“IMPROPER LANE usage” is handwritten on the warning citation. The officer offers a lengthy explanation, which doesn’t clarify the exact nature of the violation. Merton smiles and says “yes sir” as he signs and accepts the ticket. He’d played this scene often enough 40 years ago. Felonious unconventional hairstyle was grounds to be stopped just to see if you’d say or do anything stupid back then. It seems so long ago.

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