Check out this Dumb ticket I just got

[Luna.]

Originally Posted by thebigjimsho

My problem is the NHTSA and many lobbyist groups talk about speeding this and speeding that and throw the term speeding in anything that involves going 1MPH or more over the limit. Almost every report will have speeding. But what was a bigger cause, the speeding or impairment by alcohol, speeding or not knowing how to handle your car, speeding or lack of attention? There is quite a difference between speeding responsibly and speeding recklessly. Because, you see, limits that were set decades ago don't necessarily apply to today's vehicles. You can call me out for being rebellious and a scofflaw, but I know what I'm doing. And I know how to control and maneuver a vehicle to stay out of accidents. And I do it well...

AMEN...

Especially the bolded part.

Further, the speed limits that are currently used are for the most pathetic, say, 5% of the population. Age, car driven, talent of driver, maturity, etc. are NOT considered in the law due to various things, like how complex it would be to implement, how to measure certain attributes, etc. But these factors DO play a role in avoiding accidents; probably a huge one at that.

Nonetheless, since they can't do that, the only answer becomes clear--hold EVERYONE accountable to the same bullsh*t, "lower-level."

Why?

Simplicy for one, but there's an even much more driving reason on top of that...

MONEY

A HUGE reason that many laws are written the way they are, especially speeding, red traffic signals, etc. is for the MONEY, both for the government and, especially, insurance companies. THAT'S the reason many bullsh*t laws become law & EXACTLY why is pisses me off to no end. Safety has little, if anything, to do with a great many laws across the U.S. Yeah, they'll sell us the law under that illusion, but that's not reality. If someone ain't making money on it, you can rest assued few would care about it. As a matter of fact, sometimes the law gets reversed because of that exact reason (say, in Dallas TX)!

Don't even get me started on red light traffic signals...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23710970/

I believe the single BIGGEST reason for accidents nowadays is due to ONE thing: LACK OF PAYING ATTENTION TO DRIVING. Not only does this cause accidents, but ALSO plays a HUGE role in causing traffic jams...

[dkozloski]

Many years ago when I took the CHP defensive driving course they explained how speed limits are arrived at. They have people do an observational study on how fast the traffic is actually moving on a particular stretch of road and set the limit at whatever 70% of the drivers are doing. This is modified by laws that dictate a particular speed limit because of the design features of the road such as access and driveways. The speed is also lowered on roadway that has an unusual number of accidents maybe because of the traffic mix or a blind corner. In any case it won't be higher than the statutorial limit for the state. In the main, the limit is set at what the average driver feels is safe. If you want to blame somebody for a low limit on a particular stretch of roadway look around at your fellow drivers.

[thebigjimsho]

Originally Posted by dkozloski

Many years ago when I took the CHP defensive driving course they explained how speed limits are arrived at. They have people do an observational study on how fast the traffic is actually moving on a particular stretch of road and set the limit at whatever 70% of the drivers are doing. This is modified by laws that dictate a particular speed limit because of the design features of the road such as access and driveways. The speed is also lowered on roadway that has an unusual number of accidents maybe because of the traffic mix or a blind corner. In any case it won't be higher than the statutorial limit for the state. In the main, the limit is set at what the average driver feels is safe. If you want to blame somebody for a low limit on a particular stretch of roadway look around at your fellow drivers.

Actually, Koz, it's now 85%. And I can guarantee you, the citizens of Massachusetts were not given a choice.

Rte 3, which runs right through my town, was 55mph. The trees were stripped down, the highway widened from 2 to 3 lanes and graded for 4. The highway is wide, spacious, uncluttered with exits every 2-3 miles and STILL 55mph. The state limit is 65. And it's why I fought the ticket I got(with laser, C). The cop never showed. Ultimately, a new study was never completed and the limit is artificially low...

[dkozloski]

Originally Posted by thebigjimsho

Actually, Koz, it's now 85%. And I can guarantee you, the citizens of Massachusetts were not given a choice.

Rte 3, which runs right through my town, was 55mph. The trees were stripped down, the highway widened from 2 to 3 lanes and graded for 4. The highway is wide, spacious, uncluttered with exits every 2-3 miles and STILL 55mph. The state limit is 65. And it's why I fought the ticket I got(with laser, C). The cop never showed. Ultimately, a new study was never completed and the limit is artificially low...

