"Is this your car?"

So I decided I was going to take my grandmother out for lunch today and decided to take her out in the Dart since it's been the first hot sunny day.

We went to this nice little restaurant and just got our meals when I looked out the window and seen an RCMP Officer (police for you non-canadians) pulled up in his cruiser and park next to the Dart.

I figured he was just going to come and have something to eat but after 10 minutes he was still sitting in his cruiser. Finally he gets out of the car and starts looking at the Dart. I figured he just liked the car and was looking it over.

The Officer then takes out his little notebook and starts walking around the Dart while writing things down.

I immediately jumped up from my seat and went outside wondering what was going on. I had so many things running through my head. Did someone call my car in for something I didn't do? I live in a town of about 11,000 people so my car sticks out like a sore thumb and it's been known to happen before to some of the other car guys in town. I also thought that maybe the officer witnessed someone scratching my car or who knows what.

So I walk up to the officer just as he's peaking through the windshield.

"Hi."

"Hello. Is this your car?"

"Yes.........."

"Ok."

The officer goes back to scribbling in his notebook for a second or two.

"Can I help you Officer?"

"Oh yes. We have a bet going on what make, model, and year your car is and I'm trying to find out so I can win the bet."

"Excuse me?"

"Well I was going to run your VIN to see what came up but I noticed you don't have a VIN plate. Why is that?"

"It's on the door frame, you can only see it when the door is open."

"Well so much for cheating. So... what year is the car?"

By this time a cricket could have knocked me over. I started laughing and told him exactly what my car was and what year it was. I explained that I what was going through my mind when I seen him looking at my car and he started laughing.

He was originally waiting for me to come out of the restaurant but got tired of waiting....

He did tell me that my car instantly drew the notice of every officer simply because they were worried about a young guy like me driving around a muscle car. He's even told me a few times I've been "followed" for short periods in the middle of the night while driving (I sometimes get off work at midnight) during the weekends. He said he'd mention to the officers that I was a nice young guy and not a trouble maker.

"Thanks...."

He then went on his way and I went back to my now luke warm lunch.