Thought this was interesting. Welcome to Texas.
http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1728/americas-worst-speed-traps/
http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1728/americas-worst-speed-traps/
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Speed traps. Welome to Texas
- Thread starter ko67
- Start date
Ponyman66
Yak, yak, yak
I have only one problem with that "report". It is the NMA! They base their "findings" on theory, conjecture, editorial opinion, and plain nut job observations. If you think I'm full of BS, just do a little research on them. If you don't feel like looking them up, read the article thoroughly. Umm, speed limits were established in the 70's?!!! Okay, I guess all those people that got speeding tickets starting in the 20's would be upset to learn that! Traffic patterns are the basis for establishing speed limits? Hmmmm, so if we all drive 100mph through a narrow two lane neighborhood, that's the traffic pattern and the speed limit is SUPPOSED to be set at 100mph?! That's just two examples out of one "article" they've done. BTW, I've read plenty of their stuff before....always good for a laugh! A dead give away to identify any alleged "fact based" "article" on speeding as BS is look for the use of the term "speed trap".
I also LOVE the websites they refer to, in addition to their reference to lack of posted limits and signs not being up to "standards". Try anything you read on these sites as a defense in court. Just DON'T expect a judge to cut you any break if you do. The defense of "the speed limits aren't posted" is a SURE winner! I've stopped motorists for doing 46 and 47mph in a 35mph residential zone. The fine is $133 here for doing 11-15mph over the posted limit. Their excuse is either "I thought it was 40 through here", okay, and you were doing 47 why?! Or, and even better, I didn't see it posted anywhere (there's signs in this particular area every one block!). Here in SC the state law is unposted urban areas (which includes residential areas), is 30mph. In other words, not only is the "I didn't see a sign" NOT an excuse, based on the example given Police could easily say, okay, we'll go with your story. Now instead of going 11-12 over, you could be charged with 16-17 over! Which BTW raises the fine to $187! Ya wanna stick with that?! I also had a guy try to fight an illegal left turn charge. He said the sign indicating "no left turn" wasn't to "standards". On his court day he brought in a copy of the example page from the (Federal) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. That's the Federal standard that governs ALL roadway signs, markings and control devices in the entire US. Don't follow it and you loose highway funds. He advised the judge that the sign didn't match a single picture on the example page. Unfortunately for him, he failed to actually read the standards where it plainly listed the requirements (which the sign met), and there just wasn't an example picture for that particular style. The judge informed him of the error of his ways just before finding him guilty and charging him the max fine (primarily for being a jacka$$!). Just last week I witnessed a young man (we'll call him oh...Clarence Darrow), come into court after reading one of the traffic ticket defense websites that NMA supports. Clarence plead not guilty to speeding. As soon as the officer began to give his testimony, Clarence objected. When the judge asked him on what grounds, Clarence proudly proclaimed that he objected on the grounds that the officer's testimony was "based on personal recollection". The judge then over ruled Clarence and informed him "well sir, the officer was THERE!". When it came his turn to offer his defense, Clarence sheepishly stated he had none. GUILTY! MAX FINE!! Gee thanks "how to beat a speeding ticket. com"! And yes folks, Police read those websites too!
And my final rant concerns the article's repeated references in the "speed trap" descriptions, "if you go only 3mph over the posted limit they'll give you a ticket" Duhhhhhhhh, that's speeding Johnny Cochran! Here in SC (and most eastern states), their speed limits are known in legal terms as "absolute speed". What that means in plain language is 1mph or greater over the posted limit constitutes speeding. The state legislature also established the fines BEGINNING at 1mph over the limit. The lack of enforcement by P. olice for speeds above the posted limit is entirely at the individual discretion of the officer. That's also one main source of the old myth "you can go 5mph above the posted limit", the officer's exercising their discretion in not doing enforcement up to 5mph over. Don't expect or count on it though. Also keep in mind your speedometer is GOING to have an error of a couple of mph's.....high or low. If you're going 5mph over the posted limit as indicated on your speedometer, you wanna gamble a ticket whether that error is high or low? If it's reading 3mph too low, you're actually doing 8mph over. No 5mph over discretionary lack of enforcement now because you're doing 8 over! Just food for thought..and that's also a more reliable method to avoid a ticket than some of the silly stuff I've read on some of those sites!! Oh BTW, don't try the "my speedometer was off" excuse either. Here in SC that's grounds for a "faulty equipment" citation in ADDITION to a speeding citation!
Now if you want true, verifiable facts (unlike the claims in the "article") there you go. If anyone would like the specific references, I'd be happy to provide links (they're all government websites with the actual laws and standards).
Sorry for the long winded rant. The NMA really gets me steamed though!
