midas69

Here in Chicago we have the funniest thing. Lake Shore drive is an 8 lane road (4 in each direction) divided highway restrticted to non-commercial vehicles. That means no trucks. The speed limit is only 45 on there, which is kind of low, but might be justified due to the entrance ramp setups.

But the funny part is that during the winter they drop the speed limit down to 40. They don't do it for safety, they do it to make it more environmentally friendly for the shrubbery in the median.

superballs

DO NOT JUST PAY YOUR TICKET AND TAKE THE POINTS!!! this is the worst thing you can do. my very first speeding ticket i did this, and it messed up my whole driving record from then on out. hire a lawyer. for less money then paying a ticket, you pay a lawyer and he will get the ticket thrown out. it makes 30840943 times more senese. your paying less money, and you will get it off your record. the second time i got a ticket, i hired a lawyer and it was great, the problem is, the judge saw i had a prior ticket and it made it harder for my lawyer, i had to go to driving school. if i would have hired a lawyer the first time around, he would have gotten it thrown out easily, since it was my first ticket, then every time after that, when i got a ticket, it would have been the same thing, if your lawyer gets it thrown out, its off your record, like you never got it, so when you get a second ticket, its like its your first as fair as the judge can tell. im sure this chances from state to state and scenairo to scenairo.

second, dumb slow drives that talk on there phones and put on thier make up and are oblivous to their surrondings are 20893348 times more deadly then a smart, attentive speeder. i would vote for a speed limit increase any day of the week, and i would fight for a better system to weed out the idiots who abbuse their driving privlages in ways other then speeding.

ndabunka

If it were me I'd create a system that "weeded" out the repeat offenders that always seem to "get off" via the cash method (i.e. Lawyers - the modern equivilant of bribes).

gbriank

I always wondered why they did that.....

OtownTL

A good friend of mine down here in Florida is highway patrol, as I understand it they have a new system for the last few years called Stalker.... This system is in fact capable of recording your speed behind or in front of their car wether they are moving or stationary. Also, as I understand it, it can take measures on multiple cars at one time and let the trooper know which car is traveling the fastest. It is pretty sophisticated and I am sure capable of more than he has mentioned. My area is blanketed by police all the time since I live in a major city which is also home to one of the top 10 largest colleges in the nation, and I happen to live right by it. I try not to speed ever especially here, although I will say several times in my new TL I have looked down and gone... oh $hit

F23A4

Dvus, I'll go out on a limb here and state: that "law" is NEVER enforced in New Jersey with cars!! Trucks, maybe. Cars, no!! Ask any NYC driver who drives over here and I'm sure they'll attest to this.

VTHokieTL

Anyone use a radar detector in a state where it is illegal? Where do you hide yours?

lflorack

The 'drive right, pass left' law in NY State (at least in my area) is similarily completely ignored -- not only by many, too many drivers but also by the police. I've never talked with anyone who has ever been ticketed for such an infraction. I've known many cops (20+) in many different jurisdictions and not one of them has ever given out a ticket for it (I asked them all). Lastly, I've had many people look at me like I have three heads when I talk to them about my 'favorite' pet peeve. They simply have no clue that left lane driving without passing is an issue at all -- let alone illegal.

F23A4

Although it's legal in NJ, I keep mine in the lower left hand corner of the windshield all the time and havent had any problems with this in frequent trips to Virginia/DC.

VTHokieTL

That's because most of the idiots teaching kids to drive in high school have no clue either. The worst seeing a student driver car in the left lane or 2nd from left lane of a 4 lane highway doing 55mph, and the instructor oblivious to it.

missmyprelude

There's only one state where it is illegal - VA. When driving through VA, I just take it down. No use risking confiscation.

F23A4

Same deal here. To wit, most folks I deal with on a daily basis dont see "the big deal" in choosing the left lane to go 'slower than the flow' in. I'd like to see how these people would do in Germany under autobahn conditions.

VTHokieTL

They would be run off the road! I lived in Germany and still visit every few years. The Autobahn is serious business (as the roads here should be). There are rules on how to drive efficiently, and everyone follows them. Those that don't get pulled over, or have pissed off people behind them try to run them off the road

F23A4

When it comes to highways: Germany > US

G

I got a ticket on Christmas Day!! Couldn't believe it. It was about 8:30 at night on a rural road leaving a small town. NOONE was around except for one car next to me that was going a smidgen slower than I was. Anyways, I accelerated and was about 10 ft from the speed limit increase sign when a Prick Cop pulled me over. After giving me lip, he gave me a ticket for 65 in a 45. It wouldn't have been so bad if the cop wasn't such an a$$hole. Oh well, luckily I haven't recieved a ticket in some time and will just take defensive driving and get rid of it. But damn, it still just pisses me off.

