It was May 1975 when my friend and I were cruising through Stafford County, VA on I-95 at 4:30 am. We were at the end of a 10 day break in Myrtle Beach, after finishing our second college semester of our freshman year. We were both 19 years old. I was driving a 1974 Datsun 260z sports car between 65-90 mph, trying to reach College Park, MD before 7 am. There wasn’t a car to be seen and all of a sudden there was a car behind me, high beams and red lights glaring. I was being pulled over by a “Trooper” and cited for speeding. I was going 78 mph in a 55 zone……and there wasn’t a car in sight.

Since I had a New York State license & tags, and Virginia did not have a reciprocity agreement with NY State for traffic violations at that time (1975), the trooper gave me a ticket and told me to follow him to the Stafford County Municipal Courthouse.

I was arraigned before a Judge, pleaded guilty, and fined $54.75. Between my friend and I, we had about $40, which left us short on cash, but I had my check book. The Judge/Sheriff declined my check and my watch, and advised me to call my parents, and have them wire the money. I complied and after speaking with my very concerned mother, I was escorted into the “Intake” area.

In this intake area I was instructed that I was to be detained and was then told to empty my pockets, take off my belt, and shoe laces. I was then led to a cell inside the jail….that’s right, I was being put behind bars like a common criminal because I didn’t have the $14.75 to pay a speeding ticket fine. I spent a day Inside a cell with about 15 other “inmates” waiting for Western Union to wire the money.

That was 43 years ago and by the look of these comments, these clowns are still running the ole speed trap scam…….

That was the first and last time I was in Stafford County VA.