... but this is the first time I've been targeted – as far as I know.
Septembr 16, 2020, I was returning through D.C. from Chevy Chase when I passed several police cars investigating something on the other side of the road.
One had multiple flashing lights ablaze, but the incident must have been wrapping up because another turned around and fell in behind me. Perhaps the Virginia license plate also attracted his interest.
Well aware of the city's recently-instituted 25 mile-per-hour speed limit – everywhere – I stayed under. His brightly-painted SUV didn't make for a very stealthy tail.
Seeing no action, he pulled alongside – to take a look? I feigned disinterest – eyes on the road ahead, both hands on the steering wheel, shoulder harness buckled, phone on dashboard displaying a GPS map. He eventually pulled away down the road.
A touch of paranoia? Au contraire!
As I approached an intersection, the traffic light turned yellow, and he suddenly slowed. When I dutifully stopped at the still-yellow signal, he sped up again and was soon out of sight.