As reported by WJHG, Pesola expressed his amusement, stating, “I thought it was hilarious. I think that we have a speed issue in Montana, and I thought it was a great creative idea for the public to try and combat that a little bit without making people too upset.”
The following day, Pesola made an appearance and, acknowledging Baumgartner’s efforts, bestowed upon her a campaign hat and sticker badge, deeming her an honorary trooper. In recognition of her dedication to ensuring the safety of her grandchildren and neighborhood, Pesola wanted to honor Baumgartner despite her attempt to evade him. Though she tried to hide, Pesola already had her picture and had no intention of causing trouble. His aim was simply to bestow upon her the unofficial title of “Honorary Montana Trooper” for her inventive approach to addressing a serious speeding problem in her locality.
Montana had been grappling with a speeding issue, and Pesola appreciated Baumgartner’s civilian initiative to tackle the problem without causing significant discontent. Although unsure of what else he could do for her, Pesola wanted to acknowledge and recognize her efforts in some way for contributing to the safety of the area, even if only in a small way.
In presenting her with the trooper hat and badge, Pesola aimed to give her a more official appearance as she sat in her lawn chair. Interestingly, it wasn’t necessarily the notion of the grandmother wielding a speed gun that slowed down drivers. Instead, it was the intrigue of motorists trying to decipher why she was sitting by the road with a hairdryer. Regardless of the reason for the slowdown, Baumgartner’s mission was accomplished