Okay...rant over! :soapboxrant
I also LOVE the websites they refer to, in addition to their reference to lack of posted limits and signs not being up to "standards". Try anything you read on these sites as a defense in court. Just DON'T expect a judge to cut you any break if you do. The defense of "the speed limits aren't posted" is a SURE winner! I've stopped motorists for doing 46 and 47mph in a 35mph residential zone. The fine is $133 here for doing 11-15mph over the posted limit. Their excuse is either "I thought it was 40 through here", okay, and you were doing 47 why?! Or, and even better, I didn't see it posted anywhere (there's signs in this particular area every one block!). Here in SC the state law is unposted urban areas (which includes residential areas), is 30mph. In other words, not only is the "I didn't see a sign" NOT an excuse, based on the example given Police could easily say, okay, we'll go with your story. Now instead of going 11-12 over, you could be charged with 16-17 over! Which BTW raises the fine to $187! Ya wanna stick with that?! I also had a guy try to fight an illegal left turn charge. He said the sign indicating "no left turn" wasn't to "standards". On his court day he brought in a copy of the example page from the (Federal) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. That's the Federal standard that governs ALL roadway signs, markings and control devices in the entire US. Don't follow it and you loose highway funds. He advised the judge that the sign didn't match a single picture on the example page. Unfortunately for him, he failed to actually read the standards where it plainly listed the requirements (which the sign met), and there just wasn't an example picture for that particular style. The judge informed him of the error of his ways just before finding him guilty and charging him the max fine (primarily for being a jacka$$!). Just last week I witnessed a young man (we'll call him oh...Clarence Darrow), come into court after reading one of the traffic ticket defense websites that NMA supports. Clarence plead not guilty to speeding. As soon as the officer began to give his testimony, Clarence objected. When the judge asked him on what grounds, Clarence proudly proclaimed that he objected on the grounds that the officer's testimony was "based on personal recollection". The judge then over ruled Clarence and informed him "well sir, the officer was THERE!". When it came his turn to offer his defense, Clarence sheepishly stated he had none. GUILTY! MAX FINE!! Gee thanks "how to beat a speeding ticket. com"! And yes folks, Police read those websites too!
And my final rant concerns the article's repeated references in the "speed trap" descriptions, "if you go only 3mph over the posted limit they'll give you a ticket" Duhhhhhhhh, that's speeding Johnny Cochran! Here in SC (and most eastern states), their speed limits are known in legal terms as "absolute speed". What that means in plain language is 1mph or greater over the posted limit constitutes speeding. The state legislature also established the fines BEGINNING at 1mph over the limit. The lack of enforcement by P. olice for speeds above the posted limit is entirely at the individual discretion of the officer. That's also one main source of the old myth "you can go 5mph above the posted limit", the officer's exercising their discretion in not doing enforcement up to 5mph over. Don't expect or count on it though. Also keep in mind your speedometer is GOING to have an error of a couple of mph's.....high or low. If you're going 5mph over the posted limit as indicated on your speedometer, you wanna gamble a ticket whether that error is high or low? If it's reading 3mph too low, you're actually doing 8mph over. No 5mph over discretionary lack of enforcement now because you're doing 8 over! Just food for thought..and that's also a more reliable method to avoid a ticket than some of the silly stuff I've read on some of those sites!! Oh BTW, don't try the "my speedometer was off" excuse either. Here in SC that's grounds for a "faulty equipment" citation in ADDITION to a speeding citation!
Now if you want true, verifiable facts (unlike the claims in the "article") there you go. If anyone would like the specific references, I'd be happy to provide links (they're all government websites with the actual laws and standards).
Sorry for the long winded rant. The NMA really gets me steamed though!
Okay...rant over! :soapboxrant
lol, those are some good stories pony
Here in CA, you're taught in driving school that residential is 25mph, business is 35mph, and highways/freeways are 55mph unless otherwise marked. Some people like to take this to mean that highways marked with "End Speed Limit" signs actually have unlimited speeds. Obviously this reverts said highways to 55mph. There's lots of those highways around here, and people get tickets for doing 65+ on them all the time.
Here in CA, you're taught in driving school that residential is 25mph, business is 35mph, and highways/freeways are 55mph unless otherwise marked. Some people like to take this to mean that highways marked with "End Speed Limit" signs actually have unlimited speeds. Obviously this reverts said highways to 55mph. There's lots of those highways around here, and people get tickets for doing 65+ on them all the time.
Ponyman66
Yak, yak, yak
"ko67" said:
No apologies needed to me my friend! I however, apologize if you took my reply to be directed at you. Like I said, the NMA (and the groups just like them), really get under my skin. Sorry for the rant.
BTW, out of all the states I've ever lived and/or driven in, I liked Texas and Texas drivers the best. Other folks may have a different opinion on that, but I'll stick with mine. I've lived there off an on through the years for a total of about 6 years. I got one ticket there, and it wasn't a local, county or state officer. It was a federal wildlife guy! Legally I was a Texas resident for 12 years....no state income tax, yeah!!!! :thu
I enjoyed Ponyman's response. Agree totally. I often speed, according to the strict definition. And I play the game. I'm vigilent when I speed, concerning myself, police, surroundings, other vehicles. When I'm not doing ALL of those is when I lose. Like when I got the speeding ticket in the Nevada desert. Oncoming car WAS a cop. Got me fair and square. :steer