If you’re not learning something every day, maybe you should check which cemetery you’re residing in.

Here in the news business, there’s always an opportunity to learn something. People call with information. When you’re working on a story, you learn something.

And then, just coming in contact with new people can be an education.

Take last Sunday, for instance.

I was happily driving along between Oxford and Tupelo on the way home from the Double Decker Festival, listening to the Ole Miss-LSU baseball game on the radio. My daughter and a friend were riding with me.

Up ahead, maybe just into Pontotoc County, I spotted some blue lights atop a hill on my right and wondered aloud what that could be about.

Of course, I checked my speed with relief to see I was within tolerable limits, then passed the MHP car as the ball game continued.

Dang, next thing I knew, that trooper was behind me with lights aglow.

I knew I wasn’t speeding, so I calmly pulled to the side of Highway 6.

Frankly, I hadn’t been pulled over for anything since August 1971, so odds were I was due for something.

Ma’am, have you ever heard about the Move Over Law? Trooper Brad Caldwell said as he asked for my driver’s license.

Well, yes, I sort of babbled – thinking he meant that I should pull over when I see cop-lights in my rear-view mirror.

No, no, he explained to me. This is a law passed about two years ago to protect law enforcement officers and other emergency workers on the side of the roadway. When you see their cars, you should move over one lane to make sure nobody gets hurt.

Dang, I said, I’m in the newspaper business and used to work for the state Senate, and I didn’t know about that, although I agreed I was in complete support of such a measure.

He went back to the MHP car, checking to see if I were a domestic terrorist or on the lam.

Ms. Brumfield, he said as he returned, I’m going to let you off with a warning, but I want to make sure you know what you’re supposed to do next time.

Officer, I said, looking at his name tag, I assure you I will know better the next time. And, I continued, let me thank you for the education because I work for a newspaper, and every Thursday I write a column, and sometimes, as my readers know by now, I don’t always have very good material.

Trooper Caldwell, you have provided me with an excellent column subject. It’s also the law in 39 other states.

To Steve Simpson, who is Trooper Caldwell’s boss, please note that he was very nice, although appropriately annoyed that I would make such a mistake on the roadway. It definitely was an educational experience.

Contact Patsy R. Brumfield at (662) 678-1596 or patsy.brumfield@djournal.com.