"may have kept" refers to a present moment?

[ostap77]

"As a result we learn our own tricks to keep ourselves out of trouble. Grabbing the microphone on your portable and talking to your imaginary backup in front of your suspect may have kept you from a fight or two."

Is it OK with "may have kept"? There is no clear reference to a moment in the past. Is it the way the speaker makes a suggestion that "Gabbing.......and talking....'' may keep an officer from a fight?

[Tdol]

It's past to me, but not a definite past- the speaker doesn't know if it's true, but thinks it could be.