When the cops aren’t there for you, you might as well take matters into your own hands. That’s what one grandmother from Finley Point, Montana, did – and became a viral star in the process.
Patti Baumgartner lives in an area where drivers tend to ignore the posted speed limit. Tired of always seeing her neighbors afraid to walk or ride their bikes around, and afraid for the safety of her own grandkids, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
Sure, she didn’t have a radar gun to bust those speed demons, but she had another idea that might work. So, armed with a refreshing beverage and her hair blow dryer, she sat herself on a garden chair by the side of the road, ready for the task at hand: to scare speeding drivers into slowing down.
Her son took her picture while she was out on the mission and posted it to social media, where it went viral. Montana Highway Patrol trooper Noah Pesola also took notice of it, praising Patti for doing something for the community. He even made her an honorary “junior trooper” and gave her a hat and badge to make her job a tad more official. He didn’t give her a proper radar gun, though, so she’s back to her ever-reliable blow dryer.
“They forget to slow down and there are lots of people that are complaining about that, they can't walk or ride their bikes. I wouldn't even attempt riding my bike around,” Patti tells KRTV. “We were talking about maybe something would slow the cars down. So we decided to put me in a chair and I guess use the hair dryer as a speed thing.”
Trooper Pesola admits that he found the application of the idea “hilarious,” but the idea itself was brilliant. Seeing someone doing something for the good of the community is always commendable, as long as it’s not illegal or dangerous to them. And Patti sitting on her garden chair, with her blow dryer pointed at passing cars while she’s sipping tea or coffee or some other refreshment is definitely neither illegal nor dangerous.
Sure, she didn’t have a radar gun to bust those speed demons, but she had another idea that might work. So, armed with a refreshing beverage and her hair blow dryer, she sat herself on a garden chair by the side of the road, ready for the task at hand: to scare speeding drivers into slowing down.
Her son took her picture while she was out on the mission and posted it to social media, where it went viral. Montana Highway Patrol trooper Noah Pesola also took notice of it, praising Patti for doing something for the community. He even made her an honorary “junior trooper” and gave her a hat and badge to make her job a tad more official. He didn’t give her a proper radar gun, though, so she’s back to her ever-reliable blow dryer.
“They forget to slow down and there are lots of people that are complaining about that, they can't walk or ride their bikes. I wouldn't even attempt riding my bike around,” Patti tells KRTV. “We were talking about maybe something would slow the cars down. So we decided to put me in a chair and I guess use the hair dryer as a speed thing.”
Trooper Pesola admits that he found the application of the idea “hilarious,” but the idea itself was brilliant. Seeing someone doing something for the good of the community is always commendable, as long as it’s not illegal or dangerous to them. And Patti sitting on her garden chair, with her blow dryer pointed at passing cars while she’s sipping tea or coffee or some other refreshment is definitely neither illegal nor dangerous.
This Lady is helping @TrooperPesola slow drivers down on Finley Point. She’s running radar with her #SoloCup #FinleyPoint #SlowDown pic.twitter.com/zicvdRpCyc
— Timmy B (@timmyb48) August 18, 2019
I was able to find Ms. Patti.
— Trooper N. Pesola (@TrooperPesola) August 20, 2019
She was made an honorary Trooper with a campaign hat and sticker badge for her work to keep her grandkids safe. #SlowDown#KidsCrossing#KeepOurKidsSafe https://t.co/M2EYlDQlku pic.twitter.com/eaAh4s1It2