I can definitely understand why several previous reviewers don't like this episode, because of the writing or the storyline. The story is convoluted indeed. (This episode really needed a good editor.)
Despite the glaring flaws,it is still an interesting episode for a few reasons.
Jim Rockford gets stuck in the middle of a long-running,
high stakes shakedown/scam in a crooked small town.
Everything shady,dishonest and rotten shown in this episode really does happen in real life,without question.
There really are some crooked small towns that are run like de-facto fiefdoms,sometimes by multigenerational family clans,it's not just a tv trope. There certainly are speedtraps and shakedowns and who-knows what other shenanigans that go on in small towns and big cities all over the place.
It's sad but true.
The problem with this episode is that there are way-too many intertwined aspects which are either farfetched to begin with or they are far-too convenient to be believed. It is just not realistic.
The actual writing itself is not bad,because most of the individual,separate aspects of the plot are believable by themselves. The trouble is that they've jammed together what is easily enough material to make several episodes here,and it is crowded with convenient coincidences.
In a lesser tv series,a story this crazy would likely doom an episode.
(However,this is the Rockford files !)
The great acting by all,combined with the usual high production-values manage to salvage this overly- convoluted tale.
This whole episode is pretty-much non-stop action,it may be ridiculous but it definitely isn't boring.
Despite the flaws,I still enjoyed this busy episode.
Please check it out,see what you think,and let us know !
( I had to smirk when the young-lady loaned Jim her car,a 'brown Maverick' ! 🤡 )