just got a speeding ticket

[bsean63 10+ year member]

it was a state route, and i was like a 1/4 mile away from the 55 mph zone

 

[AlterEgo99 5,000+ posts]

Ive lived in a lot of different states over the years. Surprisingly (to me at least), the seeming sensibility of speed limits seems to vary quite a bit depending on the state you are in. Midwestern states seem to be more conservative, while western states seem to be less so. Southern states seem to be hit or miss. Either way, I think its a bit naive to suggest speed limits are only for revenue generation, or strictly based on safety. The truth lies somewhere in between.
You saying the OP was traveling on a road that could easily support 45mph is simply a guess on your part. Yes speed limits tend to be rated conservatively more than recklessly (obviously), if in either direction... but some speed limits are right on the money. And speed limits have to take all situations into account.. is it a bright sunny summer day with high visibility, a foggy fall evening when visibility is poor? Is it raining heavily? Snowing? All these situations have to be accounted for, and leaving that up to each individual driver would lead to abuse based on the notion everyone thinks they are an above average driver, or above the rules. And sometimes statistics point out problem areas that common sense does not detect. Who knows why some certain seemingly innocuous curve on a road claims a statistically high number of lives each year, but if it does, it is the govt's responsibility to address the problem.

In the end, I guess I'll be that do gooder you talked about and say obey the speed limit. If the speed limits in your area are unjustly low, we have a system in which you can voice your opinion. Plenty of ways to do so. If you chose not to, and simply break the law... fine. But dont come here and ***** you were treated unfairly when the cop didnt let you off with a warning. The way i see it, you dont just take your life in your hands when you speed, you take the lives of everyone around in your hands too. A responsibility many people take far too lightly these days. Do I speed sometimes? Sure, im not suggesting I dont. But Im not so naive as to suggest there is no good reason for speed limits other than to generate revenue, or suggest most all speed limits are too low. But then, Im not so important that my time is too valuable to not be worth allowing me to leave for my destination 1-5 minutes sooner so that I can get there on time without doing 9mph over the limit.

If you want to discuss revenue, lets look at the other side of the coin. Its well know cops let people go 5mph over the limit before even considering pulling them over (usually). In my highschool drivers ed class years ago, the officer who came in to talk to us even said this. What happens when the vast majority of people assume they have the right to break the law by 5mph? The cops then have the right to pull over virtually anyone, at any time. Bam, automatic insurance policy to generate revenue, and to invade our privacy virtually at will. But as said above, if you want to fight this, dont use that 5mph that they 'give' you. 9mph? You should assume you'll get pulled over for that if a cop sees you. And assuming you will get a warning is just being naive. Complaining about it here only shows a lack of experience in dealing with this situation.

I'm simply responding to the OP who posted the thread with my opinion. I would not be bitching on this forum about getting a speeding ticket, trust me!

You are correct in that I was over generalizing a bit as I am sure that certain states are more liberal than others. For example, in my state most cops aren't going to pull you over unless you are doing at least 10-15 mph over the limit, and even then, well, they aren't as uptight about it as they are in other states. Also, if you are in my state with an out of state license plate, you are more likely to get pulled over as they figure you will just pay the fine versus fighting it. My state also does not directly impact your insurance rates with a speeding ticket. A state like MA, well, totally different story.

I don't "speed" to break the law just to tweak the local constabulary. I drive at a speed I am conmfortable with which means I am not screaming down the road nor am I putting along 5 to 10 mph BELOW the limit. Trust me, in my area, people cruising along BELOW the speed limit is pretty common. And yes, it drives me nuts. If they could at LEAST go the speed limit it would be nice. And for those who love to use the passing lane on freeways/highways as their personal cruising lane at the speed limit or 5 MPH over drives me nuts as well. It's a PASSING lane, not a CRUISING lane. And when you do attempt to pull into the passing lane, LOOK in your rearview or side mirror first AND if you see someone coming up in the passing lane, take a few seconds to see how fast they are closing the distance. Again, it drives me nuts when I am passing a group of cars and someone in the group decides they are going to pass and pops right out in front of me that requires me to slam on the brakes. There are a lot of people out there who drive with no regard for everyone else around them. I am a very alert, constantly vigilant AND concientious driver. I'm always scanning and watching out for the bozo who is not paying attention. Yes, I do let people go when I could easily cut them off like most people do. Yes, I do actually know what a yield sign means. And when someone does cut me off, I simply smile and wave.

When I get in my truck, I am intent on getting from point A to point B, period. I'm not out there to simply cruise along and go so damn slow I can watch a pair of squirrels mating along the side of the road. And yes, in my state, most of the speed limits are set ridiculously low, they just are.

And most cops do give me a warning when/if they do pull me over, radar detector or not. Why? Because I am polite and I haven't had a speeding ticket since 1989 (aka, no history). Being polite, not admitting how fast you were going and having a clean history goes a long way to not getting the actual ticket.

 

[AlterEgo99 5,000+ posts]

Oh yeah, and in the 28 years I have been motoring on the public highways and bi-ways, I have NEVER been involved in an accident. N-E-V-E-R. And I live in an area where winter really, really sucks. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

I agree with you that most people today dont seem to give a **** about the people around them. People using the passing lane for their own private cruising lane irks me to no end. Florida came out several years ago and said they would start ticketing people for abusing the passing lane. I knew it was just propaganda, as proving someone was abusing the passing lane requires more time than most officers are willing to put into such a simple ticket, but at least it was something.