It might be interesting to get a look at the criteria that is used in your area to set speed limits. Accident rates are also factored into the equation.

[Luna.]

Oh hogwash...

If the true average speed on the freeway is 65mph, I'll eat my football...

As you stated above, accidents play a significant role in those speed limits &, rest assured, insurance companies fight like hell to lower speed limits to ludicrous levels, citing safety, when NOTHING could be further from the truth.

It's about MONEY to them, nothing more.

[Superjim]

Originally Posted by ctsv154

For instance. In OK its against the law to drive with your fog lights on within 300ft of oncoming traffic. My dad pulls over ever car he sees with fog lights on unless its actually foggy.

THAT sounds like one of the DUMBEST laws I have ever heard of. Just another way to generate revenue. I drive thru OK every once in a while.

At night I drive with my fogs on most of the time. They light up the road better right in front of the car.

That sounds like a typical,
"I can throw my weight around because I am a cop," CRAP.

Fog lights shine DOWN onto the road... not UP into oncoming traffic.

Just another cop being an hineyhole and harrassing people to generate revenue.

Texas Jim

[type911]

Originally Posted by Superjim

THAT sounds like one of the DUMBEST laws I have ever heard of. Just another way to generate revenue. I drive thru OK every once in a while.

At night I drive with my fogs on most of the time. They light up the road better right in front of the car.

That sounds like a typical,
"I can throw my weight around because I am a cop," CRAP.

Fog lights shine DOWN onto the road... not UP into oncoming traffic.

Just another cop being an hineyhole and harrassing people to generate revenue.

Texas Jim

Sounds like a cop enforcing the laws of the idiots you elected. If you dont like the law get people together to change it. Cops enforce laws, they don't make them.

[CIWS]

Originally Posted by thebigjimsho

And it's why I fought the ticket I got(with laser, C). The cop never showed.

Laser's are a biotch.

[RunningOnEMT]

Originally Posted by thebigjimsho

Now, here's my beef. I speed all the time. I drive clients around all day long. If it's 55MPH, I do near 70. If it's 65MPH, I do near 75. If I have no clients, I routinely do 80. As for being an EMT, I'd like to hear how many times you had to respond to a responsible speeder. I'd guess it would be near 0%.

Those who do highway speeds in populated neighborhoods: stupid.
Those who speed and tailgate in high congestion: stupid.
Those who speed and are drunk: monumentally stupid.
Those who speed and multitask: stupid.
Those who speed at a very high rate: stupid.

My problem is the NHTSA and many lobbyist groups talk about speeding this and speeding that and throw the term speeding in anything that involves going 1MPH or more over the limit. Almost every report will have speeding. But what was a bigger cause, the speeding or impairment by alcohol, speeding or not knowing how to handle your car, speeding or lack of attention? There is quite a difference between speeding responsibly and speeding recklessly. Because, you see, limits that were set decades ago don't necessarily apply to today's vehicles. You can call me out for being rebellious and a scofflaw, but I know what I'm doing. And I know how to control and maneuver a vehicle to stay out of accidents. And I do it well...

as for how many times i've responded to "responsible speeders... i've scooped up grey matter from a guy who was doing 65 and his car flipped over... no second car involved, i;ve back boarded a guy with 6 broken ribs that was on his way to a personal training appointment and he "didnt know what happened he was only doing 10 over, he does that all the time"....

i'm not here to lecture anyone just to say that yeah you and I speed all the time i'll admit it, but when i get stopped for it i don't bitch about it its by the my own fault, by the letter of the law 66 in a 65 is speeding, odn;t bitch if yuou go faster than posted and get a ticket.

just remember i don't like saving people, its my job to do it if i need to, just be safe. sounds like you are and hopefully i'm not responding to any towncar accidents. but to complain that a cop is doing his job is infantile, and then to act like a fool afterwards is monumentally stupid, to participate in multiple speed contwests immediately following a traffic stop is even dumber.

i only took issue with the op, not anyone else

[thebigjimsho]

Originally Posted by RunningOnEMT

as for how many times i've responded to "responsible speeders... i've scooped up grey matter from a guy who was doing 65 and his car flipped over... no second car involved, i;ve back boarded a guy with 6 broken ribs that was on his way to a personal training appointment and he "didnt know what happened he was only doing 10 over, he does that all the time"....