Brewmaster

I'm w/ Missmyprelude ... some jurisdictions in VA have detector detectors ... doesn't matter where you "hide" it, if it's on and they have the right equipment they can "see" it. They will confiscate ... not worth it IMHO.

VTHokieTL

More like Germany >>> US

Driving on the highways in Germany is a pleasure. Next time I go, I'll have to rent something to help take advantage of the roads

VTHokieTL

My dad had his built into the Mercedes where the detector itself was installed somewhere under the hood or front bumper and it would warn you through the stereo. He got pulled over a few times, but the cops couldn't find it and let him off. I was wondering if anyone had done that with the TL.

cblackburn

Yes... my brother in law is a cop. Occasionally, I will see him driving his car and it has a radar gun shooting out the rear window. I believe it's mounted in the one of the top corners.

Personally, I don't use any radar detectors. I've never had any tickets except for when I actually had a radar detector. They give you a false sense of security. Most cops here use Vascar or take advantage of 'instant on' when they run radar. A radar detector won't help you out there.

rets

Most of my speeding tickets between '96 and '99 were caused by these...

Road Rage

I haven't had one since 1978, the year I bought my first Escort. I did hit 154 mph in my 1985 Z51 Corvette en route to Charlottesville one time. Usually, I keep my high speed encunters to the track, but i regularly cruise at 80 mph. Radar detectors are wonderful things.

I might add I have not had an accident in that time, either. I have been hit twice while stopped.

ndabunka

I know it's no excuse but "would YOUR attitude have been any different if YOU had been forced to work that day?" Glad to hear that you qualify for the driving school. Not everyone does.

F23A4

I personally can "sense" when cops are around , where my RD is more secondary. There have been several times where my instinct has told me to slow down while the detector remained silent, only to come across a cop using instant-on further down the road. But I understand where you're coming from.

Here in NJ, the NJSP use radar pretty infrequently as they tend to pace speeders more regularly. (Luckily, the vast majority of NJSP patrol units are Crown Vic Police Interceptors.)

sebounet2005

German people know what discipline is.

It's not like in france where some people stay on the left lane because they don't want someone that can afford a better car, can or think to overpass him.

Bushwah

Got a speeding ticket in an area where the limit drops from 40 to 30 in the middle of nowhere. The cop had her lights off and clocked me doing 45 in a 30. She said I looked like I was going fast because my TL had a spoiler. Plus I look real young for my age so that didn't help.

nfnsquared

hehe, you're only 21. It hasn't been that long!

RJANACONDA

iTrader: (1)

They got me doing 90 I think the limit was 70 on 75 southbound. The crappy part was that there was someone in front of me going faster but the cop didnt have room to get in between him and me so he just got me. I purposly fumbled around with my wallet so that he would see my military ID hope that would get me out of it but no joy.

RJANACONDA

iTrader: (1)

that was my first time ever being pulled over

Black3.2

i got pulled over yesterday by a state trooper on 295S. i was doin 95 in a 65. he was asking me all these question like where did i get all these crudentials from and who are these people on theses cards i have. i got all the crudential from my uncle who is a state trooper, which i will too one day and the other is from my dad who is vice pres of the f.o.p. i got out of the ticket lucky me

RJANACONDA

iTrader: (1)

Im just glad they didnt catch me eailier when i decided to break my fastst speed and was doing 120 on I-10 but nobody was around so I said F@#$ it! I know that isnt very high for a fastest speed

mickey3c

Speeding is speeding I do not care what contacts you have... I have never been pulled over for speeding in my acuras...

If you are breaking the law, be adult enough to say yea I was doing that and take your medicine... Do not do the crime if you cannot do the time...

If you were doing 95 I hope the road was empty, visibility was good, and road conditions were perfect. You get to learn the limits of the car when you have to perform an emergency manuever

Black3.2

you are absolutely right mickey3c, speeding is speed and its not im flaunting who i know, i just have some i.d. on my car and ive been in situations where i couldnt get out of, so i say i am an adult to take the punishment for speeding. yeah im not gonna speed when roads are bad etc. i pretty much think i know the limits to my car when it comes to emergency manuevering.

jperdoch

you can always goto court, if the policeman does not show up you are off. You might also get a plea from the DA offering just a fine and no points....of course, you pay court costs too but that is cheaper than the insurance increase...