Something that irks me too is when someone pulls out into traffic from a side street, requiring you to brake, and then you look behind you and see there are no cars for as far back as you can see. So instead of that person waiting for you to pass by before pulling out, he pulls out in front of you, requiring you to wait for him, when he had all the road behind you to 'merge' into. Again so many people today think they are the center of the world, and everyone else should bow before them. Things like this upset me because, like you jk, I try to be polite on the road, and expect politeness in return. More often than not, it is not returned. Just like taking the time to hold a door open for a stranger, knowing there is little chance they would have done the same had the roles been reversed. And then they dont even say thankyou. People piss me off. But being polite isnt about getting back like behavior, its about knowing you are polite and courteous yourself. Still, it gets frustrating sometimes. But its that very self-centered nature people display on the road that leads to necessary evils like cautionary speed limits. If they are allowed to, people will take advantage anywhere they can

Cheers.

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

I agree with you that most people today dont seem to give a **** about the people around them. People using the passing lane for their own private cruising lane irks me to no end. Florida came out several years ago and said they would start ticketing people for abusing the passing lane. I knew it was just propaganda, as proving someone was abusing the passing lane requires more time than most officers are willing to put into such a simple ticket, but at least it was something.
Something that irks me too is when someone pulls out into traffic from a side street, requiring you to brake, and then you look behind you and see there are no cars for as far back as you can see. So instead of that person waiting for you to pass by before pulling out, he pulls out in front of you, requiring you to wait for him, when he had all the road behind you to 'merge' into. Again so many people today think they are the center of the world, and everyone else should bow before them. Things like this upset me because, like you jk, I try to be polite on the road, and expect politeness in return. More often than not, it is not returned. Just like taking the time to hold a door open for a stranger, knowing there is little chance they would have done the same had the roles been reversed. And then they dont even say thankyou. People piss me off. But being polite isnt about getting back like behavior, its about knowing you are polite and courteous yourself. Still, it gets frustrating sometimes. But its that very self-centered nature people display on the road that leads to necessary evils like cautionary speed limits. If they are allowed to, people will take advantage anywhere they can

Cheers.

I always hold the door for everyone, and since I'm still in college, a lot of the people I do this for are college age students, so a lot of them are ill-mannered punks, but I still do it. When I purposely wait and hold the door for someone, and they don't say thank you, it makes me want to punch them in the face.

 

[IamDeMan 5,000+ posts]

Lol I love when ppl throw in the little defenseless jabs like they are so perfect and do everything by the book

We aren't pretending to be perfect. However, you will not find us coming on to a forum and blaming some officer doing his job because we got a citation for breaking the law. It is one thing to speed, and it is another to come in here crying poor me when they get caught.

 

[bsean63 10+ year member]

You sound over priced.

oh im worth it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[Snow90 10+ year member]

Pissed at yourself I hope... Please tell me you aren't one of those guys that gets pissed at the cops for doing their job when you break the law? Slow down.

Did it with rice too.

 

[Villeza1 10+ year member]

Oh yeah, and in the 28 years I have been motoring on the public highways and bi-ways, I have NEVER been involved in an accident. N-E-V-E-R. And I live in an area where winter really, really sucks. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Shit happens man...

 

[forbidden 10+ year member]

Oh, and to the person who said all cars have seat belts, you simply arent old enough to remember when seat belts were options in cars. Many of my old muscle cars through the years either came with no seat belt, or came equipped with lap-belts (not over the shoulder). Lap belts have been proven to be so dangerous (cause internal injuries even in relatively slow crashes) that the seat belt requirement for vehicles equipped with them was removed. And if you own a car that did not come from the factory with seat belts, there is no law requiring you add them (or hence, wear them).

At my age, I am most certainly one of the people that are from that era and I should have made a more accurate statement rather than a blanket one that the older generation know is different. For the latest generation of drivers (up to say 30 years old or even a little higher or lower depending on location) driving the vehicles that are most frequenctly encountered on the roads today, I cannot think of one that did not have a seatbelt in it nor can I think of one Province or State where the use of a seatbelt is not mandatory. (for the record the Motor Vehicle Act here in BC makes certain laws inapplicable to law enforcement personel - one of which is use of a seatbelt)

I have a 69 Barracuda Convertable hiding in the garage.... lap belts....

 

[AlterEgo99 5,000+ posts]

Shit happens man...

Not yet it hasn't! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[AlterEgo99 5,000+ posts]

I agree with you that most people today dont seem to give a **** about the people around them. People using the passing lane for their own private cruising lane irks me to no end. Florida came out several years ago and said they would start ticketing people for abusing the passing lane. I knew it was just propaganda, as proving someone was abusing the passing lane requires more time than most officers are willing to put into such a simple ticket, but at least it was something.
Something that irks me too is when someone pulls out into traffic from a side street, requiring you to brake, and then you look behind you and see there are no cars for as far back as you can see. So instead of that person waiting for you to pass by before pulling out, he pulls out in front of you, requiring you to wait for him, when he had all the road behind you to 'merge' into. Again so many people today think they are the center of the world, and everyone else should bow before them. Things like this upset me because, like you jk, I try to be polite on the road, and expect politeness in return. More often than not, it is not returned. Just like taking the time to hold a door open for a stranger, knowing there is little chance they would have done the same had the roles been reversed. And then they dont even say thankyou. People piss me off. But being polite isnt about getting back like behavior, its about knowing you are polite and courteous yourself. Still, it gets frustrating sometimes. But its that very self-centered nature people display on the road that leads to necessary evils like cautionary speed limits. If they are allowed to, people will take advantage anywhere they can

Cheers.

I live in a state the borders MA and them folks come up here A LOT to escape all the taxes...soooooo...I'm used to really obnoxious drivers. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[Villeza1 10+ year member]

Not yet it hasn't! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

I know, but watch your back...them old peepz are still drivin. Lol

 

[statonburrell 10+ year member]

orly