cars I passed in the ditch. I had - they were there yesterday when I drove home. He asked if I thought I was driving at an appropriate speed. I told him I did indeed pass his vehicle but never went above the posted speed limit unless he had radar that proved otherwise.
He asked me if I had winter tires and if I felt comfortable driving the way I was in those conditions. I explained that I had all season tires (which were less than a month old) and because I travel so much for work, and all across the country, I am very accustomed to driving in all weather conditions and didn't feel I was being reckless whatsoever.
He mentioned how he did not appreciate having to drive 110 km/h in order to catch up on me to pull me over. I again stated that I was only going 100 km an hour and was comfortable driving these conditions.
He then gave me back my license, told me to slow down and said that he would not give me a ticket based on my personal demeanor but in the same breath also suggested I have a talk with my wife to tell her how to behave on the phone when the police call. Then was free to go.
Questions:
If I was in the wrong, why would a officer choose to run the plates, get the owners number and call instead of simply pulling me over as soon as I passed them?
I'm really ticked that based on his own words, me getting pulled over seemed to be nothing more than a vindictive power trip because my wife refusal to answer questions from a private number.
I do fully understand that the posted speed limit is for ideal conditions and that the weather was less than ideal this morning. I get that. I drive 50-60k/year in all provinces and all conditions. I'm far from invincible and happily drive slower when in adverse conditions but did not feel as though today's road conditions warranted me going slower. The interaction clearly worked though as I drove 80-90 on my way home and sneered at the Dodge Rams who flew by me while doing the posted 100km
And then the question is: What IS the speed you are supposed to go? Does 3cms of snow automatically mean I have to drive 90 in a 100 zone? Less? How am I supposed to determine that next time aside from maybe not actually passing a CPS vehicle even when not technically speeding. And how do officers determine driver capability? I'd argue I'm a better driver than most who haven't driven much in snow. It all just seems very subjective.
Wife and I both have a great deal of respect for anyone in uniform but this interaction really sours me and I feel as though the offices conduct lacked professionalism.