i'm not here to lecture anyone just to say that yeah you and I speed all the time i'll admit it, but when i get stopped for it i don't bitch about it its by the my own fault, by the letter of the law 66 in a 65 is speeding, odn;t bitch if yuou go faster than posted and get a ticket.

just remember i don't like saving people, its my job to do it if i need to, just be safe. sounds like you are and hopefully i'm not responding to any towncar accidents. but to complain that a cop is doing his job is infantile, and then to act like a fool afterwards is monumentally stupid, to participate in multiple speed contwests immediately following a traffic stop is even dumber.

i only took issue with the op, not anyone else

Fair enough. Like another poster who wiped his car on an empty road and didn't take responsibility for his actions, I take full responsibility for mine.

If you look at my avatard, I'm tossing my V around an autocross. I enter a slalom too hot, in huge part because I was running on bald F1 that got greasy and slick very quickly. It wasn't the tire's fault, it was mine for not knowing how it would react in that circumstance.

I may push harder than others on the road. But I always know my surroundings and never risk my life or my clients or others around me. But there is experience you need and parameters you don't cross.

[Albertan]

Big Jim
Just where in the basketball court does your V come in???
Our radio stations announce where speed traps are.
Fog lights on drive me crazy. They seem to shine directly in my eyes. If they were made to actually work, they would be able to turn on with the main lights OFF. Then they would be useful.
It is a good thing they do not set road speed by the number of accidents on a road. Our main N/S freeway has 7/10 of our city's highest accident rates. It is still 100KM.
One of my favorite commercials shows fire, police and EMT's picnicking at the side of the road in one scene. Next scene is a major traffic accident. Voice over says "What do you think we are doing? It's no picnic our there." I wouldn't want your jobs, but thanks for doing it.

[vmoving]

The best part is how some of you morons call it a speed TRAP! how is it a trap if the sign is posted in black and white and the law says no interfering with police business by flashing lights and no tinted windows. Sounds like if is written and posted that cant be a trap. If there were no signs anywhere in the USA and you had no idea what the speed limit was that would be a trap. Or maybe if there were no signs and they made the roadway look like the Indy 500 track that may be a trap. Just because you were the rat that took the cheese and got busted dont be a complaining 2 year old. Pay your ticket and shut the f$#% up! And next time follow the rules! Maybe if you were a cop and knew the feeling of walking up a car and not being able to see into it you would understand. But you apparently are some pencil pusher cry baby whos most danger for the day is using a electric copy machine.

[type911]

Wow, I agree but chill a wee bit!

[vmoving]

Originally Posted by ctsv154

I guess you dont realize how many felony stops police get off inspection stickers, seatbelt stops and just stupid stuff? Yeah it may inconvenience you but get over yourself. Your not any better than anybody else.

The police officers dont know anything about the car or the driver they stop. You could be an innocent motorist just on your daily commute to work or you could be hauling 1.2 million dollars and a trunk full of dope. (this was an actual stop by an Oklahoma Highway Patrolman on one of our turnpikes).

Most of the criminals the police catch are for something stupid on the road. Like flashing their lights after going threw an area were police are sitting in plain sight.

For instance. In OK its against the law to drive with your fog lights on within 300ft of oncoming traffic. My dad pulls over ever car he sees with fog lights on unless its actually foggy. Granted, not every driver is a "criminal" but he has made several felony stops including robbery, burglary, dui, and MURDER all just from people being ignorant to the laws.

I'm so sick of hearing everybody's whinny ass bitching. The truth is you probably deserve more than what you got.

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vmoving]

Originally Posted by type911

Wow, I agree but chill a wee bit!

SORRY BRO! BUT THIS IS REALLY PATHETIC! A BUNCH OF GROWN MEN AND POSSIBLY WOMEN COMPLAINING BECAUSE SOMEONE GOT A TICKET THAT THEY DESERVED! IT IS FUNNY HOW EVERYONE BLAMES IT ON THE COPS! AS SOON AS THEIR LITTLE WINEY ASSES GET THEIR LITTEL CADY BROKEN INTO OR STOLEN THEY WILL CALL THE COPS AND KISS THEIR ASSES TO GET SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT. BUT LORD KNOWSIF THEY GET A TICKET FOR BEING A JACKASS ITS THE COPS FAULT!