Wyoming Speed Limit

Back in the last century the speed limit in Montana was 'whatever is reasonable an proper' and in 1995 while driving with my mistress in a rented car I passed a piggy back truck at 110 on I-90 east. A Montana Statie hid about five car-lengths before the Peterbilt. Barbara told me to slow down.

"No, if I step on the brakes, the officer will know I'm guilty of something."

I maintained the speed. Nothing happened.

Four years later Maybe 1999. I was on a road trip with my father through Montana and Wyoming. My mother had passed two years previously and we both loved the road. My mother had loved the road too.

Someplace desolate and flat north of the Wind River Mountains on 120 I was driving ten miles over the speed limit. A state troopper car was coming in the opposite direction. The car passed and u-turned with lights flashing. I hadn't seen a car in twenty minutes. I pulled over to the breakdown lane and rolled down the window.

The green-shirted trooper asked why I was speeding at 75. He pulled down the brim of his campaign hat, as if to indicate he expected the truth.

"In other states you can drive ten years over the speed limit." I was a good citzen. At least I hadn't had anything tio drink at lunch on Thermopolis. that was the truth, not an explanation.

"Wyoming isn't other states. This is a warning. Kept it to 65."

I thanked the officer and time seemed to stop at 65. When my father took over, he leadfooted to 100. "They aren't any other police out here."

And he was right all the way to Cody.