Slinks

Its amazing how ppl can just flash their police union cards and get off of traffic tickets. You'd think that being a police officer/relative of an officer, you're more likely to know the rules and therefore can't use the "i didn't know excuse", and therefore should have a higher probability of getting a ticket.

vdubgruven

My V1 = No tickets.

Gingerbreadman

In my younger years (when I was 16-23) I got tons of tickets. The worst I ever got was one for 103 in a 55, which they took my license for for 3 months. Hell one time I got pulled three times and got 2 tickets in one day. One ticket and one pull was for speeding, and the last ticket was for "blowing" doughnuts in a parking lot. I got surrounded by like 5 cop cars and they issued a ticket for exceeding safe conditions I believe when they could have given me a careless and reckless.

Now I am an old man and I am quite a bit calmer. I was pulled for speeding about 3 or 4 years ago and got a lawyer to get me out of it. I immediately afterwards bought myself a Valentine 1 which I love. I have recently just purchased a second one and hardmounted it in my second vehicle even though i have seen some test results that there may be a comparible (or maybe even slightly more sensitive) detector on the market, the Bel RX65 or the Escort 8500 X50. See http://www.radarbusters.com for details. But that is just one site and many others say the V1 is the best. I can say one thing, once you have had the convenience of the V1 "pointing" out the source of the radar with its arrows it is hard to take anyone else serious.

A few more tidbits to offer up...
A speeding ticket goes on your record in your home state from another state if it was obtained on an interstate but not on a state road or rural route unless it is over 15mph over posted speed limit.... this fact from my insurance company.

A ticket of extreme speed, for example 145 in a 70 is a criminal offense and may carry jail time. You would get charged the same weight of crime if you ran from the cop.... as told to my buddy after pulling over for a cop who clocked him at 145 in a 70.

Many districts that use to have lawyers just get you off for speeding have gone to zero tolerance and will not do that anymore. the judges in these areas have decided that no one gets a free walk. you may still show up and talk to the DA who will drop your offense to a lesser amount (for example turn a 66 in a 55 to a 64 in a 55) which carries less insurance and license points. Additionally you may ask for a Prayer for judgement from the judge once every 5 or so years I believe and he may grant it to you which means if you do not get another ticket for the period it does nothing. .... passed on to me by lawyer I talked to about my brothers ticket and the one I hired a while back.

Insurance companies do not raise your rate if the ticket was less than 10 over and it was your first offense..... told by my insurance agent.

Here is what I reccomend if you must speed..... by a good radar detector (it gives you not a shield but an edge). If you get busted, and you will if you speed a lot, talk to a lawyer and get them to agree that they can get you out of the ticket before you pay anything. they will know how the local judge views such things. If you can't get out with a lawyer talk to the DA and get him to reduce it to less than 10 over and take that ticket. The next time you are caught ask for a prayer for judgement... then the 3rd time you are caught is when your insurance rates increase for the first time.

Just my opinions and information I have had passed on to me by reputable sources. Check your local listings before you try any of these.

Gingerbreadman
------------------------

Run Run as fast as you can................

Black3.2

well first of all being a police officer or a family member of one doesnt mean that you know more or likely to know more of the rule, but officers let them go out of repspect of the other officer. something you may not know, is that the officer does talk to his/her relative after s/he is spoken to by their road sergant, chief, etc. also the officer who you may know is getting a check mark by his/her name everytime they are spoken to about a relative using their name, etc.. about the "i dont know" excuse, your absolutly right they should have a higher probability of getting a ticket. i totally agree.

crazymjb

Just thought I'd mention from what I have heard RADAR jammers are a bunch of BS. They tried it on mythbusters. Also, if your pulled over for a warning and a cop sees either of em, even if they are legal, forger about the warning, unless you(if you are female) or your GF/wife is a model you are getting a ticket.

crazymjb

O yeah, I have asked this before, but can you get a ticket for rapid acceleration even if u are within the speed limit. I am not talking about reckless engagerment, like pulling a 10 second burnout, but rather acceleratiing from a stop light.

CLver

MOST of the time the limits are set to ensure revenue, not safety. They just lowered the speed limits where i live from 45 to 30 are they cited "street racers" as the reason. I do tech work for a gentleman on the city councel and he said the city needed money and the adjustment projected a 320 percent increase in revenue.

I agree that excessive speeding is dangerous but the focus is now on revenue and they will ticket anything over or near the limit. So GET A RADAR DECTECTOR!!! I like the valentine one personally.