Ever seen a Highway Patrolman sneak around behind a gas tank and furtively bury a plastic baggy full of marijuana?

I have.

Now.

Shut down my check station after dark and had just pulled into the highway shop pumps to gas up. One pump was occupied by a Patrol car, the other by one of my game wardens, so I pulled in behind the game warden.

Which was when I saw the young patrolman burying his stash in the dirt.

Then the game warden, on the other side of the tank, opened his door and Sandy came bursting out. She went immediately to the back of the tank, and then made a quick detour towards me.

I was grateful she didn't jump in. Not that I had the sisters with me (the wife rescued them from their boredom a little before sunset), and not that I had, or had ever had, any drugs in the truck. But hey, this is a dog, not a person. Maybe she likes Two-Bite brownies.

But no, she was all business. Sandy returned to the tank, even going up a few steps of the stairs before turning back to the ground. And then zeroing in on the stash.

Once her nose located the spot, she sort of sat on it. Not really a relaxed sit, more of a nervous sit, as if she was about to pee. But she had found it.

Just like she found 142 pounds of the weed on a traffic stop earlier today.

After that impressive impromptu demonstration/training session, the Patrolman idly played tennis ball with his four-legged partner while relating the details of the bust to us.

A tip to any of you on the wrong side of this law?

When asserting your Constitutional Rights and denying the nice peace officer the opportunity to search your vehicle, don't leave the window open.

If a drug-trained dog decides to jump in of her own volition, that is considered sufficient probable cause for a legal search.